What to Wear to Graduation

Last update May 20, 2021
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Graduation ceremonies can range from the very casual to ultimately formal, and our article will help you dress fabulously for any type of event. Here, you’ll find cute outfit ideas that will let you look your best and enjoy yourself on that memorable day.

Graduation Dress Ideas

Graduation dress ideas

A graduation ceremony will become a long-lasting memory of university life and that particular day when you’ll be the subject of pride in the eyes of your parents and peers. So, you owe it to yourself to look brilliant and exude confidence. With that, you also should look appropriate.

Graduation dress code may vary depending on where the party will be held, the average age of students, plans after the ceremony and some other factors. And choosing a suitable outfit may be a bit nerve-wracking task. However, throwing on a dress is always a safe bet. Available in a variety of styles, dresses can make you look flattering and appropriate for any event. And a helpful online stylist can make the pesky job of choosing the most fitting dress easier. You’ll be able to find a dress that will not only get well with your style but will also let you look beautiful and adhere to the dress code. Be ready to steal the show.

Floral Dresses

Floral dress

You just can’t go wrong with a floral dress. It’s very girlish and flirty attire that goes amazingly well with a pair of gladiator sandals or platforms. Choose boho-inspired floral maxis for formal or semi-formal ceremonies and elegant wrap dresses for more casual events. Complete your look with a small wicker handbag and cute braids to achieve that chic, bohemian look.

If you’re planning to hit the dance floor after the graduation ceremony, we would recommend you to go for a floral dress that won’t restrict you in your desire to move. Choose attires made of silk or chiffon that can flow and move.

For a glitzy graduation ceremony in a swanky restaurant, get a classy floral attire. An off-the-shoulder gown with modern prints will look fitting. Try to choose silk dresses that are airy and, at the same time, luxurious.

Formal Dresses

Formal dresses

Are you going to a graduation ceremony that is quite swanky and upscale? Sweet graduation party is a great opportunity to shine in a formal dress that deftly combines gown chic with restrained elegance. With this great amount of dresses, including ruched maxis, mermaid dresses, asymmetrical attires, open-back apparels, you’ll definitely choose a dress that will work flawlessly for your graduation ceremony or any other formal event the life throws at you.

You are free to experiment with styles and fabrics. From long-sleeve evening gowns to strapless formal cocktail midis in fabrics like lace, satin, or sequin. However, the only thing to remember is that a formal dress already makes a statement by itself. So, it’s better to swap chunky or flashy jewellery for elegant, almost unnoticeable pieces. Make the main accent on your beautiful face and create a beautiful updo hairstyle that will add a very elegant and feminine feel for that special night.

Maxi Dresses

Maxi dresses

An elegant maxi dress should be a staple in the wardrobe of any girl. It goes amazingly well for a variety of events, from beach parties to posh ceremonies. So, more likely than not, a maxi dress for graduation could become a workhorse in your closet and later be worn for walking out in the town or attending a romantic evening date.

If you want something versatile, you can go more casual with your floor-grazer. And as graduation ceremonies are often held in warm spring or hot summer, wearing something super tailored isn’t the best option. If you want to let your body breathe a bit, choose attire with cutouts at the waist. It’ll also let you show a little bit of your skin without being too revealing. Pleats and ruffles are a welcome choice as they will add the right dose of pizzazz to your maxi. Go for light, vibrant colours. A turquoise or coral maxi dress will be a real showstopper.

Lace Dresses

Lace dresses

Lace dresses are very female and boast a chic texture, so it’s one of the best outfits to look charming and grown-up on the graduation ceremony. Actually, a lace dress has always been the strongest way to provide the backbone of a glamorous evening look. A sophisticated lace dress suggests a mixture of chic and elegance to make you look like a celebrity walking the red carpet. If styled properly.

Just like with maxis, you should keep your lace apparel simple. Don’t overcrowd it with massive, fussy accessories. Instead, match it with neat earrings and heels that could add symmetry to your overall look. However, if you want to look a bit sassier, opt for the block-heeled ankle.

Want to reveal your sexiness? Try out open-back lace maxis or ritzy figure-hugging gowns. And if you appear in a stunning red dress, you’ll definitely become a star of the show.

No matter the style, you should layer your beautiful dress with matching clothes if you’re going to attend a winter college graduation ceremony. You can complement your attire with a light blazer, classy black wool, or trench coat. Such an outfit will look utterly elegant with stilettos or neat ankle boots.

Jumpsuits for Graduation

Jumpsuits

If you don’t like the idea of red carpet dressing, then you might be interested in something completely different – a cute jumpsuit. As the fashion doesn’t stand still, jumpsuits have grown from the idea of creating liberate and anti-bourgeois item of clothing. And today, wearing a jumpsuit for an evening event is not a big deal.

So, if you don’t feel like wearing a dress, a jumpsuit is a great, streamlined option, though it’s less about red-carpet glamour but more about casualwear. Jumpsuits are comfortable, easy, and very stylish.

Actually, jumpsuits can be dressed up or down depending on what the occasion demands. If you’re after a more subtle vibe to the casual aesthetic, you can always fall back on flowy, bold-coloured suits paired with comfy sandals. But if you want to look glam, choose slim-fitting jumpsuits and put on heels.

Shoes for Graduation Day

Shoes

After you’ve made up your mind about what to wear, you should choose the most appropriate shoes for your last day at the university. If you’re going to wear a short or knee-length dress, peep toes will be a good match for it. If you don’t feel comfortable in stilettos, you can switch to wedges. Neutral or nude footwear will complement any shade of a dress.

Choose high heels if you want to get extra height and better shape. This type of shoes can not only make your legs longer visually but also elevate your buttocks a bit. If you go for extra-high heels, our recommendation is to put gel inserts into your clutch. They can turn heels from haters into heroes.

Pumps are a win-win choice for about any appeal. They scream urban and chic, and can be styled either with long formal dresses or more casual jumpsuits. They also go well for winter ceremonies when combined with trench coats or fur jackets.

Boots are another option for winter. Sport the ankle or knee-length boots with short or long dresses, casual or formal ensembles. Your choices are limitless.

As we’ve mentioned above, gladiator sandals will go amazingly well with floral, boho-inspired dresses. And in addition to that, they can be a safe bet for most dresses that end near the calves.

Remember that shoes are a girls’ best friend during the graduation party, so they shouldn’t play havoc with your feet. And if none of the offered options suits you, wear comfortable ballerinas. They are less likely to tire out your feet.

Good Luck!

Final

We hope we’ve helped you to get an idea of what to wear on your graduation day. It’s one of the most important occasions in your life that is certainly worth a fabulous outfit. So, make this special event memorable by creating a stunning look that will help you feel confident and gorgeous for the whole duration.