What Dress is Appropriate for Graduation?
What’s appropriate for a graduation dress depends on if you are preparing for a ceremony or party as either a guest, a high school grad, or a university graduate. For example, the ceremony usually calls for short graduation dresses that can be comfortably worn under the gown (for grads) or outdoors on a sunny day (for guests), while a formal after party might mean exploring long graduation dresses for an upscale look. Let’s take a look at some helpful tips for guests and graduates to help you figure out what dress is appropriate to wear for a graduation.
What to Wear to Graduation…
- As a Guest: Above all, a graduation guest should be thoughtful about following the dress code. Many ceremonies and parties require at least a semi-formal dress code in honor of the special occasion, but some can be more casual or formal. When in doubt, ask the grad! But if you can’t and there’s no dress code offered in your invitation, keep your graduation dress choice classy and modest in deference to the grad. Reserve white and off-white hues for the graduate, and instead go for beautiful pastels or bright colors to match the celebration energy. Keep your comfort in mind, especially when attending an outdoor ceremony or party, by exploring knee-length or short graduation party dresses in lightweight fabrics with flowy, airy a-line silhouettes. Midi or maxi dresses are also great choices!
- As a High School Graduate: Polished, chic, and comfortable is the way to go if you’re looking for short graduation dresses to wear under the gown (knee-length grad dresses might work well too, but confirm the length of your gown first to ensure the gown is longer). Generally, under-the-gown grad dresses are a-line or slip styles to keep things loose and comfortable in any weather conditions, and the color of your high school graduation dress will ultimately depend on the color of your gown. If you’ve got a pale gown hue, stick with white, ivory, or other pale colors that won’t show through the graduation gown. When you’re prepping for your celebration party, you’ve got a lot of options! You can keep to traditional white or ivory grad dresses to stand out as the grad, or have fun mixing it up with seasonal floral prints and longer lengths, like midi or maxi. Depending on how fancy your party is, you might be more comfortable in a casual graduation party dress, a semi-formal classy graduation dress, or a long formal graduation dress.
- As a University Graduate: Similar to a high school graduate preparing to walk the stage, college grads need comfort and subtle style for the graduation dresses they wear under the gown. Since college cap and gowns are typically black or a rich hue that suits the school’s colors and programs, the colors of short graduation dresses worn under the gowns can vary much more than those worn under classic white gowns often used by high schools. Whatever color you choose for your under-the-gown grad dress, make sure it’s short enough and subtle enough not to be seen and comfortable enough to be worn in any outdoor or indoor conditions. When it comes to your party, choose a casual, semi-formal, or formal graduation dress that best suits your style. If you prefer bold, alluring looks, explore sexy white mini dresses or short ivory graduation dresses with eye-catching sequins. For feminine vibes, explore classy graduation dresses with colorful prints, bright colors, and midi- or maxi-length skirts.
Whether you’ll be the guest or the grad, choosing an appropriate graduation dress is all about presenting yourself in a way that honors and celebrates the hard work accomplished over the last four (or more) years! Thankfully, the above collection of Amarra graduation dresses takes a lot of the guesswork out of finding an appropriate design. Including an assortment of short and long graduation dresses for both semi-formal and formal occasions, this collection is perfect for guests and grads alike. Once you’ve found a grad party dress, high school graduation dress, or university graduation dress you’d like to purchase, find out where to buy your Amarra grad dress by using the store locator tool.
