After looking at every store I can think of and trying on exactly one thing that was definitely not it - I’m going back to look at a wrap dress from Nordstrom and a shirt/top from Tommy Bahama. And hoping for a fashion miracle or a weather miracle.
Clearly, we all have different levels of desire or “obligation” to dress up.
I am someone who just would dread anything too fancy. And wasteful (for me). I have D graduating HS this year (had a college S last year) - and I’m casual (but that doesn’t mean slouchy). Most of my closet (beyond casual wear after work and on the weekends) is dresses - but casual, simple, colorful, modern dresses. I would/will wear something that is “me” - which means something like you might find at ModCloth.
But I’ll be honest - if I have something in my closet that is appropriate (and wouldn’t most of us??? Come on, really?) I’d assume save the $$$ and put it towards a gift for my graduate.
Just checking back in after graduation weekend. I ended up wearing a comfortable, casual skirt (with pockets!), tank top and short sleeved sweater in my daughter’s favorite color. Graduation was outdoors, so I needed to be prepared for any weather. As I looked around (just for my own curiosity after the conversation here), I saw women in dressy dresses, casual maxi dresses, pants with a casual top, shorts and a polo shirt. Truly the gamut of options. I decided that as long as your family group is in the same level of dressiness, it doesn’t really matter what you wear. Everyone is so busy trying to find their graduate and taking pictures afterward, nobody really cares. I’m happy with how our pictures turned out and once again, thanks to the OP for reminding me to not wait until the last minute to figure out my options.
D graduates from boarding school at the end of the month. I am wearing just a casual summer dress which should be comfortable on what is sure to be a very hot day. One of these -both of which I have in my closet:
This is funny. I just realized that I wore a green dress to S’s Dartmouth graduation, but it was a Granny Smith green, not the Dartmouth color. And it was a brilliantly sunny hot day. Many people ended up retreating from their seats to shelter under the trees edging the green. I remained stalwart in our excellent seats, reserved for us by a younger fraternity brother, even though S’s last name is near the end of the alphabet, but I heartily wished I had a broad-brimmed hat!
Of course, since this was New Hampshire, it could just as easily have been cold enough to see your breath in early June!
@HarvestMoon1 – I have never heard of that brand but they remind me of Jude Connally. They don’t fit me well at all (fall between sizes), but the wearer always looked so pulled together. No wrinkles.
@CT1417 I just bookmarked that link - really like their line. I live in this sort of dress all summer with just a pair of strappy sandals. So comfortable. Thinking I will order this top:
The dress was comfortable and the sun hat was welcome (this time I wasn’t one of the guests wearing a program on my head to block the sun) and the shoes were ruined. The grounds were completely waterlogged. I was proud of myself for thinking to wear comfortable flats, but Chacos would have worked better, if only I had some.
I saw 2 guests out of several thousand wearing coats and ties. Mostly dresses and skirts for the women and chinos for the men.
I wore comfortable strappy skechers flats. Went to Dress Barn the day before I drove up and found a couple of dresses I liked. Wore a longish black and royal blue floral. It was 68* on Saturday, 88* on Sunday (graduation). Shoulda brought the sunscreen. I saw one person wearing a dress with elephants along the border…it looked great on her, but a little too “linked” for my taste.
I was wearing flat sandals, many walks, 3 different ceremonies (all inside) with receptions before and after at the different location. I have no idea what others were wearing, I did not pay any attention and I am sure, nobody paid attention to me either.
^^That’s very true, however if you saw someone dressed in tee shirts & shorts, you would remember! I’m amazed at people dressing in tee shirts & shorts for a function that most of the world thinks to dress up for! Yes, everyone varies quite a bit in their interpretation of nicely casual dress, but tee shirts & shorts are downright sloppy. Those people you would pay attention to, but not for the good reasons.
I actually saw a couple people at D’s HS graduation this weekend (indoor at kind of a swanky place - art museum) with high end shorts/top combos that looked adorable! One was a pair of black a little above the knee shorts - I’ll call them fitted slim trouser quality type with a floral top and couple inch wedged black sandals. Cute hair do and nice accessories - I’d give it my stamp of approval!!!
Shorts and tops can be anything from dressy-casual to super sloppy! Cargo shorts with holes and paint splatters and a ratty tee… Not a good way to dress when you are going to a graduation.
I think I will be over packing (as usual.) Just found out there is a cocktail party for grads & parents on the Friday night.
So we have that plus the Baccalaureate Saturday afternoon and Saturday night going out with kid’s friends and their parents to fairly fancy restaurant. Finally graduation Sunday morning. It’s still a week away so I don’t have any idea yet what the weather will be like.
I think we’re talking mainly college graduations here. There’s a huge difference between high end shorts & tops and ratty tee shirts & shorts…even high school, I wouldn’t dress that way! How long does it take to put on a collared shirt with no stains? As I said, people’s version of what to wear varies but for the most part they all looked clean, nicely casual and happy…it’s important to me, but the main thing is that people showed up for their family or friends no matter how they dressed, so that’s all that really matters, I guess. =D>
I just realized that I wore a green dress to S’s Dartmouth graduation, but it was a Granny Smith green, not the Dartmouth color. And it was a brilliantly sunny hot day. Many people ended up retreating from their seats to shelter under the trees edging the green. I remained stalwart in our excellent seats, reserved for us by a younger fraternity brother, even though S’s last name is near the end of the alphabet, but I heartily wished I had a broad-brimmed hat!