Is this dress suitable for a graduation?

[JulietSierra]

I bought this dress, intending to wear it to my son’s graduation in August.
I really like it and it does suit me, but I can’t help feeling that it’s not quite right for a graduation.
I’d love to know what people think, especially those who have attended a graduation more recently than I have (the only graduation I’ve attended was my own, 30 years ago!)
If this is totally unsuitable, does anyone have any suggestions ? I’m tall (5’11”) and size 12.
Thank you

What’s it made of? It looks like it could be quite warm for August. If it’s polyester, it could be rather sweaty.

The dress is great and very appropriate. My dd graduated last July, and many women were wearing similar.

I’m a lecturer and the mums/other females at our graduations tend to be in “evening wedding do”/“afternoon tea”/“nice lunch in a fancy restaurant” type outfits. Men are generally in smart trousers and shirts if not full suits (many do wear full suits though). We have a lot of non-UK students and there will usually be people in national dress which is often really lovely and colourful, plus men in kilts - we’re in Scotland. I don’t see many people in leggings and t-shirts, maybe toddler siblings!

Lovely dress @JulietSierra - go for it!

I wore a fancy dress to my DDs graduation a couple of years ago and DH bought a new fitted suit. We did our DD proud, was first time meeting their uni friends parents etc and importantly, the photos came out really nice as we’d all made an effort. Photo is in our house and is seen every day and I do love it!

The dress is lovely. The summer graduation I went to, most of the women wore lovely dresses. No one wore hats, but everyone dressed up.
I didn't see any T shirts, trainers or jeans.

Yes, I’d take a pashmina - unless you’re the sort of person who’s always boiling anyway (my dh and dd1).

That’s a beautiful dress @JulietSierra and totally appropriate. You’re going to look and feel amazing.

You'll be fine, I've been to Exeter and The Barbican and it was very casual. People looked nice but the dresses here would've been in the dressier side. I wore linen trousers for the London one and a nice to and that was spot on.

I agree,it's a bit wedding vibes.

Lovely dress. I think pp who think it would be OTT are being distracted by the styling with a fascinator and heels. With flat sandals, as suggested by another pp, it would be ideal. Great choice OP.

I think it depends very much on the uni. Im a uni lecturer and it would look OTT where I work but maybe not elsewhere. It’s a lovely dress. but much more needing-like than my students/families wear. That said, who cares?! Wear what makes you feel good and be proud!

Which Uni Graduation is it?

It’s a lovely colour dress possibly slightly dressy and too weddingy but could also be overly warm for a July Graduation especially if its a none breathable fabric.

Most female parents and guests wore nice summer dresses or nice summery trouser suits at Durham Uni Graduation last year.

I think it’s a really beautiful dress op, you wouldn’t have looked out of place at my dds graduation, there was a huge range of fashion on show, from very dressy with headgear to jeans and a tshirt.
i think it would look weddingy with fascinator and heels but perfect with flats and no headgear unless that’s your style anyway.
There were lots of women in florals but it’s not my preferred style (however your chosen dress is right up my street for some reason!), I wore an olive green above the knee dress and heels, really fretted about what to wear and turns out I didn’t need to at all, it’s a day for you to focus on your special person and they will just be glad you’re there (bonus points if they can see you’ve made a bit of an effort but your presence really is the most encouraging part).
On a side note I was so emotional at dcs graduation, I hope you all have a really lovely day.

I think it’s a great dress, especially for someone who is 5’11 (lucky you), but don’t think it is suitable for the occasion.

It looks to me like an evening dress, rather than something you’d wear on a summer’s day. It also screams “look at me!” The focus should be on those who are graduating, not on their mothers wafting about looking glamorous!

My daughters are in their 20s and graduated from Oxford and Exeter. No parent I saw at their graduations wore anything like that dress. I would definitely have noticed!

Agree this particular dress looks too much, look at me. Graduation ceremonies are casual, at least they were when I graduated. I disagree that it’s a big event parents dress up to. Dress what you are comfortable in.

Gorgeous. Don't bother with the fascinator though 🙂

I work at a uni and attend graduation. The dress is lovely and will fit in fine

Some parents will be in jeans, though!

I saw a boy graduate in platform crocs last year😁

To add - I don't work at a red brick uni and lots of parents dress up to the nines, with hats or fascinators etc

It’s lovely! The leggings and t-shirt and no one will be looking at you comments are peak Mumsnet. Some people like to make an effort, and you don’t need to fade into the background because the day isn’t about you.

Oh and best believe if someone’s wearing a gorgeous outfit I’ll definitely be looking. Hope you and your family have a fab day, OP!

It's beautiful, and with your height will look fabulous! Almost ready to start counting down to weeks to my daughter's, couple more pounds and I'll be fitting into mine.

It’s perfect. It’ll be at the dressier end, but why not? Celebrate the happy stuff!

FWIW my DCs like me being well dressed when I visit them at university even during term time. Having a mother who wafts about looking glamorous (not that I manage actual glamour, just reasonably put together) isn’t a bad thing. Looking nice for their special days doesn’t take anything away from them!

Harem trousers and a t shirt top could either be very smart or far too casual. So is it more 'well worn patterned viscose appropriate for a hippy festival' or 'well ironed linen appropriate for a Michelin starred restaurant'?

My DDs university says 'The ceremonies are formal occasions therefore, students and guests should dress appropriately.' The bold is theirs but I agree. If you'd dress up for a wedding then you should dress up for a graduation which is celebrating a bigger achievement.

I think that @JulietSierra dress is perfect. If she was asking if it was suitable for a wedding I'm sure some people would say it's too white. So if not suitable for a wedding and not suitable for a graduation then what is it suitable for? A royal garden party perhaps.

Yes, you want a dress that you will be happy to be in the ‘proud mum’ photos next to your Ds in his gown.

So many replies!
The majority seem to think it’s suitable which I’m pleased about as I really like it. And so what if I end up being overdressed?! It’s not the end of the world is it? It’s not like I’m going to turn up in a ball gown and tiara so even if I look a bit too fancy, I’ll not be ridiculous!
Thank you all so much for the feedback. Now to look for some flat sandals to go with it (I’ve taken note that heels would definitely be too much and I don’t need the extra height anyway!!)

People say it is better to be overdressed than underdressed. :)
I've only been to one, my ds's graduation, I wore a white jumpsuit with a red and white blazer that I already had, and sandals. My mil wore a skirt, blouse and jacket, fil wore sports jacket, dh wore light brown chinos and a shirt, no jacket.