Outfit for graduation

[DistractMe]

I need to figure out what to wear for my MA graduation in a few weeks. It'll be a fairly low key affair and we have been advised to wear "smart clothing beneath robes. Clothing with buttons down the front, such as blouses and shirts, are highly recommended to secure the hood which drapes over the shoulders."

So I reckon I need trousers or skirt plus a blouse or shirt, probably fairly plain. But I want them to be well cut and made, something I'll have on hand for the future. I retired from work a couple of years ago and joyfully chucked out most of my office clothes, so have very little that you could call "smart".

I'm 5'4"", size 12/14 (depending on make and mood) and fairly square in shape. I don't mind bright colours, but this probably isn't the event to go full neon...
I'm not keen on heels.
Budget? Willing to pay up to £200 for a complete outfit.

Thanks in advance for your ideas.

bump?

Congratulations!

This doesn’t sound problematic? You’re an average size and height with a decent amount to spend. Where have you looked already?

Here’s a shirt:

https://www.cos.com/en-gb/women/womenswear/shirts/white-shirts/product/rounded-pima-cotton-shirt-white-1290607008

and several alternatives:

https://www.cos.com/en-gb/women/shirts?page=2

You could look for a skirt from the same or similar places.

Do you have suitable shoes?

Go for a smarter version of what you usually wear. It will be covered by your gown and fairly unnoticed. Don't discount a shirt dress if you usually wear dresses.

The shoes are important. I usually sit on the stage three times a year - we look at the shoes and wonder how some students manage the stairs without breaking a leg. Smart, sensible shoes are essential. Having said that, you will be on stage for seconds.

Good luck and congratulations.

Thanks folks. I know I'm a fairly easy shape to dress, but I haven't bought any smart clothes for years (I'm mainly in jeans and hoody since retirement). So I'm out of date about about the good brands.

I like the second shirt from Cos (the red one). That and some black trousers would probably do.

I have shoes (and there won't be a stage to worry about).

Thanks again

‘The good brands’: (all more or less accessible, maybe in the sales)

Cos
Studio Nicholson
Margaret Howell
Rohe
Me and Em
Toteme
MSGM (my middle aged MA graduation blouse came from here)

Slightly less ‘good’ but possible:

& Other Stories
Massimo Dutti

(And yes, of course there are others!)

I recommend using safety pins underneath to discretely pin the hood part to the gown via your blouse shoulders as otherwise, the little tab that hooks over the blouse buttons tends to pull the blouse upwards as you move and can look messy.

Years of experience of re-dressing the Graduands…

Yes, make sure you can walk comfortably in your shoes up and down steps.