Flat sandals formal enough?

[SiobahnRoy]

Attending graduation ceremony, have to decide between two pairs of flats from M&S. which would you choose? Dress is Ghost Wilma in navy. Images may take a while to load.

No. Whether graduating or supporting a graduand you will probably feel insufficiently formal in either of those.

But you’re allowed to wear them, all the same …

I would say shoes (flat or with heels but smart) are more appropriate for the ceremony, as opposed to flat sandals.
Or heeled sandals.
Something reasonably smart, not wedding guest level of dressing up but smart, definitely not casual.

Wear flat shoes. There were three people who fell down the stairs in heels last graduation I went to.

I wore my leopard print boots and felt like the bees’s knees 🙂

Esska Charlie in black velvet it will have to be then, thanks all.

Either of those would be fine but I'd lean towards the silver. At DS's degree ceremony in Manchester last year there was a variety of clothing including a father who'd clearly nipped off his building site to attend. I wore purple DM sandals (that were actually my 18yo wedding shoes) and a second hand dress from Coast and fitted right in.

Take the slides with you for after the ceremony. Sore feet will spoil the day.

I have just attended a graduation ceremony at a Russell Group Uni. There was a huge variety in the way people were dressed, from the very formal to the very casual. Both people attending as guests and those graduating. I wore my flat silver sandals and they are not as pretty as yours! I can’t be in heels these days. No one batted an eyelid.

The silver are pretty and seem as dressy as anyone would need to be outside of a black tie event or very conservative workplace.
I love the dress.

My sister wore trainers to her kids. No one will notice or care!

What’s the difference between a Russel Group and non RG graduation? @LumpScared

The silver ones are dressier.

I don't like the Hermes-style slides though, they're everywhere. So that might be affecting my judgement.

I wore gold Saltwater sandals to ours last week. Appropriate as it absolutely bucketed down and they worked brilliantly in the puddles.

I am off to DD2's graduation at Sussex on Friday, and will be wearing flat sandals. Honestly, you just need to be vaguely smart.

They're absolutely fine. I have no idea what my parents wore to my graduation. It's not a particularly dressy occasion unless you want it to be. Sandals are fine, trainers would be fine.

I wore the silver ones in the end. No one cared 😅

How would I know? 😂 I was just giving some context.

At my DS’s graduation a fortnight ago (Russell group), either of those would have been fine. I wore shoes because I don’t like my feet (!) but it was a really warm day and all manner of footwear was on display. I would say anything from smart casual to not quite wedding-smart was on display and everyone looked great - I’d stressed over what to wear but there really was no need. Enjoy your day x

I know you’ve already been but for those with upcoming graduations don’t underestimate the amount of standing around before and after the actual ceremony, either on hard surfaces of grass. Flat shoes are a good idea.

Flat sandals are absolutely fine. Honestly, heels are not necessary or practical. I'm glad you went with the sandals. Sensible choice.