<p>Well, this weekend will be a first for me - my first college graduation ceremony (I never participated in my own ceremonies). I had not given any thought to what to wear. I assumed that Dockers and a sport shirt would be fine. However, my wife seems to think that a suit is the norm. </p>
<p>Details: son is graduating from Cornell; there will be several ceremonies: convocation speaker in the football stadium on Saturday at noon, departmental ceremony (with seniors in cap and gowns) indoors on Saturday afternoon, graduation procession and ceremony in the football stadium on Sunday morning.</p>
<p>What have others observed as the norm for college graduation attire?</p>
<p>“You have too much time on your hands.”
This from a student who feels compelled to spend time on the parent’s board. Have you learned about irony yet?</p>
<p>Well, we’re not there yet, but I suspect that June 8/9 will find my husband, father, father-in-law and S2 in slacks and open necked sports shirts. We have indoor baccalaureate (Rockefeller Chapel) on Friday afternoon and outdoor convocation (graduation ceremony) on Saturday morning. My advice would be to dress appropriately for the weather. There is a party Friday evening and the stated “dress code” for that is business casual. Ithaca can be fickle in terms of weather. I hope you have an incredible weekend.</p>
<p>I have not done college graduation yet, but have been around when 2 were happening, and it seemed that Dockers/Polo would work fine for anything outdoors, and shirt/tie/khakis or darks for the indoor ceremonies. Maybe you could have a sports jacket on your shoulder, so you are prepared.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure my H wore Khakis, casual button-down shirt. I wore some kind of summer skirt, also casual. I think Dockers/Polo shirt would be fine. We had a reception and outdoor dinner Friday night, Phi Beta Kappa thing and some personal get-tgethers on Saturday (we held a cocktail hour thing with other girls and their families at their house), and graduation followed by lunch and departmental open houses on Sunday. Just getting to everything including herding family members was enough challenge without getting too formal with clothes.</p>
<p>You could try checking the past Cornell postings of graduations to try to scope out what parents are wearing in the pictures.</p>
<p>FF–I missed both my UMich graduations, too.</p>
<p>FF-We have graduation this weekend, and my husband is wondering also. I believe he is planning to wear a sports coat and tie for the formal indoor ceremony, and may or may not wear a tie for the two outdoor ceremonies. I expect that he’ll wear a sports coat to all three, however. You will probably see some of everything, so be comfortable. The weather will be cool (perhaps with rain) so a jacket seems like a reasonable choice.</p>
<p>Congratulations, fundingfather! For our son’s HS graduation from a private school, my husband, FIL, and both sons wore shirts, ties, jackets. My sisters and I wore very nice dresses. Most people dress in something like business attire.</p>
<p>I actually expect that my H will wear a sports coat at least when S1 graduates. It can be chilly in NH (and NY) in early June so something would be in order. Personally, I find it easier to dress a little better than I think is appropriate, and take off jacket if things are more casual. How about khaki’s, polo shirt and blazer? That would look nice, and could be more casual if needed.</p>
<p>Agree with Chocoholic. It really depends on the weather. There have been ceremonies when it poured, and others when it was baking hot. I don’t know about Cornell, but at Harvard, the graduates and the parents sit (or stand) out in the open.
Wear what is most comfortable.</p>
<p>I just returned from graduation at UMCP and was surprised to find that suits and ties were the norm. All of the ceremonies were indoors. My husband did not feel out of place wearing slacks and a button down shirt.
Congratulations!</p>
<p>From photos friends have sent me it looks like anything goes. Grandfather types tend to be wearing jackets and ties. Dad types tend to be wearing button up shirts (short and long sleeved) without ties some are in polo shirts. Brother types tend to be dressed like Dads. My inclination would be to wear a button shirt carry a sports jacket with a tie in the pocket. But I’m guessing you wouldn’t feel out of place much more casually dressed either. (But just think how nice you’ll look in photos with your graduate if you look sharp too.) And congrats!</p>
<p>Khakis and open necked polos sound fine.
There will be people attired in everything ranging from jeans to suits. Wear something comfortable. The ceremony goes on for a looooong time. No one will care what you’re wearing. Everyone just cares about their own kid.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for the congratulations and suggestions and especially to garland for the suggestion to check on photos from previous ceremonies. I used Google images and found many photos that concurred with what most are saying - that anything goes, but there are a lot of ties and jackets.</p>
<p>However, the most important revelation from the photos was how packed the stadium was. I guess doing the math it makes sense but until I saw the photos I hadn’t appreciated how many people would be there. Now I know why the motels in the area book up four years in advance and why getting a dinner reservation is next to impossible. I guess we had better get there early (and spend even more time in the sun - at least I hope it is sunny).</p>
<p>I agree that no one else really cares what anyone else is wearing. But we have the most wonderful photos of S1’s HS graduation, with grandfather, dad, and brother standing/sitting in a row, or with graduate wearing all his medals etc. It was a typical chilly day in late May, but I love seeing the 3 generations all dressed nicely.</p>
And congrats!</p>