What DO parents wear for their children's graduations?

[loveyouradvice]

I realise I've no idea... I have a dress I love, stylish, understated, which I will also wear for the odd wedding and formal drinks parties.. Is this the sort of vibe we're going for? ie relatively informal wedding, slightly more subdued and covered up..

Or is it a whole load more casual and my DD will be mortified if I turn up looking very elegant? She is definitely an understated kind of woman so I am keen to fit in, while still being very me.

I'd love any thoughts about what you'd wear - or have worn - including pics!!

I won't post mine as it is seriously unusual and would immediately identify me ... it looks designer-y but cost a fraction of the price - it does have a high neck, long sleeves, in a strong beige and black.

I went to one at Cambridge ( which was everything you'd expect) and wore

Academic who has sat through many of these ceremonies here. I would say work smart not wedding gear. I have seen students cringing with embarrassment as mother teeters along in uncomfortable shoes with a fascinator and exotic dress. Leave it to the graduands to show off.

You will be standing in queues, hanging about at department drinks and prize ceremonies so your feet will need to be comfortable above all else.

@mdinbcgraduation from school isn’t a thing in the UK. She means uni

‘Summer garden party’ wear seemed the norm for the ones we attended. I loved seeing parents in ethnic wear. Most people made some effort (not quite wedding level) and it was lovely.

I was at my DDs uni moving her out when one lot were graduating. Men were in sports jackets but generally no tie (though some did have ties on), and women were in nice dresses - not quite wedding smart but garden party smart.

DD says “ smart casual” for her graduation. That’s fine, but I’m on permanent chemotherapy and my “ hair” is a grey salt and pepper mess! Not enough to style and sticks out everywhere. I look a state!

I may start a new thread, asking for help.

Our dc's isn't for another 2 years but i will most likely buy a nice, elegant day dress from somewhere like me+em

I love that raincoat @Ceramiq that brand has fabulous stuff

Dh did a masters a few years back & it was a real mixed bag at his (different university to dc) & to be honest the ones who stood out most were the parents who were v casual & could have been going to the supermarket as easily as going to a graduation!

Dh will wear a suit or chino type trousers & jacket depending on the time of year / weather

Clothes, preferably.

No but seriously people wear everything from a nice fancy dress to jeans. Whatever you’d like to be photographed in once. Other than that nobody really notices what the family wear.

I def noticed what other people wore

Mine was in 2011 so guidelines may have changed since then. My uni at the time suggested that it was a formal occasion and clothing should be suitably appropriate so shorts or jeans were discouraged but national dress was allowed. It was a Russell group University so I don't know if that makes any difference. The hall in which graduation was held was old and beautiful. It's been a long time since then though and on the whole people tend to dress a lot more casually now.

My dad wore the same tie in all 4 of our graduation ceremonies. He only realised after the first 3.

DD's university had a suggested dress guideline, which was formal. I didn't see anyone looking scruffy.

Comfy shoes, very comfy shoes.

I wore a cotton summer dress with a linen jacket to the first one. Definite afternoon tea vibes. All the men were either in suits or a jacket and tie.

The second one was in January at a less formal ceremony. I wore a navy cord dress and a velvet coat. DH wore a suit again, but lots didn't.

Loving the emphasis on comfy shoes... Im going to take that on board!! And I feel relaxed about my choice... unless DD vetoes in which case I've alternatives... though don't go to many garden parties!!!

My mum
is wearing the dress she wore for my sisters wedding for mine. It’s not overly weddingy

I wore long wide leg linen trousers and a silk top, both navy, for DS's graduation. Smart but not overly wedding-y. Assume it will be hot! And wear your shoes/sandals in and take plasters. He didn't go to the ceremony for his masters although that would have been in December so I'm not sure what I'd have gone for. DD's is in July and I'm hoping to find a long linen dress for hers. DH wore his standard shirt and trousers, not sure if he had a jacket but it would have been too warm to wear it to be fair.

I wore a Me & Em dress to most recent son’s, a Hush dress to the one before. Both with trainers. Not too dressed up, but not too casual either. Husband wore trousers and a shirt and no tie. I’d say we got it right. You don’t want to look like you’re going to a wedding.