To wear converse to my graduation?

[inhellyesterday]

I am graduating next Thursday. Would I be unreasonable to wear black platform converse with a black dress to my graduation? Getting mixed opinions from people saying it's fine to others saying too casual.

I just want to be comfortable and I always am in them.

I’m a university lecturer and have been to countless graduations. It’s fine. It’s your day, enjoy it! And well done 😃

You need to check the dress code. The university won't allow you across the stage if you're not in line with the dress code.

I do occasional gowning work for the biggest gown hire company - I've seen full evening dress, ripped jeans and dirty slogan t-shirts, and everything in between. As others have said, check with your University for their dress code. In general, wear the most comfortable shoes you can.

Also (which you didn't ask, but still) find out what colour your gown and hood are, and check if they clash with what you will be wearing. Chances are the gown will be black if you are undergrad or masters, but PhD have all sorts of colours. A few years ago I met a lady wearing a fabulous orange dress. Her PhD gown was mauve...

Double check the dress-code. It wouldn't have been allowed at mine.

100% reasonable.

No-one should be wearing uncomfortable footwear for anything. I would support a law that said no employer could insist on heels, for example.

That is the law
www.lawbite.co.uk/resources/blog/is-it-illegal-to-force-women-to-wear-high-heels-in-the-workplace

Dress code is 'formal wear and comfortable shoes'

I’ve spent too many graduation ceremonies holding my breath in fear, as my students teeter across the stage in skyscraper heels they can’t walk in, willing them not to fall over. On occasion they have. There’s a reason your university stipulates comfortable shoes, OP.

My old university didn’t and still would not permit this and rightly so.

"How to say you went to Oxbridge without saying you want to Oxbridge"

Converse will be fine

Formal for graduands is sub fusc ie a white shirt/blouse and black trousers/skirt. You might need to anchor gown to top, so baggy/flimsy is not a good idea.

Any black shoes.

Converse aren't formal wear, so I wouldn't risk it.

This isn’t true. It depends on the Uni. At my undergrad ceremony, the dress code was black and white but at the institution I work at there is no dress code beyond looking presentable.

Personally I say go for it, although I agree that converse wouldn't come under formal wear so might be worth checking or having a backup just in case.

However, I'm a lecturer and constantly surprised at how dressy our graduations are. Tbh I think some go too dressy for a daytime event but I would consider how you would feel if everyone else is dressed for a wedding. Would it bother you if you're underdressed compared to your classmates? I know some don't mind but it's an comfortable feeling and I guess that's why you've asked here.

I feel your pain, I'm going to our graduation on Friday and have no suitable flats so have to get the heels out tonight and practice in them as I haven't worn them in literally years.

hoping to get some sort of professional job where smart shoes are needed...

Honestly, did the whole 'case against PwC: the facilities management company who provided their security / receptionists and who insisted receptionists wore high heels' completely escape your notice ?

PwC were sued, and absolutely had to apologise for the 'misunderstanding' because they had set the standards.

My advice is to find a professional job where you are valued for your contribution, not just for how you look.

And generally don't have anything to do with anyone who expects you to wear anything uncomfortable. So many people have foot problems all pretty much traceable to their footwear.

Smart shoes doesn't mean high heels. And it also doesn't mean converse. There are lots of workplaces that wouldn't allow converse.

We had to wear office dress to ours, suits for fits and female equivalent for girls, they said you would not be allowed on stage if you didn't do everyone complied even the goth kids. 30 years ago though. Dd is wearing a dress from phase eight to hers

Seriously nobody will bat an eyelid.

I unintentionally had to wear my Doc Martins to graduation many, many moons ago. We had our graduation ball the night before so I travelled up from home and only brought high heels for that evening. My parents were meant to be coming up on graduation morning with my sensible but smart flat shoes and they forgot! I had nightmares about falling over in high heels so opted for the safe option ☺️.

This was my daughter at her's last week. Seriously, it's fine.

I certainly didn't go to Oxbridge, but they wouldn't have been allowed at mine.

I wore cherry red doc martens to my graduation earlier this year. Nobody batted an eyelid and more importantly, I was comfy.

OP can you tell us which Uni it is?

Clarks shoes cripple me. Even their wide fit pinch my toes. Just because it works for you, doesn't mean it'll work for everyone.

Not always true.

I wore a navy dress to my MA graduation and saw people in all sorts of colours. Even the PhD people were in what I'd call smart casual.

Did you miss the bit I quoted, which stipulated: Dress code is 'formal wear and comfortable shoes' ?

Of course there are other places and ceremonies where formal dress code is not required. But I had thought it was pretty clear I was responding to a point which does stipulate 'formal'