AIBU to think parents don’t need to be ultra smart/ formal for graduation ceremonies?

[MimiGC]

Our son is graduating from UWE next week. He’s wearing a suit and tie, as are his friends. I think smart casual is fine for parents, but DH thinks formal wear for parents is required and is planning on wearing a suit and tie himself. Grateful for Mumsnetters experiences- who has been to a graduation ceremony recently and what were parents wearing?

My daughter graduated from Bristol last week. Isn’t that where your children went?We were told to whoop and cheer as loud as we could. It was a surprise to be told that. We did our best (not my thing at all) but were amateurs compared to some families!

Same! I am fortunate to have the money to buy all those brands if I wished ( they are not that stylish imo) but there is no way I would want to look like the Princess of Wales. I find her look really frumpy and dated. I wouldn’t wear the nude heels for all the money in the world!

I agree with this, absolutely nothing wedding like, I've been to two and dh wore a light coloured suit and if he'd worn a tie or a dark suit he'd have been over dressed. Lots of women in pretty summer dresses,lots of Birkenstocks/ sandals. I wore cropped linen trousers.

We were told specifically NOT to wear hats ,I imagine they block the view of people behind you. I've not known anyone wearing a hat to a graduation,was that a while ago?

Formal and proud! My parents were

It was 15 years ago, so maybe things have changed, but I will still wear one to my grand daughters ceremony in a few years time. It wasn't a huge hat, a trilby style I guess you would call it, but I just felt the occasion called for it. I can't imagine going to wedding without wearing a hat. Maybe I am oldfashioned, but I think it's nice to make an effort. There were no official guidelines, just words to the effect of " this graduation is not just about celebrating the student's academic achievement, but also the support of the family behind the student", so make memories that you can look back on with pride. I thought that was a great sentiment .

@Radioundermypillow You think she only wears nude heels? How out of date are you? So the blue dress she wore at Wimbledon would be out of place? Total rubbish. I’m not suggesting a fascinator at all and she never wears one anyway. Obviously not for a summer event but a decent coat is all you need to cover a dress if it’s cold. Interesting what people assume and what the truth actually is. You can be anti Royal and have a pop but her day dress style is what lots of women do wear. She’s fairly easy to copy and some of us actually like nude shoes if they work with the outfit!

Thought she died in a Paris underpass.

We’ve had a new one for the last three years. Do keep up.

I was referring to her recent Wimbledon appearance when she wore sky high nude heels. Keep up.

Hats would have been really annoying if you were sitting behind someone wearing one!

Kate just looks AMAZING in anything she wears……

My best friend went to her daughters graduation last week. She wore a midi dress with white trainers. Her husband wore chinos and a smart polo shirt.

Smart polo shirt is an oxymoron.

I dressed up for my daughter's and my son's graduation, huge celebration, so proud of them!! Definitely most parents very formal and dressy. These were at the Universities of Aberdeen and Sheffield.

I don't think it's necessary to buy a new outfit for a graduation unless you'll wear it again. I bought a Me & Em dress for my son's graduation which I think was 3 or 4 years ago. I've worn it once since. I wore a Maje dress I had in my wardrobe for my dd's graduation this yea (not wanting to re-wear the Me & Em dress) r. (It helps that it was boiling hot so I didn't have to think of a jacket).

I haven't bought any of my dc graduation presents - the meal, drinks, train tickets take me to the limit of my spending limit.

When I become queen of the world, my first fashion rule will be to ban nude heels ;-)

There were no hats at my daughter’s graduation last week. Thank goodness!

Surely you can see why people buy them though, it means they have a smart pair of heels that go with everything (and more effectively than either black or white shoes).

I’d just ban heels. Really bad for feet, legs, hips and backs.

@FlabbyFlabbersonFlab Don’t buy them then! I don’t own a pair either but they can be useful. White heels? What century is this? Match shoe colour to dress if you can afford it. That’s pretty easy.

I think they look awful with everything. So a wasted purchase. Obviously thousands of women disagree and that’s fine!

some of us actually like nude shoes if they work with the outfit!

You like them don’t have any? Maybe some will be in the sales so you could get some!

Not keen on white heels either really. But probably better than nude, with the right outfit…

White heels went out in the 80s. I think Claudia Winkelman might have a pair! No I don’t have nude heels! Nude loafers! Tod’s did great ones! They look great with white jeans. Not that I’d recommend that look for uni degree ceremony but it’s still a nice look with nude shoes.

My 17yo has just asked me to buy her white heels for a family wedding. Both her and my 16yo are wearing shoes very similar in style to the ones I wore in the 80s. And my point was nude (or black or white) shoes are seen as neutrals that go with everything because not everyone can afford to buy a new pair of heels for every outfit.

And I've now remembered my Mum has a gorgeous pair of Russell and Bromley beige heels she bought in the 80s, more detailed than the Princess of Wales nude heels though.