On behalf of DD - Graduation Dress

[TeddynMousey]

DD is in her last year of uni and has decided she's going to buy her graduation dress now so she has an extra push to stay motivated.
No one in our family has gone to uni before so not sure whether this would be seen as ok.

She wants to get this one - thoughts?

https://www.thereformation.com/products/nadira-dress/1310624POI.html?lang=enGB&gaddsource=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA8YyuBhBSEiwA5R3-E-TVChOxwei-x04-7kuTJaGkT8c4hs22Ee5Yct-dj60kULYIuBqfhoC-AEQAvDDBwE

Yes it's beautiful. I wore red to mine as well.

I doubt your daughter cares what a bunch of random Internet strangers of a different generation thinks!

But will she be wearing a gown? To my mind a gown and bare arms would look odd - and I know my former university forbids it. Formal academic dress would be expected.

academical-dress

Perhaps she's somewhere more easy going? Either way she should definitely check before she buys.

It’s lovely, but looks to me more like a party dress than a graduation dress

Make sure she has checked her university guidelines - they will most likely be wearing gowns so a button in the middle is really useful (yes they were designed for men!)

One of my DD's was told skirts must be below the knee, the other stipulated dark coloured business wear. Universities do vary

tell Her to look at photos from last year. DS had lots of different styles. There were very glamorous as well as more simply smart.
I was surprised as my Uni was a ‘white blouse black skirt’ kind of place.

First thing is to check there aren’t rules about what she can wear. Assuming she’s done that, I’d have a look online for pics of past graduations. Check that the gown she’ll wear will sit right over the dress- some of them are really designed for menswear and need to be attached at the chest (with a loop that goes round a shirt button or safety pin) which might not work well with that dress. Definitely take safety pins.

But ultimately she should wear what she wants- it’s her day- and probably her friends are a better source of advice than us lot!

Do you mean graduation day or graduation ball? I think it’s a lovely dress but more suitable for the latter rather than the former!

I wore red to mine. Its a lovely dress but possibly a little bit too revealing (and I hate to sound like an old woman) but something with sleeves maybe more appropriate, even short sleeves.

But she should wear what she feels comfortable in.

Make sure she wears shoes that she can walk across the stage in!

It does look more suitable as a party dress than for graduation.

Depends on the uni tbh. It's a lovely dress, but for me more evening than day and not formal enough.

Lovely but is she sure it is that formal? You won't see much beneath the gown in the picture.

As others have said it doesn't look as though it would work that well with the more traditional gowns, you need to have some clothing to pin them to so they don't slip.
It wouldn't have met the guidelines for my graduations but each university is different.

Or it may be differently 'formal' - DDs was white blouse/shirt, black skirt or trousers.

I think it's stunning and would be totallly fine at my Uni but it sounds like some are formal - I hadn't realised!

People dress up for graduation but that isn't suitable, the ties on the shoulders will be really bulky under the gown. My DD matched her dress to the gown colour - complimentary rather than the same so it was all blue/ grey/ white, looks lovely on her photo. It had to be knee length and shoulders covered, was May so it wasn't warm. She chose very out there shoes to make it a bit more "her". It's a formal event and you need to dress appropriately.

Advice from Ede & Ravenscroft who rent the gowns used at most universities

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 robe 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.

On the day they also have dressers who will help to fit the hat, gown and hood (the coloured flappy bit that sits over your shoulders and hangs down the back) and often have pins and hair clips to help everything stay in place.

I've graduated twice... both times wore a buttoned blouse with dark trousers and closed-toe shoes.

I was really comfortable, the gown and collar sat well across my shoulders, the trousers and the gown sort of blended together, and I could walk confidently across the stage.

The idea of teetering, adjusting, having toes showing, not being able to anchor the collar to anything really did not appeal to me!!

The one thing I would add is that DD's drape thingy over her robe was coral coloured and she was anxious about clashing.

Def go on school website and look for pictures of last year!!

She’ll need something cut higher. I’m a PhD student and at my two graduations the gown was safety pinned to the clothing underneath. She’ll have nothing to pin it to and that can create some slippage backwards. Lots of girls in beautiful lower cut dresses looked like they were being strangled by the bloody gown at my graduations.

that dress is gorgeous but will be a massive pain in the arse to keep the gown on with

It doesn't look like a graduation dress to me more a party dress (it's lovely though for that)(I work in a University and have attended graduations).

Also check if there is a limit on which colour the clothes need to be. At my Uni it's black/white

Graduation ball- yes
Graduation ceremony - no

I can't see a problem with that dress, but do check the rules and if you can some previous photos.
For both my DD they have worn summer dresses, neither had anything to hook the cape onto it just say on their neck or got pulled down. This is for Science based degrees at Russell Group Unis, so not arts or anywhere more known for being different.
DD1 wore a cream dress with flowers on, with the main flower being in the same colour as the strip on her gown. The dress has thin straps and is just below the knee. She wore high heeled open toe sandals.

DD2 has graduated twice, both times in a posh dress, for her summer graduation it was bright pink, below the knee with long sleeves, she wore open high black sandals. The pink under the gown looks really good and red will too.
For the winter graduation (it was trying to snow), she wore a mid thigh cream dress, fake tan and chunky boots. The other girls on her course wore summer dresses and either boots or sandals. The boys are all in shirt, tie, suit trousers and formal shoes

Depends on uni but that is the wrong type of "formal wear". Fine for an evening at a wedding. Not for an academic/professional setting. Check uni guidelines. They might be more chill