How to Dress for a Graduation Ceremony

Dressing for a graduation ceremony can be a nerve-wracking thing whether you are the one walking across the stage to collect a diploma or a supporting loved one in the crowd.

After all, graduates will want to stand out on their special day and those watching the graduation ceremony will want to ensure that they are dressed appropriately without taking attention away from their loved one.

Our article gives you tips on dressing for your graduation ceremony so you can attend your next graduation in style.

What Should I Wear to My Graduation?

As you start thinking about your graduation ceremony, it’s important to keep in mind any specific dress code that your school has.

Some schools, especially middle or high schools, want to ensure that all students are dressed in a similar fashion or with similar colors; this is essential to pay attention to so you can choose your graduation outfit in a way that fits dress code requirements.

After you have double-checked all graduation dress code rules, you can start putting your outfit together. We give you tips for selecting your outfit below, and you should remember that the best graduation outfit makes you feel comfortable, confident, and totally yourself.

Shoes

Shoes are one of the most important parts of a graduation ceremony outfit, as your shoes will likely be the only things visible under a long graduation gown. You should choose a pair of shoes that are comfortable so you can easily walk in them to cross the stage – avoiding any accidental trips or falls – and shoes that complement your outfit.

Options for shoes include comfortable high heels, brightly colored shoes, flat shoes, or shoes with interesting and unique patterns; you can match the color of your shoes to your dress or wear a plainer dress color to help your shoes stand out.

Outfit

Your graduation outfit can be a dress, skirt and blouse, a jumpsuit, a fitted suit, or dress pants and a nice shirt.

An essential thing to keep in mind if you choose a dress or a skirt is the length of your graduation gown – you will want the hemline of your dress or skirt to be shorter than the hem of your graduation gown. This is because the hem of your outfit underneath the gown peaking out can clash with the gown, make it harder to walk, and ruin the overall look of your graduation outfit.

You will want to pick an outfit that isn’t too revealing, as you will likely be having plenty of pictures taken of you on graduation day, and one that fits comfortably. This helps you avoid fidgeting with your outfit all day and prevents any uncomfortable looseness or fabric bunching as you wait your turn to cross the stage.

We recommend bright patterns, bold colors, and unique dress styles that help you stand out and make your graduation ceremony even more memorable. Alternatively, you could keep your dress simple and let your shoes be the most eye-catching part of your outfit. For more outfit ideas, Sherri Hill’s graduation dress gallery has some of the best!

Accessories

If you wear jewelry, a few statement pieces are a great way to add depth and style to your graduation outfit. Earrings, bracelets, and necklaces all make great complements to a graduation outfit, but you will want to make sure that they aren’t too large or too distracting from the rest of your outfit.

Any accessories or jewelry that you pick should be on the subtle side and complement both your complexion and the rest of your outfit.

How Should Guests Dress for a Graduation Ceremony?

Dressing for a graduation ceremony as a guest is fortunately not too difficult. You won’t have the pressure of all eyes on you as you cross the stage, but you should still make the effort to dress smartly and ensure that you match any dress code that a school has in place.

The most common items for guests to wear to a graduation ceremony include dresses, skirts and blouses, and dress pants and collared shirts. As long as your outfit is a step above casual and not too revealing or uncomfortable to wear, it will likely be appropriate for a graduation ceremony.

Dressing to Impress on Your Big Day

Dressing for your graduation ceremony means dressing to impress, and you should start building your graduation ceremony outfit by thinking about what you’d be comfortable walking and sitting in. Once you have this narrowed down, you can choose the perfect outfit, shoes, and accessories to help you feel your most confident and comfortable on the day of your graduation.