Which dress for my graduation?

[AuntieSoap]

I'll be attending my own (Masters) graduation ceremony next week and I'm torn about what to wear. I've got 3 options and I like them all but keen for opinions. I'm 49 and I've just shed 3 stone, still a size 14 (more 14-16 than 12-14) but feeling quite good about myself.

Option 1 - I love this green one but is it too clubby rather than formal?
www.oliverbonas.com/fashion/green-sequin-mini-dress-362596

Option 2 - the pink is a safe bet I think
www.oliverbonas.com/fashion/pink-crinkle-velvet-mini-dress-363082

Option 3 - this looks lovely on and is possibly my favourite dress but I wanted to avoid black as I prefer a contrast to the black gown.
www.debenhams.com/product/jolie-moi-vianna-contrast-2in1-midi-dress_p-67d49474-f508-4ead-baac-9e56309c06d9

Thanks!

Congratulations!
Of the 3 choices, I think option 3 is the best

I just don't want to look like I'm going to work. I dress 'smart' every day for the office so I want to dress up a bit. I'm now having second thoughts about dress 3, mostly because of the neckline actually.

What about this:

www.nobodyschild.com/eu/black-cord-embroidered-peggy-mini-dress.html

That looks like it will work well too!

That's far and away the nicest of the 3.

If you are hiring from Ede and Ravenscroft they will probably have velcro on the hood and also on your gown to hold it in place. I graduated with my MSc in November and tried to hook the hood (I didn't have a velcro one) onto a cardigan button and it wasn't strong enough to hold the weight of the hood so I resorted to safety pins. We were also told that we had to wear "dark" dresses, many of us wore black but others were dressed much more brightly.

The black one is perfect

Have you checked their rules, when i graduated we had to wear business dress, where dd went it was more flexible but the highly recommended blouses with buttons because the hood hooks on (she wore a silk blouse and skirt, classic and then suitable for work)

Are there guidelines? We had to wear smart office wear.
I wore a shirt and trousers then a black wrap dress.

The pink. It's lovely. And people wear all sorts to graduations(except oxbridge which does still seem to be strict from what I've observed). Others I've been to in the last 5 years - Durham and LSHTM - the pink would have been fine. I think the green is too evening, and the last one to wedding, MOTB

I just love those Gabor shoes.

The website says:

"DRESS CODE
• Graduation is a formal event, so we'd recommend wearing clothes which reflect the prestigious occasion. Many graduating students choose to wear business attire, smart national dress or other formal clothing under their gowns.
• Ede & Ravenscroft recommend wearing a shirt so that the hood on the gown (which has a loop) can be hooked onto a button on your shirt to ensure it sits properly. Alternatively, you can bring hair or safety pins with you to help keep the gown and hood in place."

Thanks, I'll bring safety pins!

Thank you, they're not hideously uncomfortable either!

I much prefer the first 2, I think the 3rd is old fashioned. At my graduation a couple of years ago most women wore party dresses as they are covered by the gown then you are ready for dinner and going out. There were definitely quite a few sequins! But perhaps it depends on the college so maybe check with others graduating what they are planning to wear?

@Burpie I'm literally about 20 years older than everyone else. I'll ask them anyway 😀

I don’t like the first two, I think the 3rd is an okay option!
I wore this for mine in foxglove blue
https://www.phase-eight.com/product/julissa-ruffle-wrap-midi-dress-221805600.html#q=Julissa&is=true&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=221805600&pos=12

The first two (green and oink) are an affront to my eyes. Horrendous.

The third one is better but I don't like half and half dresses with one half plain and one half patterned.

Of course we all like different things. I think the 4th is a nice option. Congratulations! It’s about enjoying the day in what you feel comfortable in

I’ve been to two graduations recently and thought the ladies wearing plain colours looked nicer than those wearing prints so I pick number 2.

Wear something plain and in a block colour for the ceremony and change later if you’re going out for dinner/partying. Most clothes apart from suits and very plain dresses look horrendous with gown and hood. When I graduated, we had to wear subfusc —

https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/dress

Also am an academic, and attend a lot of degree ceremonies. Make sure you can walk up steps and across smooth flooring in your shoes. Score the soles if necessary. Every ceremony someone skids and crashes, and manages to flash the front three rows.

Been to a few graduations recently and honestly the minidresses just looked totally wrong with the gown. Knee length or a bit longer looks much more elegant. Plenty of opportunity to wear the party dresses afterwards

Neither the green or the pink are suitable, and I think the 4th options is too short too.

I would be concerned that the 3rd dress (which is a lovely dress) might struggle to take the weight of the hood (as you are talking about having to pin it on). But that is the best of the 4.

What about this?

www.phase-eight.com/product/cosette-dress-221650250.html#navAjax=true&is=true&cgid=dresses&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&prefn1=clothingType&prefv1=Dresses&prefn2=size&prefv2=16&prefn3=color&prefv3=Red&pid=221650250&pos=12

Option 3 wins by a mile. 1&2 looks like clubbing gear and therefore not appropriate and will also look totally dated in the photos in a few years. The red one is ok, but I still prefer 3. Having been to several graduations of my children in recent years, I’ve seen some absolutely ludicrous choices that I can’t help thinking the wearers will look back and cringe about in a few years’ time.

Option 3