Dress for graduation?? - updated with dress flash :)

Is it you who is graduating? If so, I'd suggest business attire (I really dislike seeing girls wearing party dresses to their graduation, especially with skirts up to their bottoms). If you are a guest at someone else's ceremony, you can be a bit freer.

For my graduation ceremonies, I wore a pair of grey trousers and white shirt (first one) and a black, knee-length, shirt dress (second one). At my (now) husband's second graduation, I wore a dark teal fitted dress with a jacket.

At my graduation, we had to wear business attire and if I remember rightly, a buttoned shirt so that sash thing could be fastened onto the button.

Perhaps I've got the wrong end of the stick and you're attending as a guest. In which case, I'd suggest a smart-ish dress, perhaps look in Monsoon.

Thanks all. I haven't heard any mention of a dress code. It was a course work sent me on, so since finishing the theory elements in April, I haven't really been in or around uni. I may ask. I remember my first graduation, we had to wear dresses/skirts knee length or below, in dark colours. I've just looked on the online FAQ for this one, and all it says is that it can get cold in the cathedral, so wear warm clothes! Not helpful!

I LOVE this dress http://www.reiss.com/womens/dresses/alexie/black/ but it's short sleeved and I'd have to worry about jackets etc. I agree I don't want to look like I'm off clubbing after, and definitely want a hemline that sits on the knee, not halfway up my thighs!

Lovely dress but I wouldn't wear it for a graduation (although I might wear it as a guest at a graduation).

Hmm OK, will look for a darker one with sleeves or something. I don't have business dress - my work wear consists of green combat trousers, army boots and a bomber jacket!

Just looking through the Reiss dresses, I think the following are nice for a graduation: Marjorie, Ilda, Venna (green), Agnes (pale blue)...you can probably guess my taste from those. I DO really like the Alexie (and might steal the idea for a Christmas treat) but it's a little too informal, in my cabbage. However, it would be fair to say that I'm a little conservative in my clothing taste so don't take my word for it!

Also, would short sleeves be alright under a robe, to provide warmth? (Are you wearing a robe?).

Also, nosy, which cathedral? Cov? You are Warwickshire, no?

This is what I wore for my graduation a couple of years ago. I'm glad I went for black and white, I think the colours looked nice.

In hindsight I wouldn't have eaten so much or at least I would have remembered to suck my blinking belly in! Pencil skirts are not the most flattering if you bloat (or scoff yourself silly during celebrations). I would have also chosen something a little bit longer.

Yes, Coventry Cathedral, which will be lovely. And yes again, full gowns and mortarboards. Which is funny because when I graduated from Leeds many years ago, we weren't allowed mortarboards since "students can no longer be trusted with them" LOL!! I suppose a gown will help keep warm, but I'll need long sleeves or a jacket for afterwards. I think I'll have a look round John Lewis next weekend and see if I have more inspiration.

For my first graduation I wore a white long sleeved blouse and a black pencil skirt with purple heels. For my second I wore a red and black dress, just above the knee, with black tights and black heels. The first time it was Sept and pretty warm so wasn't too bad. The second time was January and was fecking freezing! freezing fog when we came out of the cathedral and I wished I'd had longer sleeves on, but then Lincoln cathedral is considerably colder than Coventry Cathedral.

Have you worn a gown and hood before? if not, my advice is wear something either with buttons to hook the hood onto, or something you don't mind having a safety pin stuck through it. The hoods are heavy and get tangled easily, especially when you sit down. You don't want to receive your diploma wearing the hood like a cape as some of my fellow graduates did.

first time (though you cant see the pretty shoes in this one):

Second time:

I wore black dress with a purple belt. However I can't find any photos where it's actually showing under the robe.

Hat about a skirt suit? It would keep you a bit warmer! I went to the same uni as enterflora, which does have very strict rules (and the college gets fined a bottle of port for each student who doesn't dress properly!) but in winter you are allowed to wear a suit jacket rather than just a blouse.

This is my first graduation, back in 2006 (beautiful summer's day):

And this is my 2nd, in 2010 (fricking cold March day!):

Hmmm, not sure why it's squashing my pictures...

Id wear something like this if it was to take me to night time also, possibly with tights.

I would say John Lewis is a good bet. For my first graduation mum bought me a dress from there. I can't find a photo where it shows under the robes but it looks like this:

For my second graduation I had a lot less choice due to bumpage ?

Thanks everyone - I think a trip to John Lewis is definitely on the cards. I want something nice, partly because I promised I'd treat myself to a Reiss (or similar) dress as a reward for getting back into my size 8 jeans!

First graduation I wore a calf length navy dress that was pretty conservative, and looked fine under the gown and hood. I want to be smart and conservative as well this time, but with just a little hint of luxury!

I'll post when I find something!!

For my masters, I had a strict dress code: black or white dress, or black skirt/trousers and white blouse/shirt.

I wore this:

It was in June, though, so maybe not suitable for winter.

I tend to only buy dresses from one shop because I just can't be bothered to look elsewhere, but I really do love them: https://www.hobbs.com/clothing/dresses/ though I usually only buy NW3, that gold dress looks gorgeous!

I wore the shortest skirt in the world to my graduation, it wa in a cathedral and I froze.

moral if the story, don't dress like a ho when graduating, you wil regret it.

I went for black dress with white shirt for mine (think the dress was like £10 from primark), was in southwark cathedral at the begining of December so was freezing! I had the robe wrapped round me while sitting down and was warm enough. Did have issues with getting the sash to stay in place though, it kept trying to strangle me

So did mine!!

OK, updated. I've just bought this

http://www.reiss.com/womens/dresses/levento/black/

which is actually a lot more conservative on me since I'm not a 6ft model, and the hem does come to my knees. I like the fact it has sleeves - makes it less of a party dress and more elegant. Will wear with high black heels, nude sheer tights, and pearl jewellery.

Thoughts?

Love the last green dress, do you have the name of the shop?

Errm no. I think she looks rather SS Officer-like. Not my style. I just have some heels (FAR higher than I ever wear but the dress needs them) and will put a suit jacket over if it doesn't stop raining!

Will flash later in the week xx

Only just downloaded pics from camera, but here am I in my dress:

and a cheeky one with MrBBB!

Good choice! You look lovely!

Congratulations on your graduation! ?

You look really lovely, very classy choice. Loads of people looked like they were going out when I graduated and it just made me cringe ? congratulations!

You look lovely! congratualtions, love your shoes too.

Very classy and elegant. You look lovely. Congratulations!

You look fab.

Congratulations (on graduating as well as looking fab!) ?

Thanks all. It is certainly a much nicer dress than the one I wore for my first graduation. But that was 16yrs ago (!!!) and well before I could afford nice things ?