What are you all wearing for graduation day?

[Greentrilby]

It’s been ten years since my daughter graduated and it’s now the turn of my step son. Is it still a formal dress code for parents eg suit and tie for men and smart dress for women or have things changed. Heels are definitely out as I remember lots of standing and hanging around. Any ideas gratefully received.

how many tickets is he allowed to give? only two for my DC

I don't understand the question, are you in the US? None of my kids are or have had having a 'graduation', what kind of school and what age of kid?

Higher education thread - surely she means university. The proper graduation, before all these made up ones for three year olds?

presumably uni!!!

All seems to be very casual these days, just clean and comfy. Lots of dresses with trainers , linen trousers and summer tops.

Where are / were your DC studying that they don't have a graduation ceremony? (Okay, at e.g. Birmingham they call them 'degree congregations' at Birmingham, but just checked what UEA call what we're going to in a couple of weeks' time and it's definitely 'graduation' there).

Back to the original question, having been to two of these events now - should have been three, but due to a catalogue of comms disasters, DS1 didn't actually attend his BSc one, but hey ho - 'smart casual' was definitely fine at both Bristol and Birmingham. Dress decently enough to honour the occasion, but not in a way that it makes the day about you?

I was at my youngests graduation ceremony this week. There was a vast array of outfits chosen by the guests, from jeans through to clubbing clothes! I wore a summer dress and my DH wore his kilt (there was also some national dress, we saw a chap in lederhosen). So wear what you enjoy but hard agree for the comfy shoes - or have some to change into.

You can literally wear anything (I work at a uni and it really is all sorts outfit wise) but definitely comfortable shoes. Carefully assess the weather and the venue - my graduation was in a heatwave so everyone dressed really summery…but the actual graduation was in a drafty cathedral so everyone was freezing!
Its also a long day so comfort is key.

Yep it’s uni graduation. Sounds like it’s more informal ten years ago so that makes it easier. Smart casual is what I’ll aim for: it’s his day and I just don’t want to get it wrong.

I dressed up for both ds’s last year and DD’s this. Posh frock but with comfy shoes. Dh wore a suit as did ds to his sister’s. There was a mix of dress but I would say most dressed up.

I wore a linen suit last year with very smart trainers as I can't do heels any more.

People were in a huge range of smart casual to garden party to wedding; the vibe was dress comfortably I think. It seemed more relaxed to me than it was back in my day.

But ds wasntcat a very posh uni so it may be different there.

When I need to look smart I always think back tin French wedding I went to where all the women were dressed beautifully but also appropriately for a long day and night with variations in temperature. The all seemed to be in beautiful suits with flat heels and in close that suited them and were comfortable.

It's a high bar of course but it is definitely true that we generally look our best when we are physically comfortable.

Congratulations as well!

My DD graduated 10 years ago and summer dresses were everywhere for the women. Not clubbing gear and some trousers. Didn’t notice any jeans. Men in casual but decent looking trousers and a summer shirt, not Hawaiian print, was the choice for most, A handful looked like they were going to a wedding. This was Bristol and I don’t remember parents looking much different at UAL for DD2 a few years later. Both hot days! Second one had Grayson Perry handing over the degrees so far more entertaining!

Summery dress, sandles with a small heel. Bringing a cardigan just in case. Hubby is wearing a trousers, shirt and tie.

I used to work in a uni. Some parents worse occasion dresses and heels, others went smart-casual and wore smart flat shoes. Basically avoid jeans and trainers.

At DDs MA graduation in Cambridge earlier this year (we didn't get to go to her proper MEng one because of covid) there was everything from one dad - presumably an alumnus - in his academicals, through suits /smart casual of various types right through to one or two 'smart jeans and trainers'.

All of which was absolutely fine, of course - the focus is on the graduates not the parents.

Second one had Grayson Perry handing over the degrees so far more entertaining!

Curious what his choice of attire was, remembering his 'Italian mother of the bride' outfit when he got a gong from an evidently amused Prince Charles!

We went to DS's graduation this week. The graduands were given strict guidance about dress code (formal and specific to that university) but the guests were in a range of what I would describe as summer smart.

Men: many were in suits and ties, some were wearing chino-style trousers and shirts with collar open. I didn't see any shorts, jeans or trainers.

Women: many were in summer dresses, some were wearing a skirt or linen trousers with a top, a few in traditional outfits of their culture.

I would dress quite smartly, otherwise when you have photos with him him in his gown and suit looking all smart and happy you'll look underdressed. It's a once in a lifetime formal occasion.

It’s not as formal as Royal Ascot or a “society” wedding. There’s no reason to be formal in that sense. It’s just smarter than basic casual.

@ErrolTheDragon Im struggling to remember the details! I think yellow and pink creation?! A version of Claire. Since then he’s worn a robe designed by a student. He’s not Chancellor now. It’s now Clive Myrie.

Good point re photos @Catopia
ive bought a dress and cotton knit smart jacket so am sorted. Thanks all.

We're going to our daughter's soon.
I'm planning a summer dress and DH will wear smart trousers and probably an open necked short sleeved shirt.
Dd has got herself a leopard print number

I’m mindful of not looking overdressed, but also of the fact grandparents will put the photos in frames 😂

At our eldest’s graduation, we saw a couple of parents looking like they were dressed for a fancy wedding. Very OTT.

Our son is not planning on a tie, but will wear a suit with a t-shirt. So my husband will wear a suit and shirt but no tie. His Hugo Boss wedding suit from the 90s is now so old it’s fashionable again, so he said he’ll wear that. He’s proud he can still fit the 30 inch waist 🙄

I think I’ll re-wear a Me & Em dress I wore to a wedding a year ago with old Esska sandals (extremely comfortable).

From the 90s? It really won’t be on trend!

How do they fix the hood with no tie?