What to wear for my November graduation

[Calyx72]

I am graduating in November in Edinburgh and don’t have any formal clothes (uniform at work and comfy at home). Can anyone point me to a formal(ish?) dress please? I am 54, grey hair, 151lbs/68.5kg and 5’2”
I don’t suit black now my hair is gray
I like navy or dark greens

(I don’t know where to shop these days as I usually go to charity shops but I haven’t found anything for this!)

Thanks for any ideas.

https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/naomi-midi-dress-2614269010?variant=55550077829505&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Nobodys_Child-UK-PMax-All-DT%2BTA-SE-ePmax-Tier+2&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19541476977&gbraid=0AAAAADQCJIV4Z_ii5623stEE8BMpfPdad&gclid=CjwKCAjwuobXBhBXEiwAYUaIlWvoL2P98gxWw3IFepVHmnuUa09DnCusbjIPNYaTkUXeFH56neem5hoClWMQAvD_BwE

Will you be wearing a gown? That will presumably be black?

And if so I imagine you’d want a dress with long sleeves that works under the gown?

Hiya sorry for delay am at work,
yes will have a gown for the ceremony so long sleeves or can wear a blazer under maybe?
Meeting for drinks and dinner afterwards

That dress is beautiful thank you Sunbringer but I think my thick torso (14/16 petite) might not look good in it. I will look at their other styles though

The academic gowns are long as you’re a shortie like me. You can wear trousers and a top, they don’t really show anyway.

As you’re not going for black I’d wear a colour which tones with the hood. It will make the whole outfit look more considered rather than you wearing a glorious dress with the gown and hood as an afterthought. After all, the new degree, as indicated by the academic robes, is the whole point of the graduation.

What colour(s) are in the hood?

Thanks all. Colour in hood will be green

Hello and congratulations! I’m graduating too and have chosen a navy top, tartan trousers (also in Scotland) and some burgundy shoes.

I hate dresses and didn’t want to buy something I wouldn’t wear again - it’s under a robe after all.

I ordered a tonne of stuff from next as they have loads of brands available, and took back what I didn’t choose.

M&S had some nice navy tops too.

Hope this helps and you have a super day.

The cape bit of the graduation gown requires a top button to attach to or they'll safety pin it to you. So wear something with a button or something you don't mind being pinned. I used to work in the robe department helping graduates get ready.

A few years ago Eve and Ravenscourt added Velcro to the gown, so you don’t need a button anymore. This solved a huge problem for women :)

Wear shoes you can walk in - the gown steals the show - so anything smart that doesn’t clash will work.

Huzzah!! That's good to hear there's been some progress as it did feel extremely overdue an upgrade.

What about this OP? Is it a suitable shade of green? Comes in petite, & is well-reduced. (Congratulations btw!)

https://www.boden.com/products/women-etta-piping-velvet-dress-douglas-fir-d1832dgr?variant=43198546510033&tc_ch=ps&tc_ve=goog&tc_so=pmax&tc_me=cr&tc_campid=21221764987&tc_adgroupid=&tc_targetid=&tc_locphys=9046888&tc_matchid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21218304686&gclid=CjwKCAjwuobXBhBXEiwAYUaIlZzXUwebjMcrfz17cOLAnTcIX-Om1mwNTtGVV5ilBGCD-rDc9eABFhoCV5cQAvD_BwE

Also Boden in a cooler green.

https://www.boden.com/products/women-honor-column-velvet-midi-dress-emerald-night-d1849grn?variant=43251747160273&tc_ch=ps&tc_ve=goog&tc_so=pmax&tc_me=cr&tc_campid=21672377956&tc_adgroupid=&tc_targetid=&tc_locphys=9046888&tc_matchid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21662153007&gclid=CjwKCAjwuobXBhBXEiwAYUaIlSE6mzj4lCmUBt-p7FgyONXr-5cEYYOdERrmU0-z1JLxvF7FH9n7VBoC9JUQAvD_BwE

Also Boden petite - if you can't decide between navy & green!

https://www.boden.com/products/women-maeve-occasion-shirt-dress-navy-green-and-blue-check-d1799nav?variant=43272549138641&tc_ch=ps&tc_ve=goog&tc_so=pmax&tc_me=cr&tc_campid=21672377956&tc_adgroupid=&tc_targetid=&tc_locphys=9046888&tc_matchid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21662153007&gclid=CjwKCAjwuobXBhBXEiwAYUaIlYBK7XAUmxxeKhqyH-NBw6DZYwrWA0j1gInqyG-F_j_YR3ZsS5dwLhoC-h0QAvD_BwE

Nobody's Child does some petite dresses too - this fine cord one is rather nice.

https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/riley-cord-shirred-waist-midi-dress-2613631009?variant=56182054945153&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Nobodys_Child-UK-PMax-All-DT%2BTA-SE-ePmax-Tier+2&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19541476977&gbraid=0AAAAADQCJIUtkTERG2YilNRMyqKkIXnyb&gclid=CjwKCAjwuobXBhBXEiwAYUaIlTLhc96170nyk1cqnRmtwPE0McEAb-v7odDJd2Rv6Fj9xrA5a0jHKBoCvnQQAvD_BwE

Oh wow thanks all!
@EleanorMc67 Love all these especially the last one. Brilliant! Thank you

Oh good! It's also cotton & washable & probably the most versatile of them all. I know you said you don't have any formal clothes (which I presume includes dresses?), but this isn't especially formal as such, so probably fits better with your existing wardrobe?

However, it can & will look smart with the right jacket/coat & footwear for your graduation - but also be worn with flat boots & a casual jacket/chunky cardigan afterwards.

(It's 37 years since I graduated - in Edinburgh too! And I'm still here - couldn't think of a good reason to leave this lovely city!!)

Actually, I've just noticed that they give suggestions for what to wear it with. Both smart coat/boots & casual jacket options. And that it comes in a really nice rust colour too.

Can you wear trousers/suit? Just asking for my daughter as she hasn’t possessed a dress since she was 3

Trousers are permitted for women and men at Cambridge, where they are much stricter about what graduands wear, so I imagine they are OK everywhere.

I think the formality of the written dress code is on paper and the graduates will choose slightly less formal (not basing this on any evidence though)