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!

gallagher-cleated-sole-leather-snaffle-trim-loafers-black-0076509230001484.html
I have similar to those. There are loads in the shops now.
M&S has some really nice wide leg trousers. In fact M&S has really stepped up and does some lovely stuff now. Apparently the recruited the lady who use to head up Topshop.
And you will be a be able to wear them all through the season.

Sorry I just reread and noticed you don't like loafers.
https://www.johnlewis.com/kin-elisha-leather-flatform-brogue-shoes/off-white/p5299940?size=8&s_ppc=2dx92700069723213768_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo4-x7KqLgQMVjeztCh3cxgoVEAQYASABEgJ-XfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

If you don't like this colour you can get similar in black

Thank you, I really like that second pair! I agree about M&S, I’ve bought a few bits from there lately - so handy that they do short length and the clothes feel good quality.

I went to my son’s in July. Most mums were in nice dresses. Hats weren’t allowed. Definitely not any type of leggings or jeans. Smart trousers would be fine, ours was on a very hot day though.

When I go to my adult DCs occasions I always ask them to guide me, or choose from my shortlist, given they're the only person at the event who's opinion matters to me.

Think one level down from wedding guest - no hats and no fancy shoes etc but smart dress and jacket- most at my son’s ceremony this summer dressed like that.

I’m an academic and most of my students’ mums have dressed like that. Jeans, leggings, very casual skirts, dresses - no.

Accommodation if you're planning to stay over book before fretting about clothing it fills up so fast. Ditto a nice restaurant for a meal afterwards. Our ceremony lasted nearly three hours including all the students being awarded. Son and girlfriend booked a lovely Italian restaurant three months in advance. So we met her parents for the first time.

Plan ahead

I think it does depend on the uni and location. My graduation was definitely in the ‘wedding attire’ ballpark- old fancy building, lots of grandeur. Garden party with champagne and strawberries afterwards.

When was that? Unless there's a dinner afterwards in which case it's a different ball game , things are a lot more casual now.

Durham last year was quite smart in June. In cathedral but they had a marquee set up outside serving champagne (to buy) etc, photography , lunches etc. Each college put on a dinner ( free to graduate) for family that evening.

I wore black jeans. Oops. In my slight defence, DD decided to wear the (plain, dark) dress I'd brought along for myself.

I have to say I didn't feel out of place, though. I was clean and comfortable, wearing the sort of things I'd wear to watch any other event, and having a lovely time. I hope it didn't spoil the day for anyone else.

DD's summer graduation was at the tail end of covid so they had an outside village with food stalls, bar tents etc. Really fun. I wore a broderie anglais dress from Zara with white trainers and it was perfect.

DS's winter grad wore a black velvet shift dress from white company with tights and flat shoes. Again felt nice and happy in the pics.

Best advice is be comfortable-both sitting and standing for long periods and remember the pics last forever.

Really?
I'd wear jeans to a meal during the day, even if I wanted to impress people and having lived in a university city, the parents were always much more dressed than that, not smart casual at all!

My son's was at Edinburgh a few years ago. I wore a simple Jigsaw shift dress with cap sleeves, (V neck, white with violet flowers on it). Black smart strappy (comfy!) sandals from Clarks and a fairly posh handbag. Sort of a posh but comfortable version of myself, haha. There's a lot of standing about and it can be hot, so you don't want super tight clothes or pinchy shoes, but you do want to feel that you look fairly smart.

When was that? Unless there's a dinner afterwards in which case it's a different ball game , things are a lot more casual now.

That sounds very similar to the last 2 I went to, in 2022, so not a long time ago. Not a "prestigious" University for either of them.
I've seen photos of friends attending their dcs' graduations at various Universities this year too, and very much similar styles at all of them. Parents dress up smartly, or stand out rather obviously.

Pretend you are going to a christening- that would hit the mark about right - so not as formal as a wedding, but not as informal as a pub lunch.

Jeans are definitely not suitable. I mean, nobody is going to stop you entering but what does that say about your level of effort? We were proud to be there and it was a special occasion. Dress to reflect that. DD said she was proud of us and how we looked that day and that was important too.As a PP said, lots of photos taken, your DC is smartly dressed and gowned so you need to match that level .

A nice jumpsuit or trousers with smart trainers would be fine. Agree with dressing smartly but you are allowed to go as yourself, no need to crack out the Laura Ashley if that's not you.

I agree.If you like jeans, a trouser suit or jumpsuit is a smarter version. No need to wear heels.

If you don't want to wear a skirt or dress them go for some tailored trousers and a nice blouse. (Think office wear rather than black tie or clubbing clothes.)

There can be a lot of standing around eg waiting to get photos done or queuing to get in. And depending on how close car parks, robing rooms, photography studio are, can sometimes be a lot of walking too. Make sure you have comfy shoes.

Agree with others - the auditoriums get hot and leather leggings will feel hideous.

i bought a dress for work but it was too smart, i am saving it for dd's graduation in the autumn

I didn't mention jeans.

Lots of other mums wore dresses too but it was summer.

I wore a dress to DD's graduation in the spring. It was perishing! I layered up with thermals, cycling shorts, jacket... In some of the photos DD's nose was practically blue.

No need to crack out the Laura Ashley if that's not you.

Love this 😂

I did use my big tote bag. Bottle of water and telescopic umbrella were necessary for one graduation ceremony