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!

Hmm … Would you not worry about finding yourself in the same dress as some of the students, @MoonshineandMagic?

I think a graduation is one of the few occasions in life when an element of gravitas is welcome amongst parents.

A dress, as if you're going to a nice afternoon tea. Could your evening dress be toned down with a blazer or smart cardigan?

@MoonshineandMagic The sitting room was definitely easier although we did it without ds as he and his classmates got together in a few of their uni houses to watch it (restrictions had eased for a bit over the summer). They even rented gowns (the rental companies don't miss a trick) and went to the uni and took photos in the grounds.

That dress looks lovely. And at 5'2", it's going to be closer to knee length on you so won't be too short. The length on the model would probably be a bit short.

@PrincessPeaches123 - you may not have read the rest of the thread? The conversation has developed since the first post!

@Wildermess so the original dress can't be toned down with a blazer or a scarf to conceal cleavage?

I wore an ankle length bias cut skirt with a pale floral print and a matching blouse. Heels. It was in London and very warm and quite a bit of train and tube travel but it looked really nice and smart. As PP have said, some people made a massive effort and some didn't. I think smart is the way to go.

Having seen your update OP, could you go for something like wide leg trousers with a blazer and a crisp white tee. Nice jewellery and a tonal bag and shoes to pull it together?

October can be chilly so a smart outfit, comfortable shoes we did a lot of walking in Leeds but most importantly book a restaurant early because it's nice to eat a meal afterwards. You can wave them off to their celebrations then.

Flat shoes - you'll be doing a lot of walking and standing.

I'm a large, on the small side person. I wore wide leg trousers in navy, with a thick silk t shirt in silver grey. And an edge to edge jacket in navy and silver. With flat silver loafers. Comfortable to sit in and easy to walk in with my dodgy knees.
Under no circumstances could I wear a dress.
Good luck wear what makes you happy and does justice to your child's effort. Have fun. It's a lovely day.

Yes wide leg trousers are fab. Elegant and comfortable wear a simple satin camisole and drapey/ crepe blazer. Up the glam with a fab pair of earrings and nice shoes.

Saw this on Pinterest.
https://www.sundayaffairs.co/products/lilytwopiecesummersuit

As someone who had to wear a gown, and occasionally hood, for work purposes - women's clothes generally aren't 'solid' enough for the button option to work. Two safety pins holding the sides to the gown work better. DD's hood has Velcro for this and no button loop!
As mum I wore a nice summer dress and linen jacket. As someone said - as for lunch or a garden party where you want to impress a little bit.

I wore a long summer dress, sandals and dh wore shorts and a shirt, the event was in September, weather was still warm.

I really like the idea of wide leg trousers - what shoes would be best? I don’t suit loafers but really fancy some chunky platform lace-ups or similar.

DD has quite a formal dress, her colours are blue and yellow and luckily I suit navy/cobalt type colours.

I graduated from a prestigious uni 5 years ago, ceremony in a West End theatre and my mum wore jeans + polo top. There was a mix of clothing, casual like her but also more dressy.
Nobody cares really so wear what you feel comfortable in. There's a dress code for students but none for parents as I recall.

I'd pitch it as a posh afternoon tea type occasion.

At my brothers graduation a few years ago, our mum wore a shift dress and jacket from LK Benett and a pair of court shoes. She looked lovely and perfect for the occasion.

DD’s at Durham cathedral involved a drinks reception and marquee followed by 3 course dinner at her college so I don’t think polo top and jeans would cut it .Depends on the type of event.

I’m an academic, and I’ve attended numerous graduations/conferrings across five institutions in two countries, outside of my own degree ceremonies, and you’d be absolutely fine in a trouser suit or jumpsuit and trainers. If that’s your style, you do not need to cosplay Phase Eight/Hobbs Woman for the day. Oxbridge at the more formal end, but you’re dressing for the Sheldonian, and with the graduates in subfusc rather than going out gear heightens the formality. Don’t go and buy something you will never wear again.

If you like to dress up, then dress up. Most people will be smart, and to be honest, it's not often you get the chance to dress up these days without feeling weird and out of place. Plus, while the graduand is obviously the focus of the day, hopefully you will take lots of family photos too, so it's nice to look good in them.

I wore a Boden dress for my son's graduation in July. I tried on lots of dresses but went for an empire line dress that was comfortable, flattering on me and I felt I could wear on other occasions. I wanted something a little bit special but not something I would wear just once.
Lots of other mums wore dresses too but it was summer. However, to be honest, it didn't really matter what other parents wore as eyes were on on the graduates. Parents were generally smart but nothing extravagant. I'm sure some wore jeans but they were smart casual. Just wear what suits you and what you feel good in. There's a lot of sitting, a lot of waiting.

The OP asked specifically about the ceremony though. If there was other stuff I'm sure she'd have mentioned it?

As an aside I don't think what you wear to that bit really matters. You're all seated anyway. It's the other stuff, or if none possibly what you look like to other parents (although it's university, not school, so I don't see how their opinions matter).

We had a drinks reception too. But what I remember about the whole day itself was apart from parents, there being lots of other students! Peers who had graduated on a different day, and they were all super casual. Also because it was blazing hot.

Certainly even in our own little student house we had 3 different graduation sessions. I went for 5 in the end to see my mates dolled up and take photos, just as they came for mine.

I wore a crepe de chine maxi dress from Jigsaw, so smarter than my usual summer dresses. On advice from MN, I wore trainers for most of the day as there is a lot of standing around and wandering from ceremony site to uni and back. But I wore smart heels for the main event and photos.

I'd choose something fairly smart. Similar to what you might wear to a wedding or major anniversary/birthday party.

I wouldn’t say leather leggings are a default smart option. At my graduation my mum just wore a nice dress and cardigan.