I need a dress for my sons graduation. Any ideas?

[Pagwatch]

I have never attended a graduation.

I need a dress for 9.00am ceremony and then lunch with ds and hs best friends from uni and their parents.

I want something knee length and ok for whatever weather gets thrown at us in mid July
I like this because it's easy but I fear twenty squillion lk Bennett dresses poncing around town that morning

Size 10/12. No boobs. Arms are good but knee length is vital.

Has anyone seen anything gorgeous?
I'm so proud of my son and I want him to be proud of me ( in ways other than my generally being awesome )

great minds, Remus.

Aha - had missed your link, sorry.

Theas. You're dress looks fine, I'm wearing a dress from M & S which is about the same sort of price. I was worried there would be several people in the same dress but obviously I needn't worry about that. I was just glad I got something which fit me as I am quite tall and long bodied and also I wanted to cover my old knees.

I don't normally wear dresses but wanted to for DS so will feel a bit self conscious so also wanted to be comfortable

Theas, your dress is lovely. My first choice dress was from BHS of all places but it was perfect. For someone a stone lighter than me so I took it back and have subsequently lost a stone. I'm gutted I didn't keep it. It's no longer on the website. So not everyone will be wearing lkbennett.

Oh bollocks - small family crisis - can't look at these this evening. Thank you so much though
Will hit this thread tomorrow.
Thanks .
I am freaking out a bit so really appreciate the help

great minds, Remus

Oops, two posts. Eh?

Theas, your dress is lovely and you will look great. All the parents I see at graduation look great, because they are radiant and transformed by their manifest pride in, and love for, their clever and hard-working students.
I would just say ... comfy shoes. There's always more standing around on very hard surfaces than you expect, and often awkward flights of stairs to negotiate.

Hope all is ok Pag

I was just going to add that dress standards very from uni to uni. DS was at Durham, graduation reception on the green in front of the castle, ceremony in Cathedral and lots of very sophisticated, obviously expensive clothes. DD was at a more modern campus university, still a very good one but less traditional. Graduation was on campus in the main hall and, although parents were very well dressed, it was lower key

I wouldn't wear the 'eveningy' one, pag, because I think people tend to slightly overdress and it's aging when you're around a crowd of 21 year olds (this is not a comment on your age, I'm sure you're the youngest mum of a graduand ever, but I'm 29 and I watch out on this one). You're slim enough you could show off a bit, right?

Would something like this work? They're really nicely cut but they're cotton so don't look too try-hard: www.vanityprojectdresses.com/prod2.cfm?product=85970

(Sorry, meant to say I hope the family crisis is soon resolved.)

I was quite surprised at how informal a lot of the parents were. Dd was at Bristol and I though it would be uber sophistication. It was more Islington laid back architect. We were sat next to a very wealthy looking couple in jeans

I think it is quite low key. My best friend and her ex dh have had 2 through university near me and we have had big lunches post graduations and was a mixture. They are super rich blah blah and he wore jeans she wore a dress. I actually like the temperley with a little cashmere cardigan and flats but I think its maybe a bit dressed up.

www.massimodutti.com/gb/en/women/dresses-%26-skirts/dress-with-leather-appliqué-c1060620p4624001.html?colorId=405

This is summery but structured. Not sure about the length though.

www.jigsaw-online.com/products/watercolour-organza-dress-8591

I must admit I was surprised the OP was so bothered about dressing up.
I graduated last century and it wasn't such a big deal

www.massimodutti.com/gb/en/women/shoes/edged-peep-toe-c1060627p3577058.html?colorId=131 these would be lovely with that simple MD dress

Well Karl, watching your child graduate is "a big deal" to some, including me. It was one of the proudest moments of my life.

Thats you told

Christ, you are all so fab

Family crisis is not serious - just time consuming and I feel crappy having started a thread and can't properly read it. We are all fine. Ds2 just needs love and attention :-)

You are all right - someone said 'try hard' and I really don't want to do that. Some lovely frocks - ill look tomorrow.
Thea - love your dress !
I just have a big arse to cover
Thanks again . Back tomorrow

I had a Hobbs dress last year for DS2's graduation.
No one else had the same dress on on that day.
In fact I saw no one in a matching dress with anyone else all day.
(I am always amazed that most of the time you NEVER see someone else wearing what you are wearing.

Meh. University education wasn't a novelty

Huh, that's odd karl ... I have photos of my parents with their parents dressing up for graduation about 40 years ago. Guess it depends on people as much as time. They were clearly very proud, bless them.

pag - poor DS2 (and don't feel guilty you daft woman!).

Mum in mine is wearing a jacket and some trousers. I'm wearing horrendous earrings

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