If you were in the platform party at a graduation

[BlackJumpsuit]

What would you wear on your feet?

I have precisely one pair of shoes that are slightly smart and they are navy. I don't currently own any suitable navy clothes.

I have flat sandals, birkies or white trainers 😂

Would you show your toes in sandals?
Say fuck it and wear trainers?
Look for a navy dress on Vinted to go with shoes

For info I am not remotely important and am just filling a space as it were, cheering on the students.

I will be wearing a black gown which will mainly hide my clothes but there is "mingling" after which I think will be sans robe.

I have a nasty feeling I may have to join the procession however so there is a chance people will see my feet 😂

Forgot to say, it's in a couple of weeks so weather may be warm, it's in a nice venue so don't want to let everyone else down by looking too scruffy although I am a short middle aged woman so will be invisible anyway

Looking at this as a possible for navy dress option.

Other options are: tailored wide leg black linen trousers and some as yet tbc top ; a not too flouncy dress from Nobody's Child which has a black background with green/blue spots; fuck knows, pjs and slippers are looking good

Erm

Looking at the feet of the platform party in my handshake photo, I can definitely see some white trainers.

Oh that is amazing news, thank you 😂

Also don't want to turn up in navy heels and dress and all the actually important people are in jeans and trainers 😂

I didn’t bother going to my graduation but I watched some of it on a live feed, one professor was wearing jeans and trainers and another appeared to be wearing walking boots or work boots of some sort. The other two staff I recognised always dress sort of smart and officey and were wearing flat / sensible shoes. I think it’s fine to wear anything tbh.

Thanks @Cognitivedisonance!

I didn't go to my own graduation but have attended a few over the years. Why did I never think to look at everyone's feet 😂

This is really helpful, I'm going to go with the black trousers, some top or other and trainers. If we happen to be having a heat wave (unlikely) I'll chance it with sandals 😄

I’ve attended several graduations and been in the platform party and I don’t think anyone wore jeans. Black trousers and trainers sound fine.

@Rocknrollstar

Thank you, that's really helpful 😊

Does your university not have a dress code? Ours states we won’t be allowed to process wearing jeans or trainers. People definitely would wear smart sandals though (not Birkenstocks).

As a previous organiser of graduations I would take advice from your colleagues. There's a world of difference between universities and different faculties in the same university.

In some ceremonies you would definitely get away with smart trainers, in others you would stick out like a sore thumb. The guiding principle is that you are there for the students so it's them and their opinions that matter, and their families.

No one would be in trainers at ours. It's nice dress (as in a nice dress you'd wear to work, not a wedding guest dress) and heels typically at mine.

Try find something with pockets or else a small cross body bag you can hide under the gown, the whole process is very much designed around men in suits with comfy shoes.

I've been in the platform party many times at my institution (which is old and very formal) and everyone wears smart shoes. Mostly women wear some kind of closed toe shoe, though a smart sandal would be ok (not Birkenstock). Absolutely no trainers, though as pp said see what your colleagues say re your own institution. Men wear suits and lace up smart shoes, and it's definitely the smartest thing we dress for all year.

I wouldn’t wear trainers. Could you get a cheap pair of black ballet pumps?
https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/footwear/shoes/black-leather-look-pointed-ballerina-pumps/p/868241001

Sandals at a push. Something you can walk easily in.

Though to be fair in the auditorium no one will be looking at feet. It’s more the reception, and looking like you understand this is a big occasion.

Hmmm, have had a good look about on the university website but cannot find any information about dress code other than in the academic sense. There was no info about it in the instruction email either.

Problem is that I'm on leave atm, and also none of my immediate colleagues are taking part, which is why I've resorted to asking on here 😊

Might have to keep two options open, and in the meantime am emailing the ceremonies team for advice.

I've stewarded at graduations before and wore a nice dress and proper shoes, but that was a few years back at a very small and prestigious/traditional institution, so wanted to get a feeler for what's generally acceptable.

Thanks for all the replies everyone, much appreciated.

@TheOGCCL
Thanks for the shoes link!

Last year I wore birkies and a bandage 😀but usually wear some flat ballerina pumps There's no dress code for staff at my place but most make an effort. You can keep your robe on for the mingling part of you want to and they may expect you to wear a cap. The dressers will help with fitting cap and gown. I have very shiny, straight, slippy hair and the caps are a pita to keep on.
If you're on the stage you'll be expected to be in the procession which is why I always wear flats with a grippy sole.
Ede and Ravenscroft suggest long sleeves...
Q:What should I wear under my robe?
A:It is important to remember that from the elbow down your arm will be visible against the gown, particularly if you're wearing a long-sleeved shirt, so you may want to wear a jacket or long sleeves underneath your robe. Although most gowns and hoods now have velcro, it's still a good idea to wear something with a buttoned front as it will help the hood neckband to sit better.

They might not be looking at your feet but if you're wearing white trainers and no one else is you'll stick out like a sore big toe.

I can't remember what anyone wore on the platform at my graduation ceremony or my son's many years later at the same university but I'd be very surprised if anyone wore white trainers.

White trainers have every possiblity of looking very wrong- far, far more wrong than navy shoes with a black dress. The OGCCL said the OP can get a cheap pair of black ballet pumps from any supermarket.

From the photos of last year's graduation ceremony at my university you would stick out like an enormous, throbbing sore toe in white trainers.

There's no dress code for staff at my place but most make an effort.

From the photos of mine there's clearly a dress code but turning up in white trainers , for me, says , "can't be bothered to make an effort"

Not being funny, but having been to several graduations, I don’t think anyone is paying much attention to the feet, or indeed the outfits, of the academics on the platform! Some of the graduating students wear such frankly bizarre and outlandish stuff (or in some cases just plain scruffy clothes) under their robes, I’d suggest that’s what more people are looking at.

I’d probably suggest a pair of smarter shoes or sandals rather than trainers, but you’d have to wear something deliberately ‘out there’ to grab more than a nano second’s worth of attention on stage, so I’d aim for smart and professional but comfortable.

The platform party will be in full view of the audience and graduands for the whole of the ceremony - it'd be quite hard not to notice what its members are wearing; especially if they are in full academic regalia, which they were at the ones I've been at.

When DH graduated from his old-established fairly stuffy formal uni a few years ago (but this century!) he wore a suit and tie under his gown. As did most of the lads, while the girls tended to stick to summer dresses. I think it was expected.
The platform party was similarly formally dressed. Trainers would have definitely stood out, and not in a good way.

It says “there’s something wrong with my foot” to me, assuming the rest of your clothing is smart. But I agree you would stick out at my institution.

OP, are there any videos of the previous year on the intranet? Or can you ask whoever you are stepping in for?

I attend multiple graduation ceremonies every year as a member of the platform and I don’t think I’ve ever seen any member of staff wearing white trainers. Obviously it will depend on the faculty (art dept are notorious for wearing some more outlandish outfits!) but you need to look smart. You can’t really be over dressed unless you’re wearing a ball gown. But you can definitely be under dressed - one year our deputy head of department came wearing an old t-shirt, jeans and loafers and my HoD shot him the most evil daggers when clocked what he was wearing 😂 as all other men were in suits and women were all in either dresses or formal trousers and blouses. So you don’t want to be “that guy”!