What do mums wear for graduations?

[MoonshineandMagic]

My lovely DD graduates in October and I'm unsure what to wear for the ceremony. I've got a nice dress I wore for a black tie do at work last year but I'm thinking that may be a bit OTT. Or I could go for my default smart option of leather leggings and blazer but maybe that's too casual?

Has anyone else been to a graduation this year and if so what did you wear?

If it helps I'm 50, 5'2, not particularly thin and dont really do dressing up!

Uni academic here. Have attended and worked in both newer and ancient unis. Just wear whatever you feel best/comfortable in. I would advise no large brimmed hats or tall (unless part of cultural dress) so as not to obstruct others view of their graduate. Have fun and be proud, oh and waterproof make uo, if you wear any! I am always fighting tears when I am on stage

I went to my son’s last year and there was a huge mix to be honest. Some parents turned up in jeans and T shirts and looked massively underdressed (and IMO disrespectful of their children’s achievements). Others looked liked they had dressed for a royal garden party or society wedding and that was better than jeans and a T shirt but maybe a tad OTT.

I wore a nice day dress in a vibrant blue (one I’ve since worn to work) and formal shoes for what it’s worth.

Imagine you’ve been invited to a nice restaurant for lunch with people you hope to impress a little. So - nothing too fancy, as it’s daytime, but just your best version of yourself.

You may be sitting around for hours so don’t wear anything that’s going to be uncomfortable.

(Your daughter’s lucky to have you there! Neither of my parents had been able to attend any of my graduation or professional ceremonies …)

My son's was earlier last year. I wore white wide leg trousers, a vintage 1960s jacket and flats. Felt about right. It was the first ceremony they'd held since lockdown so maybe it was a little more celebratory and dressed up than usual but it still stopped short of wedding wear e.g no hats or fascinates.

There was a lot of standing around and walking to photogenic location so comfortable shoes important.

My daughter graduated last year. Majority of mums were in dresses. A lot of wrap dresses. Dressed up with jewellery and bag. All colours. A few were in dresses that were suited to a winter wedding. Chanel style jackets, blazers, white trousers was another style. I wore a royal blue wrap dress with silver bag, jewelry and low sandals. Leather leggings seem a bit casual

Worked 10 graduations and its normally dresses for the mums and sisters,like pp said garden party style sort of thing or bbc new presenter type😂, cultural dress is popular too and some wear hats but be mindful if you're sitting watching the ceremony!the leggings and blazer would be good, i also see some trendy trousers/leggings or posh like new jeans and nice shirts/floaty top and heels combos too. The sisters and graduates dress ready to go straight out partying after🩷

Also an academic. Wear whatever you want, jeans and a top or a full on gown it doesn't matter. If it's in a cathedral consider what's appropriate e.g. shoulders covered. Remind dd to wear something with a button on the front for the gown. I'd take gloves or handcream for the two hours of constant clapping required.

I'd go with the leather leggings and blazer combo if that's what you're comfortable in. I HATE being overdressed though, so would run a mile from anything which would tip me in that direction.

I went to a graduation a few years ago and wore a middle of the road type dress and flat shoes

I wore this dress (it's much greener irl) with a yellow short sleeved cardigan and brown sandals to my dds graduation a few years ago. Turned out to be a good choice as it was very hot both inside the hall (it was over 2 hours for the ceremony) and outside on that day

https://en.zalando.de/monsoon-day-dress-green-zir01ye2y-001.html

Something like a long-sleeved day dress that's not too showy. No bare shoulders, cleavage, etc. Something like Hobb's or Phase Eight.

This one is about as casual as I'd go.

[[//Ghost Grace Satin Swing Midi Dress, Dark Green at John Lewis & Partners one is lovely. I'd be willing to show a bit more skin if I got to wear such a beautiful dress.

I wore trousers and a silk shirt.

Leather leggings sounds a bit tacky to me. And potentially rather too warm for being somewhere crowded.

Smart casual or plain smart without being OTT I'd say. I wore a silk dress that I've also worn to a wedding. (Though it's also about feeling relaxed on a day that might involve quite a bit of standing about.)

Let’s be honest, it’s not school … The mummies and daddies aren’t going to be phoning each other up to find out what ‘everyone’ is wearing. I’ve seen a wide variety of outfits at every graduation (mine and others’) that I’ve been to.

So I’d say any version of ‘smart’ day wear would be fine. Not everyone wants to wear a Hobbs dress. Certainly no one should feel excluded from seeing their child graduate because they’re worried about an imaginary, impenetrable dress code.

Smart casual no jeans

It is always very mixed. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in.

Some look like they have just stepped off the farm while others look they are attending a wedding minus hats and fascinators and others somewhere in between.

I don’t possess and wouldn’t want to wear a Hobbs dress. A lot of the mums wear trousers and a top, skirt and a top, a dress or a jumpsuit.

Personally, I would say comfortable shoes as often lots of standing around not jeans, nothing too revealing i.e. too short, too low cut and nothing you would wear to a posh formal wedding or ball etc.

I would wear normal clothes sure less stained ones but just nice normal clothes

Personally, I would say comfortable shoes as often lots of standing around not jeans, nothing too revealing i.e. too short, too low cut and nothing you would wear to a posh formal wedding or ball etc.
This.

I think smart casual is too casual when you are going to watch your DC pick up the achievement of 3 years hard work.
It doesn't have to be a Hobbs dress, but something slightly dressier than a dress you'd wear for work, but not as dressy as a posh wedding. I'd aim to not stand out for being over or under-dressed.
A nice dress or jumpsuit or smart trousers and top not jeans and t-shirt Suit and shirt for men.

Either of your options is fine. Wrap dresses and naice scarves abound but there's a range. I'd say not jeans or joggers, is all.

Thank you all this is really helpful - I think I’ll keep my eyes peeled for a dress as the one I mentioned shows more cleavage than I’d like my ex-H or the other parents to see! But I’ll keep my blazer combo as a backup option.

What sort of dress would you like, @MoonshineandMagic?

And do you have a budget in mind?

The kind of dress you'd wear for a nice lunch out. Definitely not leather leggings.

I volunteer at our graduation days as I work for a RG uni. I love seeing what everyone wears. Lots of mums in beautiful dresses, think whistles / phase eight / reiss etc. But also smart trousers & tops as well as more relaxed dresses think Seasalt style. There is a lot of standing about so comfortable shoes. I didn't see many hats this summer. The graduates often dress for a night out where as the mums look more nice lunch with friends. Enjoy. I love volunteering at the ceremonies such a happy occasion.

When we went to DD's I wore a summer shift dress with a cardigan, but there were people in all sorts. Some people looked like they wrote going to a wedding, others looked like they were off to do the weekly shop. Just wear what you feel comfortable in.

I went to 2 in 2022 and 99% of the Mums were in smart dresses and jackets.

"Wedding without a hat" is a good way to look at it.

You would definitely be out of place in leather leggings.
I know places vary, but I've seen photos from 3 different places again this yea on top of the 3 o 4 places I saw photos from last year. People really do make an effort, on the whole.