Graduation Outfit help needed please!

[OohMrDarcy]

Hi all,

I'm graduating from the OU in September and am really hoping to manage to look fabulous when I walk up on the stage!

I've hired robes which are navy blue with a pale blue / yellow hood so outfit needs to tie in to those colours - I prefer blues to yellow!

I think I'd love a midi length dress - however - I'm currently a 16/18 naturally pear shaped (so large thighs) but also with a delightfully large tum / c--section overhang at present.

I've got brown hair and eyes if relevant.

Not a massive budget but at the same time this is a special event for me so am on the hunt for something that really makes me feel lovely.

Any ideas / reccomendations ???

Bumping for you.
My tips (having spent time doing a lot of people watching during my ds's recent graduation ceremony).....

Shoes are crucial - please wear shoes you can walk in. It is not a good look to not be able to walk properly when you have some hundreds of people watching your big moment with that walk across stage (even if you don't slip or trip, it was excruciating to watch some of the graduands tottering across the stage)

Then something fairly plain and simple. Don't worry about it 'going' with your robe, but do think about the material as the 'hoods' are quite heavy and, if not button to hook the hood on to (as you would with a blouse), then you may want to pin the hood in place, so don't want a sort of silky material.

Hope you have a lovely day - it's a wonderful thing after all that study

Thanks for the tips!

Shoes will indeed be critical - I can't walk in big heels anyway, so was thinking of a small ... solid type heel - which hopefully exists somewhere!

non-silky material - check!

Yes was going to say make sure you have buttons to fix your hood to
Congratulations on your degree

Yes was going to say make sure you have buttons to fix your hood to
Congratulations on your degree

Am pretty sure the hood is done up with velcro so shouldn't need buttons (will take pins or a brooch just in case!)

Any suggestion on styles of dress that may suit?

Well done! Me too and also having a dress dilemma! I don't want to wear heels incase I trip on stage! Where are you graduating? I'm at Barbican.

The bottom 'V' of the hood that sits between your cleavage needs to be secured in that area somehow. They come with a built-in loop that can hook over the button on a blouse or buttoned dress. (It can be pinned too but is a bit less annoying on a button). Just don't wear a low cleavage outfit as it will be difficult to secure.

Congratulations

I do occasional work in graduation robing. The gown + hood is heavy, as PPs have said, and the weight is largely in the back - the whole lot wants to slide up your front shoulders and down your back. Don't wear silky fabric or anything too thin if you plan on pinning to it - the fabric may tear. Most of the hoods fasten to the gowns with velcro now.
However, with the weight of fabric in the gown, it will be hot. Depending on your graduation venue and if it has aircon, you may want to wear thinner clothes. (I know this contradicts my previous paragraph ). I definitely don't recommend a suit unless you are generally a cold temperature person.

I don't know if OU use hats/mortar boards. If they do, it's a good idea not to wear your hair in a bun/ponytail on the top or back or your head, as the hat won't fit. The gowning company should have lots of spare hats in case yours is the wrong size, though. If you have smooth/fine hair, take hairgrips and use them.

Definitely go for shoes you can walk in. This year I watched 2 of my grandchildren graduate (via my laptop), and was struck how many girls were tottering on huge, clunky heels, and also wore dresses too short or with thigh-high slits. Go for something fairly formal without a distracting pattern.
And well done, you'll have a lovely day.

Check if there is a dress code for your graduation. We had to wear dark bottoms and cream or white shirt. Congratulations!

Well done too nodrama - I'm in Brighton - wanted Barbican originally but parents are away those dates!

No mortar boards / headware to consider so that bit is easy.

I'm only 5' 4" so want to wear something more than flats - but will be a low / stable heel definitely!

Struggling with style of dress to suit my shape if anyone has any suggestions... I guess I need to go try lots on - I'm just terrible at shopping and bloody hate it!

As for style, I'd go for either an A-line silhouette or a 1950's style dress. Elsie's Attic have a good selection and HoF also have an online tool where you can put your measurements in to help match you to dresses. I'm a 16/18 myself and the dress matches were very spot on which helped.

I graduated from uni myself a few weeks ago and a few girls wore jumpsuits (fancy ones not the short beach-type ones) and they also looked really nice so that's another option for you if you wanted.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll look them up - good shout on the nice jumpsuits too - will check it out

No worries 😊

Your idea for an outfit sounds lovely.

Loads of people turn up as if dressed for clubbing, and they look a bit silly in the gown and hat, teetering across the stage in huge heels. A professional-looking outfit that you could wear in a creative office always looks way classier with the robes than a bodycon dress. Love the jump suit idea.

I have worn graduation robes 4 times now and I am a keen observer. Dress in a solid colour with unfussy neckline looks best and,as above, good shoes and make up.

The robe will actually hide a multitude of sins😀. I think you should do for darker blue or navy dress.

Congratulations op , I graduated from the OU a couple of years ago in Brighton. It was very much a mixed bag with regards to what the women were wearing trousers , dresses , skirts and the gown covered most of the outfit I found, Also I did find the floor a bit slippy in the auditorium as my heels didn't have much if any grip! Enjoy your day

I agree that the gown covers quite a lot. My DD graduated recently at Brighton Dome she wore a plain jersey dress and it looked nice. She bought some nice shoes with a smallish heel in Deichmann which were cheap. i don't think anyone really notices what you wear under the gown - although my DD was sent an email with some modesty rules.

Would a dress like this suit - it comes in black or navy(bearing in mind your budget)
www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/dresses-5699972/midi-dresses-2312666/black-crepe-dress-6828759?bi=100&ps=20

That dress is lovely worm - no idea if it will suit my current shape though - think I might order it and try it on!

Yes I suppose crepe won't stretch or be very forgiving. I'm a 5ft4 14/16 with massive norks and one hip higher then the other (scoliosis) so I tend to wear to stretchy jersey in dresses. I have this Boden dress in a couple of colours - I usually buy 1 each other year when I have a 20% off and free delivery and returns code. It washes really well and is so comfy (and stretchy). I worry it makes me look a bit pregnant but then it does cover my overhang etc. I also get a lot of wear out of it (with tights and a cardi in winter and just as is in the summer)so it is good value compared to a " dressy" dress I might just wear once or twice.
www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/womens-dresses/summer-dresses/wh980-blk/womens-black-casual-jersey-dress

I have also bought ponte dresses with a bit of a stretch in the past (from John Lewis - forget the brand) they covered a multitude of sins but I found them a bit hot at indoor events.

Hope this doesn't out me! This is me at my OU graduation a couple of years ago. The hood is held in place with velcro and there was someone from the robe suppliers on hand to adjust everything to the right position just before we went up to collect our scrolls, so don't worry too much about it slipping.

Purely personal preference but I thought wearing block colours looked best with the robes. My dress was from Phase 8 (am size 18).

I'd love a phase 8 dress - but someone warned me they tend to show every lump and bump? Is that not true?

Depends on the style. My weight is all on my lower tummy so I have to be careful of the cut of the skirt to make sure it's not too clingy. That dress was lined which also helped.

It was this one www.google.co.uk/search?q=phase+eight+raspberry+clarissa&client=ms-android-samsung&prmd=sinv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwik8u74i8_VAhUCmrQKHSC3Ds8Q_AUIEigC&biw=360&bih=560#imgrc=g1UT8L7gJJ8L2M:

Hey I graduate from OU in Brighton next month too! I have no idea what to wear. I'm only 5ft 3" and a 14. I like to think I'm hourglass shape but realistically I'm a pear! I really don't walk well in high heels so need to find a pair of low heels as well as a dress.
Congratulations on your degree, hope you find something nice to wear!

oh wow - I'm the saturday afternoon Tis - you?

Congratulations on your graduation too!

I love that phase 8 dress and am going to see if I can find one to try on I think