Where are your girls buying graduation dresses?

[Linenpickle]

Where are your girls buying graduation dresses from! Looking for suggestions for my niece who’s having a tough time and can’t face shopping as she’s not a size zero (16/18).

It will depend on her overall style as well though? It was my niece’s graduation a few weeks ago ago and she wore a sequined dark green dress from Disturbia. I thought of S&B and the “dark academia” threads when I saw it.

I noticed that a fair proportion of the women graduating were wearing white or cream. Looked quite effective with the graduation gowns but not necessarily the kindest for larger sizes.

Overall there was a real mix of styles and colours, be reassured that no-one stood out as getting it wrong because of the variety. I hope she has a lovely time.

My daughter got her graduation dress from Monsoon.

You can't really see them under the gowns anyway. As long as she is happy and comfortable it really doesn't need to be particularly fancy.

Oh for the days when female graduates were instructed to wear black skirts and white shirts! (And if we didn't comply with the dress code, we weren't allowed to graduate). Minimal expense, looked smart and could then be worn at new job.

I am quite shocked when I see some graduates in, let's say, "cocktail" or skimpy dresses, with stripper heels. It's not appropriate for academic dress. Much better to buy something a bit more restrained, that can also be used for interviews and in a professional workplace.

Mine got hers from River Island (she’s a 14/16) - not too expensive but looked lovely!

For my middle aged MA graduation I wore a high necked white broderie anglaise blouse from MSGM, a black and white tweed A line skirt from Margiela, and black suede block heeled YSL shoes. Only the blouse was new, bought on a whim a few months beforehand. I’ve definitely reworn the skirt and blouse at least a hundred times since!

I agree! Was telling DD this as she has just graduated . Not sure she believed me.

But yes it was white blouse, black skirt and black shoes. Now its all open toed heeled sandals
Tbh I think we looked just as good, but it was less effort, the gown covers a lot.

Haha, DD2 is graduating on Friday and will be wearing my wedding dress, which is older than she is! 😆

Not a white meringue, you'll be pleased to hear, but a burgundy/pink velvet bias-cut strappy dress which goes rather well with her gown/hood colours. She's also borrowing a pair of my sandals.

If she wasn't wearing my dress she would have found something at the charity shop, as she is an avid thrifter, and there are a lot of formal dresses to choose from.

Oh that’s a lovely continuation of the family story, @CointreauVersial! You must be delighted.

None of my family could come to my MA ceremony, so I borrowed my mother’s best earrings so I’d sort of have her with me on the day.

How does that work when you're a H-cup and can't find a white shirt that actually fits on you without either being four sizes too big or making you look like you're starring in Naughty Graduates 4: Extra Tuition? Or if you're a woman who doesn't do skirts and would prefer to wear trousers?

The 'cocktail' dresses are probably things that those graduates already have in their wardrobe and prevent them from having to go out and buy a new outfit when money's tight.

Hard disagree. I look like a waitress in a white shirt and black skirt. Much happier getting to choose a dress for my second one.

Hope your niece finds something lovely OP.

John Lewis.

I had to wear smart business attire for my graduation decades ago and was secretly shocked at the strappy dress that looked like a nightgown that my DD chose to wear at her graduation but all the girls wore similar dresses. The biggest issue for the gown dressers was the lack of something to fasten the cape bit onto - at least when we wore our boring and staid blouses, there were buttons to hook the cape onto so it didn't slide back!

Mine stayed put on top of a dress just fine. Don’t know if they’ve changed the design or if someone pinned it to me.

Dd safety pinned the gown in place.

What ever she feels comfortable in and likes to wear. Anything is fine. Mine wore a pink dress with cup cakes on to match her pink hair.

My dd wore a dress from seasalt when she graduated, she’d been helping out the year before as a paid job and seen how many wardrobe malfunctions there were! Her dress was v neck but modest and knee length on average height (below knee on her) once the robes are over the top you only see the front anyway.

as a general idea, not too short/wont ride up and not too low cut are the two key features otherwise a colour, design etc that they like

Dd found a lovely silk Monsoon dress in a charity shop. I had it dry cleaned and it’s really lovely. Dress and dry cleaning less than £30!

That is still required at Oxford - though I believe women can wear black trousers rather than skirts if they wish.

My daughter wore the same outfit for matriculation, for taking exams, and for her graduation (but obviously different robes and cap for graduation).

I graduated in 1982 and wasn’t expected to wear black and white then, so it must only have been some universities that required that even then. Mine wasn’t an old one.

DD ordered several, including vintage, and settled on a Nobody’s Child Felicity. It’s her day, she’s worked bloody hard and I’m delighted that she can dress to suit herself. And yes she may wear ridiculous shoes and I will be holding my breath that she doesn’t fall up or down the stairs.