To wear leggings to DD's University Graduation?

[OneToughMudderFudder]

Big row this morning as DD wants me to wear a bloody evening dress like she is .

I'd planned to wear my new knee high brown boots, camel knee length coat with a black polo neck and leggings underneath.

DH (who is wearing a suit) and DD are horrified. It's a daytime ceremony.

Who's BU?

Evening dress is OTT but come on! This is a special occasion for your DD, I'd make more of an effort than leggings

Depends on the university, but wouldn't be evening wear would be smart casual I should think in general, like a suit or smart trousers and a shirt for men, dress or smart trousers and a blouse/smart top for women. Not trainers, not leggings, not jeans.

Although does depend, some of my family have had very formal graduations, but I've also been to ones where they were just in "normal" clothes like black trousers and flats. Never seen leggings at a graduation though, maybe at leavers assembly (school age) but not for adults

@OneToughMudderFudder Surely she is not wearing prom type dress for the actual presentation on stage? See my previous posts- most good unis have very clear dress codes for their graduates- suits for the men and black and white or similar formal dresses / skirts for the women. Has your DD checked this out? Or is this about some party afterwards?

It's a formal occasion, you can't dress like you're nipping to Sainsbury's.
All the graduates will be wearing evening dresses and suits. So I wouldn't expect you to do the same but you should 'dress up' to an extent.

Again - I think posters thinking 'evening wear' means a ball gown should take into account that the OP thinks leggings are appropriate formal wear.

I think the OP and her DD need to be clear if we are talking about a party or the ceremony where they present the certificates.

In many unis, one follows on straight from the other but sometimes the 'graduation party' is later in the day when it would be possible to change into party wear.

The ceremony is the occasion, cosima. I've not been to one yet where the women aren't dressed to the nines.

You are.

Leggings are fit for walking the dog and food shopping. That's it.

Don't be so unsupportive. It's like you can't be arsed to make the effort for your daughter and her achievements.

I've found some high heeled suede over the knee boots which I thought were DD's but she says are mine.

Oh OP... this sounds just as bad as leggings with no skirt.

Are you taking her out to lunch, etc, afterwards OP? As people are trying to tell you it is quite a big thing - we have these ceremonies for a reason.
It’s supposed to be a celebration after all the hours spent poring over books.

You’re making it all seem a bit perfunctory.

Nobody cares what you wear to a graduation but your daughter cares so why not comply as it's her special day.
Also there will be photos and she'll enjoy looking at them if you've made an effort.

@CosmiaGreen Don't know about 'most' universities? Mine didn't have a dress code and it was clearly pointed out you could wear jeans if you wanted to, although it was also clear that 'most' students take pride in their achievement and dress accordingly. That meant suits for the guys and work smart for the girls. The only real request was that whatever was worn had a collar as it worked better with the gown.
I remember one guy of the several hundred that graduated wore a t shirt and jeans, the rest were business smart. Parents dressed to match and I have a lovely 'official' graduation photo of myself, DH, DM, DF, MIL and FIL.
Long story short, I'm in the no leggings camp!!

Make sure whatever you wear you can peel off a few layers, I find those occasions unbearably hot!

I think your outfit sounds nice, but if you have such a good figure that it would look good, just buy a simple shift dress or something instead of the polo.

‘Evening dress’ 🙄🙄🤣. Only if she meant a dress you’d wear out to dinner, not an actual ‘Evening dress’ you’d look a complete idiot 🤣

I think over the knee heeled boots sound even worse then the leggings! Can't you wear a knee length skirt with the original boots?

This is your daughter's day so I would let her dictate what you should wear, within reason. An evening dress sounds a little OTT but leggings are definitely too casual. A graduation ceremony is a formal event and as such you should look smart.

I’m a lecturer so go to graduations every year. Our students are expected to wear black and white, so lots of the females wear black dresses. Parents tend to be dressed as if they were going to a nice afternoon tea or lunch at a fancy restaurant, so less posh than a wedding, but a step up from normal office clothes. A lot of women are in Phase Eight type dresses. No need for heels but I think leggings and boots is probably a bit too casual.

I think it sounds fine. I wore a very similar outfit the other day and got lots of comments on how smart I looked. OP, you have to wear what you feel most comfortable in, there is nothing worse than dressing up in something you wouldn’t normally wear and feeling uncomfortable and self conscious all day.

I'm not a dressy-up person at all, and live in jeans or leggings. But no way would I wear them for a graduation.

I wore a patterned skirt, neat top, and black linen jacket. As I recall that was pretty standard for parents there. Generally neat and smart wear, dads in suits or smart jackets.

Leggings are too casual for this event.

Leggings are never smart IMO. Someone on these threads normally posts a pic of some reed-thin French woman looking tres chic in leggings, I'm surprised there's not one on here. I just don't think they're ever smart at all. Not sure I would go for an 'evening' dress either, but I would want my DD to think I look nice for her graduation.

@CosmiaGreen did you mean to come across like such a snob?
“Is it a real uni?” No it’s probably an imaginary one.

Isn't a graduation supposed to be a formal acknowledgement of a great achievement that has taken 3+ years to earn?

And you want to wear leggings? No wonder DD has decided she has to step in. It sounds like you don't really value the event.

Maybe if you choose a smarter outfit she'll stop insisting on a dress!

My family are usually very casual in clothing but my parents wore smart outfits to my graduation. I have a photo of the three of us from the day and it's nice we all look smart.

OP's DD isn't wearing an evening gown. She's wearing a nice dress.
OP you misjudged this. Graduation is a big deal. It is a 'posh' event. I think you owe your DD an apology.

You’re going to support your daughter; no other reason. Why would you deliberately wear something that upsets both her and your dh?
Whether it’s technically fine is irrelevant, really.

Oh OP, not over the knee boots either! Can't you wear your original boots with skirt or dress?