Dress for DS's graduation: is this Finery dress ok?

[CharlotteRumpling]

I have forgotten how to dress for a formal occasion after 5 years of WFH and dressing very casually most of the time. DS has his graduation soon.
I don't want to spend too much, because I also need to buy shoes. Never bought from this label before, but it popped up on my feed. Is it decent enough quality?
I don't like florals, puff sleeves and tiers.
www.finerylondon.com/products/orion-dark-khaki-zip-front-midi-shirt-dress

I've just bought this from Boden and it's in the sale
Similar to the blue one but no tiers , also confess in black if you don't like the red

https://www.boden.com/products/trim-double-cloth-dress-garnet-red

My favourite outfit was the chap who wore a vintage Wimbledon umpire's uniform

Possibly not 😂

Certainly the dress “code” was far more relaxed than when I graduated (my mum wore a hat and was far from alone!).

Re: my post above, the parents that stood out more were ones who were over, rather than under dressed.

Personally jeans was a step too far for me, but they (with nice tops) were in evidence.

Quite a few women in wide leg linen trousers with a smart shirt/blouse plus nice accessories that looked lovely and quite chic.

They will definitely not all be in jeans, maybe just a few. At my daughter’s recent graduation I told my husband he had to wear a suit and shirt/tie. I wore a polka dot midi dress with heels. Photos are taken and will be a memory for life. Why would I wear jeans when I do my gardening in jeans. It is a very special occasion.

Same company - comes in black or green - slightly more formal but still a similar vibe to the first one and no tier on the skirt. https://www.finerylondon.com/products/clarice-bottle-green-ponte-jersey-midi-dress

And in the sale

That’s definitely the vibe (apart from low heels rather than high in the picture) most women (inc myself) were channelling on the day.

Smart but relaxed with practical accessories (good footwear and a big bag for water/tissues/make up potentially a small brolly and shawl if September).

Dont underestimate how much standing/walking you may have to do.

My favourite outfit was a grandfather in a beige thin corduroy suit that looked like it was from the 70’s with a straw boater on his head 😀 (with a proud grandpa badge).

I’ll be so glad when tiers disappear! I can’t quote your post OP but here are some other ideas.

https://www.hobbs.com/product/agatha-ponte-dress/0125-5766-9324L00-RICH-NAVY-BLUE.html#navAjax=true&sz=60&start=0&srule=price-low-to-high&cgid=clothing-dresses-midi&is=true&isSecondPage=false&pid=0125-5766-9324L00-RICH-NAVY-BLUE&pos=0 (https://www.hobbs.com/product/agatha-ponte-dress/0125-5766-9324L00-RICH-NAVY-BLUE.html#navAjax=true&sz=60&start=0&srule=price-low-to-high&cgid=clothing-dresses-midi&is=true&isSecondPage=false&pid=0125-5766-9324L00-RICH-NAVY-BLUE&pos=0)

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/jenny-mix-woven-dress-10006120050.html#navAjax=true&imageType=model&is=true&sz=60&start=120&srule=Storefront-price-low-to-high&cgid=sale-dresses&isSecondPage=false&pid=10006120050&pos=179 (https://www.phase-eight.com/product/jenny-mix-woven-dress-10006120050.html#navAjax=true&imageType=model&is=true&sz=60&start=120&srule=Storefront-price-low-to-high&cgid=sale-dresses&isSecondPage=false&pid=10006120050&pos=179)

https://www.johnlewis.com/yumi-cotton-midi-dress/p113491197 (https://www.johnlewis.com/yumi-cotton-midi-dress/p113491197)

I don’t know if this one is too casual.

Thanks everyone! I like the red Boden dress- will look good in pix- and the Hobbs navy dress. Low heels, I think.

Looks great to me, OP, it's definitely smart casual default these days, and men needn't wear a tie: blazer, smart casual shirt, non-suit trousers, smart shoes.

Looks great - I'm an academic and many wear similar sorts of dresses.

It’s casual -most folk will be more dressed up.

I was at DD’s graduation last week!! 99% of men were in suits. 90% of women in smart dresses.

What did you wear?

I went to dds last week, wore a green dress I already had, above the knee with some ankle boots with a medium height block heel.
Dh wore trousers and a shirt but no tie, he did bring a jacket but was too warm to wear it (I wore it later on!). Hardly saw anyone in a full suit although there were a couple. There was a real mixture of outfits, I enjoyed looking! A lot of long floral dresses which looked lovely but so far removed from my style.
Think it totally depends where they’re graduating from, dd was at UWE Bristol, not the Bristol Uni which is more posh!

I saw a red dress on the Boden website but thought it would pull focus in the photos we had with dd 😂 as she was wearing a black dress under her black gown! Might get it though for something else as it’s so pretty (imo!).

A black dress with white flowers, and new gold wedges (comfy yet pretty).

Based on what experience?

Certainly not mine last month at Oxbridge (Cambridge to be specific).

Everyone will not be in jeans! In recent years I have been to four graduations and a call to the Bar ceremony for a newly qualified Barrister. The Bar ceremony was a definitely the most formal. Just looked at the photos, most men in suits, with the minority without ties. It was a hot day.. I wore a lace dress that I had worn at a posh wedding. I did not feel out of place.

Other graduations varied. I have been to bachelors, masters and PhD ceremonies. Numerous people in their finery including one family where the women were wearing fascinators. Everyone was having a good time.

It is nice to feel at your best if only for the photos that you will still look at years down the line.

Mine this month at the Uni of Nottingham?

Both dresses will be fine with comfy shoes.

It is very, very funny that the Oxbridge parents just have to shoehorn that fact in.

OP I think all the dresses you’ve linked would be great - my experience with Finery stuff is that it lasts and fits well, but it’s ever so slightly cheap-looking. But with shoes and accessories, not a problem I shouldn’t think. I have a few of their summer dresses and I always get compliments on them!

This was my experience attending ceremonies in this summer. It doesn’t really matter what other people wear, dress to suit your family’s style.

No it doesn't. I was in Liverpool last week and saw a range of guests for the graduations and I would have put that dess at the smarter end of the ones I saw.

I was referring to the blue dress, which was the first photo, not the khaki one.

Is it ok if other parents mention Nottingham or Bristol or Liverpool? Or is it just Oxford and Cambridge you object to?