Mature student graduation outfit

[Cami65]

I'm due to graduate next month from my Masters course and really struggling to find something suitable to wear. I don't want to try and match in with the other young'uns, I was thinking something work-ish but beyond what I'd wear to work on a normal day, perhaps something in a slightly out there colour or pattern? I generally stick to black/navy/burgundy for work and fairly boring/conservative.

I ordered a few structured dress styles from Karen Millen but nothing really wowed me. I'm 37 and an hour glass size 16. Decent boobs, small waist and legs ok but wide in the hips. Would prefer nothing too tight across the stomach area. Wise S&Bers pls help! I don't mind throwing a few £s at this within reason.

You obviously want to look nice. But I wouldn't overthink the whole thing. At DD's masters ceremony there were all ages and nationalities and a dizzying array of styles,
Including National dress.
It may also be hot and stuffy so I wouldn't wear anything too structured or heavy.
I'm not helping much! But I thought you'd like a reply!

Thank you :) I'm thinking a shift/tailored style dress with a low-mid block heel shoe. I was just hoping to find something a bit jazzier than my normal day to day work uniform. I love the pink version of Karen Millens structured dress but unfortunately out of stock. Where do you go now to find a well fitted, tailored dress? I find hobbs a bit too classic and next not well enough tailored. Any suggestions for where else to look very welcome

Do you live near a John Lewis? Their personal stylists are very good indeed. And it's a free service.

www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/midi-dresses/product.voluminous-belted-midi-dress-black.1155917002.html
Saw this on another thread. Would be perfect under graduation gown.

Unfortunately no John Lewis as in NI, but will have a look at & other stories, I thought something with straps of some sort might be easier to attach a gown

I just wore black work trousers and a nice blouse.

Let the younger ones show both tits and legs. So many holding onto things to avoid showing their pants as they crossed the stage!

A few thoughts...

Does the university have a dress code? We were advised something along the lines of "sober workwear, no bright colours". I guess the colours thing is for photographs.

You'll be wearing a gown, no one will see your outfit.

It's likely to be warm and you'll be wearing a gown. Don't make your underlying outfit too tight/restrictive (I appreciate in NI it's as likely not to be warm).

The robes need something to attach to on your clothes. I'm pretty sure this was always a front jacket button for me. If you don't have buttons down the front, have a fabric you don't mind pining.

And congratulations! Doing a Master's as a mature student is no mean feat.

At my masters graduation last year (also a mature student) I wore a red midi shirt dress. The buttons gave something to attach the hood to, and the red matched the sash which looked nice.

I graduated during the heatwave and was glad I'd worn something fairly cool under the ridiculously hot gown!

Ah yes the buttons for the gown. Mine attached to my silky blouse but meant my blouse kept riding upwards.

I would have been better with a flat top really.
Wear a light colour to have a contrast with the gown -my undergraduate I did dark round neck top -looked a bit blob like underneath. A white shirt was better for contrast /neckline.

Basically this is an outfit (gown and hood/hat) designed for men!

Thanks for all your suggestions and advice, a shirt dress sounds like a practical solution and thanks for the suggest about light colours! I've had lovely shirt dresses from Sugarhill Brighton previously so will have a look there

Do you know what colours your hood will be? I attend two graduations a year as an academic and just wear a midi dress but for my own MSc graduation I wore a navy midi dress with red kitten heeled shoes to match the hood colours. I just use a small safety pin to hold the hood in place if no buttons. I'm already eyeing up my PhD graduation outfit as the colours will be totally different for that, it's at least 4 years away 😂

The hood will bed red/green. I quite like the look of this as I'd likely wear it again:

https://www.riverisland.com/p/white-spot-belted-midi-shirt-dress-755650

I don't want anything too trendy that I'll look back and cringe at the photos. As I didn't complete an undergrad this is all a bit new to me!

@HippyChickMama kudos to you I will never ever have the stamina for a PhD! I was delighted to come top of my class and will leave my academic ambitions there 😉

That dress is nice.

I don't know why I wrote match the sash upthread, I clearly meant match the hood. My sash was red and green too and my dress was similar to this: https://www.sosandar.com/red-black-animal-print-belted-shirt-dress?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7PCjBhDwARIsANo7CglYxh8KRSvSrtBX01uukwrZOni3TF3ZnhH-i79_cruFBfe_yO7dF7caAvL6EALw_wcB#241=238&fo_c=2425&fo_k=013dfde83bccd02cd9f4d78cd21a92ea&fo_s=gplauk

I agree that a contrasting colour is good under the gown, I wore a plain black shift dress to my undergraduate graduation (20+ years ago) thinking I would look smart and sophisticated, but it actually looked really boring.

Oh fgs I've written sash again. More coffee needed!

That's lovely, have you got shoes to go with it?

I have fairly plain block heel courts in black that I think would work. I have ordered the River Island dress and hopefully that's the one! Will also have a look on Sosander to have a few back up options on standby. Thanks everyone 😁