What are you wearing to graduation? I’m delighted to be going to graduation, but not looking forward to sitting outside for hours in May in the south. Lesson learned from last time is that I’ll wear a hat, but not sure what else. Suggestions?
Something with a pattern and that is wicking so you won’t have embarrassing butt sweat when you finally get out of that chair at the end of the ceremony. ;
I’m wearing a dress I bought late last summer for my sister’s 60th b’day party. I’ll be in Maine so I have a pretty black sweater to wear over it if it’s chilly. If it rains graduation is held indoors. Imo, it’s a very important occasion so I am definitely dressing up for it.
Here is the dress.
I wore one of the Modcloth dresses - flower print very comfortable. I wore a jacket/cardigan in the morning and took it off when it got hot later. And yes a nice hat is indispensable.
Comfortable & lightweight clothing (ex. sundress or chinos), hat, flat shoes if there will be a lot of walking, and a sweater if it is cool in the AM. Bring a bottle (or two) of water with you as well.
Congrats and enjoy the day!
Don’t forget a hat with a brim, sunscreen and sunglasses.
I am hokey as hell. My dress for D’s graduation is in the royal blue that is her school color, my dress for S’s graduation is in the purple that is his school color. I know, I know. It was part of my selection criteria. A little nutty but hey. I will be on the dressier side, but when do I get to dress up - never.
Oh lord Pizzagirl–we do have something in common–school colors for sure!
Get one of those old fashioned fans to go with your outfit, or have one custom made, cheering your graduate.
I went for comfort. My dress was a light weight but lined, sleeveless linen for DDs graduation. When I look at the pics now…I wonder what I was thinking when I bought it!
For DS, I wore the school colors…red and black. But at that point, most of my wardrobe was red and black. I wore a red silk print top, and black slacks. It poured rain. I also wore the plastic thing that looked like a dry cleaning bag…it was lovely.
In both cases, I cared more about my shoes…lots of walking, and I wanted comfy but nice.
I’d have had to wear plaid at Carnegie Mellon!
I think you are supposed to wear melon at Carnegie Mellon…
I’ll be wearing a gorgeous skirt & top…nicely casual. Really nice espadrilles with it. The top dresses the outfit down a bit on purpose, because I was told that people show up in shorts & tee shirts (yucch) and I wanted to be casually dressy. Good idea about the extras & bottled water…
I will likely pack bottles of ice, not just water. It will be quite warm, which is why I’m struggling. The older I get the more structured clothes I need to feel put together, but that won’t keep me cool. Maybe a skirt and light blouse. Trying to remember it’s really about the graduates. And my graduate suggested wearing the school colors.
Hah,how nice to worry about being too hot… last year I was simply praying I wouldn’t be snowed on (and it did snow, but it held off until a couple hours after graduation)…
I second the reminder to use sunscreen. Two years ago, at my older daughter’s late April college graduation in southern California, the temperature reached 86 by the end of the ceremony (noon) and my younger daughter and I got very painful sunburns.
Thank you so much for this thread! All of the logistics regarding graduation and it hadn’t even occurred to me to start thinking about my attire! Sunscreen is a great reminder for the outdoor ceremonies.
I always pack a Nordstrom tissue weight cashmere wrap in a neutral color. It provides a great deal of warmth when the AC is blasting arctic air during indoor events or when the weaher is indecisive during outdoor events.
I often go with linen for such occasions–breathes nicely and is readily available. Definitely wear a hat and use sunscreen. Not sure what your tastes are, but I wore a dress very similar to this one at J.Jill: http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/product/itempage.aspx?BID=578399636&rPFID=10&item=E9022B&h=M&sk=M
Suggest flats or wedgies to avoid getting your heels stuck in the turf~
Congratulations to the graduate AND the MOG!!
Hadn’t thought about this, but we will have two ceremonies to attend. The big impersonal university stadium ceremony w 5000-6000 grads one afternoon; at least the speaker (bill nye) should be good! The next morning is the D1s school ceremony, where she actually walks across the stage and gets her name read. That is fairly informal, as its held in a field and I’ve already been told I need to bring my own lawn chair!