Graduation time! What to wear/not to wear ?

[Southernmiss]

Ok DS graduates high school next Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at the local coliseum-- indoors.

I have a Jackie O Halo Style red dress -- would that be appropriate to wear? I am usually subdued, but want to look nice. The dress fits well and is modest-hits me at the mid knee and while it has an offset cowl neck, it is not revealing. I have a darker taupe colored pumps with a strap to wear as shoes and am thinking faux pearls for necklace and earings.

I know Everyone on the Dis has an opinion--so for better or worse--tell me what you think.

By the way if it matters--the school colors are black, red and white--the kids caps and gowns are white with red stoles.

 

[clh2]

Don't think I can help you. My DD's graduation will be mid-June in the school gym at 1:00 in the afternoon. Not air-conditioned. We've been advised from parents who attended the graduation last year - wear shorts and something that is just about sleeveless. Seating is - crammed in the bleachers.

So - I think your best bet would be to contact some parents who have sat through the graduation before and see if that the outfit you've described is appropriate, or is it overdressed, At my school - it would be over the top.

 

[scrapquitler]

Ok DS graduates high school next Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at the local coliseum-- indoors.

I have a Jackie O Halo Style red dress -- would that be appropriate to wear? I am usually subdued, but want to look nice. The dress fits well and is modest-hits me at the mid knee and while it has an offset cowl neck, it is not revealing. I have a darker taupe colored pumps with a strap to wear as shoes and am thinking faux pearls for necklace and earings.

I know Everyone on the Dis has an opinion--so for better or worse--tell me what you think.

By the way if it matters--the school colors are black, red and white--the kids caps and gowns are white with red stoles.

I looked up the dress, and I think it looks nice. I'd guess that it will be great for graduation, especially if it is indoors and air-conditioned.

Like the previous poster, graduation here is definitely a casual thing. It's outside on the football field, and in case of rain, in the school auditorium, which is never that comfortable (in case of rain, graduates get two tickets for the auditorium plus 4 additional tickets so that those people can watch via cctv from the gym and cafeteria). The kids usually all wear shorts/t-shirts under their cap and gown, as they get transported immediately after the ceremony to the town wide Project Graduation party (they get locked into the park & rec department overnight for a big party for the grads of both our high schools)

So yeah, unless you think it will be too hot, what you are planning sounds great.

 

[Southernmiss]

I looked up the dress, and I think it looks nice. I'd guess that it will be great for graduation, especially if it is indoors and air-conditioned.

Like the previous poster, graduation here is definitely a casual thing. It's outside on the football field, and in case of rain, in the school auditorium, which is never that comfortable (in case of rain, graduates get two tickets for the auditorium plus 4 additional tickets so that those people can watch via cctv from the gym and cafeteria). The kids usually all wear shorts/t-shirts under their cap and gown, as they get transported immediately after the ceremony to the town wide Project Graduation party (they get locked into the park & rec department overnight for a big party for the grads of both our high schools)

So yeah, unless you think it will be too hot, what you are planning sounds great.

Thank you. Yes, it will be air conditioned.

The boys are told to wear dress shirt, tie and black pants and shoes and girls white/light colored dresses and white shoes. Most adults in attendance will wear "Sunday Best". I just don't want to be too flashy with red.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Thank you. Yes, it will be air conditioned.

The boys are told to wear dress shirt, tie and black pants and shoes and girls white/light colored dresses and white shoes. Most adults in attendance will wear "Sunday Best". I just don't want to be too flashy with red.

Well in my area, your dress would be perfect for the event.

 

[MrsPete]

While the style isn't mine, that sounds perfect for a graduation. You'll take pictures with her in her cap and gown, and you'll look nice next to her in that outfit. Incidentally, I've bought a casual dress for my daughter's graduation: It's a step down in formality from what you're describing, but still in the same ballpark. It's a blue floral cotton, knee length, v-neck -- loose and comfortable with a pocket for my car keys (so I don't have to take in a purse or anything else). I'm going to wear it with low-heeled bronze sandals. I usually gravitate towards reds and pinks, but her gown is red . . . so I wanted a color that wouldn't blend in with her in pictures.

If my daughter were graduating outside, I'd wear a sundress and sandals - never shorts. It's not a ballgame or a cookout. This is a big deal, a once-in-a-lifetime milestone event for your child. Dressing up doesn't mean roasting. Honor your child's accomplishment by putting effort into looking nice for her big day.

 

[Princess Row]

Thank you. Yes, it will be air conditioned.

The boys are told to wear dress shirt, tie and black pants and shoes and girls white/light colored dresses and white shoes. Most adults in attendance will wear "Sunday Best". I just don't want to be too flashy with red.

I love the idea of "Sunday Best". I gratuate in three weeks.....the attire for parents is jeans/shorts and T-shirts! Wish parents would dress up!

 

[shortbun]

Around here, parents wear resort casual and kids wear shorts and tshirts. Most of our graduations are attempted outdoors and it gets pretty hot under those robes.

 

[Robmom]

I think it would be nice. For my DD's graduation, I wore a nice blouse and dress pants, my dad was in a suit. My DH was wearing a tshirt and jeans. We were not happy with him at all.

 

[Hannathy]

Sounds good. I wore a sleeveless dress about the same level of "dressiness" as yours.

Here all the girls wore dresses, a few may have had on good pants and the boys nice pants and either good polo's or shirts. I didn't see any jeans.

Her's was in a hot auditorium, no air conditioning.

 

[Minnesota!]

My graduation was held in a church - so people wore their church clothes.

 

[ksjayhawks]

Around here you would be overdressed. In red, you would definitely stand out!

Dress for here is more casual, but nice--guess more business casual.

 

[Robinrs]

My son's graduation is on the 25th. It's also in a HUGE church so I'm wearing a church outfit, which for me is STILL BLACK!

I like the style of that halo dress. I had to look it up, too.

 

[Southernmiss]

Thanks for the replies and good luck to all families with graduates this year!

 

[MrsDuck]

Sounds lovely and appropriate!

 

[3Paige14]

The dress sounds appropriate for a graduation ceremony to me. I'm wearing dress pants, a nice blouse, and some nice sandals to my brother's hs graduation.

Of course, the graduation ceremonies at my old high school, I've seen everything - ball caps, (old, beat-up) cowboy boots, muscle shirts, cut-off jeans, ripped jeans, flimsy flip flops, pretty much anything. It's sad.

One year, I saw a girl who graduated with me wearing a T-shirt, plaid shorts, and rubber boots to the graduation ceremony.

I'm starting to see why my dad's friend (We call him "Crazy Uncle Jim" because he's quite the comedian) can't wait for my brother's next month. His wife was unable to attend mine but is able to attend this one. It probably has something to with the attire of some of the graduates' guests.

 

[mhsjax]

Sounds perfect. We don't do outside graduations around here. My DS school's graduation is at one of our local universities. Mine, back in the dark ages, was in our Civic Auditorium. I would hate to be outside during graduation.

 

[Mauicshell]

Wear something you are comfortable in. Not physically comfortable but emotionally. Something that will boost your confidence! A WORD OF CAUTION LADIES!!! You will need to go up and down stairs in from of a large audience with flashes going off everywhere and several distractions. Wear shoes you can walk in!!!!!!!!! I've been a part of MANY graduations and girls rarely think about walking in their shoes they just go with what is cute (and I love shoes!)