Help me choose a dress for DD’s graduation

[BettyBooBoobs]

Which of these 2 dresses do you think is the best option for me to wear to DD’s graduation. For context, I’m early fifties, size 18 and definitely menopausal. The blue dress is linen and the pink is viscose. I really like both, and DD genuinely is happy with either choice. DH is not much help, saying whichever one I prefer. Thoughts? Preferences?

Your pink dress looks lovely.

@SwirlyGates I’ve rarely seen graduation photos on anyone’s wall. If ever. Just a bit too odd. DH’s parents framed his degree cert and put it on their wall - why? They didn’t even pay the amount they were assessed to pay. When he started his business he got it back. We have photos of our DDs graduating but we aren’t in them. We had photos of them taken which we paid for. I did not see the day as being about me. We did take photos which included us when dd1 was called to the Bar and dd2 when she won a major prize on another course she did but they aren’t on my walls for everyone to see.

I think the original fuchsia dress is perfect! I saw students graduating yesterday and there were several dresses in a similar colour to that. How does it look on you?

It’s not the colour, it’s the fabric. Hot days, go for cotton.

Good to know the dress code. I have been to three graduations between my kids. Two where formal meant formal and one where it very much didn’t.
I love shirt dresses but because they have a fixed waistline it really shows if you are short in your body. Something which skims is better. It is deeply unfair the tall people can often carry off clothes which us shorter people cannot.
Wedges are a good suggestion, Gabor do some which are comfortable but manage to look reasonably smart.
I have a couple of linen mix dresses from JL (own brand), crush much less but still feel cool.

The deep pink has a lovely neckline, maybe wear with a slip to avoid lumpy bumpy clinging?
How are you styling your hair? I think if you can keep your hair under control you will avoid looking sweaty.

I have this dress and I m shortish and good size 16 and it's fab

@BettyBooBoobs I love the fuschia one in your original post. I've been to graduations at Oxbridge & York recently and that would fit in perfectly at both. I wore a red floral tea dress to one in the summer and a navy fine cord dress to one in January.

I strongly recommend you wear something you feel comfy in and then you will look happy in the photos.

I wore navy Boden 7/8ths trousers wotb a blouse also by Boden, last year at my son’s with ballet pumps as there’s a lot of standing around and then walking about for taking your own photos. We had quite a hike back to the car too. Lots of people just on the street said well done and congratulations to my son, which I found really lovely. We had a throughly brilliant day and you will too.

I was freezing at my son's July graduation last year so next time I am planning a bad weather option!

Hi everyone. Apologies for not responding - it has been a long day!!

Thanks so much to everyone who took the time to reply. I really appreciate all the advice, suggestions and different perspectives. It’s been really helpful and has given me a lot to think about. I’m going to stop overthinking it now and just focus on enjoying the graduation. Thank you! 😊

The red one is an ideal shape for you. The shoulders will broaden you out and then with the waist detail it would make your waist look smaller.

I would consider the graduand's robes and pick a complementary colour.

@BettyBooBoobs I’ve just bought this dress from Topshop in an 18 and it is so gorgeous, really classy and I can fit my boobs in without loads of excess fabric everywhere else. It says open back but it is fine with a bra

That top shop dress is lovely
I’d say wear the original pink one @BettyBooBoobs it looks lovely
not the fat face green one - it’s a pretty dress but too casual and floaty, more boojie beach bar than graduation.
i am wearing a pale floral maxi shirt dress to my DS next week- I wore a green midis wrap dress to my DDs three years ago.

OP I bought the red berry dress and although it is lovely, it is horribly creased. One of the reviews said you could wash it and it wouldn’t need ironing, so I don’t know whether to try that or take it back. The other reviews were mostly good. It would have been better made of polyester( much hated on here) at least it would have been easier to wear. It’s a shame because it is a lovely dress

Is that the dress made of viscose @Allseeingallknowing ?
I learnt my lesson and would never buy anything made of 100% viscose. Horrible stuff.

Yes. Sadly, I think I’ll have to return it. Such a shame, it’s a lovely dress.

Hi everyone. After much faffing to find an option, I was able to find something that I think works. (Picture below). It’s viscose rayon and just fits well. I feel comfortable, love the pockets, and the cut/shape works on my body. I know it might not be to everyone’s taste, but the wide range of opinions and suggestions here helped me realise that I need to find something comfortable before anything else.

The pink one really didn’t work. The fabric was not appealing, the shape was unflattering to a fat fuller figure, and I just felt horrible in it.
DH has given the green one the thumbs up too, and given that he made an insightful observation about a top that was delivered today, I think I’ve got a winner.

Thank you all so much for your contributions and help! Here’s to graduation!!

It’s lovely . Enjoy Celebrating .

I love that dress OP. I’m still frantically ordering stuff/taking stuff back on a daily basis to find my outfit! My difficulty is that I don’t do dresses so trying to find trousers and top that are smart enough for the occasion but won’t crease (which eliminates linen) not too heavy material is hard going!

Good luck @parachutegirlI can so relate!!!

That’s a lovely dress @BettyBooBoobs
Have a fab day.

Gorgeous dress ! Great choice.

honestly i’d still get a few outside opinions before deciding. mirrala could be useful for something like this since you can upload the outfit and get people’s takes on how it looks, which might make the decision a bit easier