Four Fun Things

If you like Succession, may I suggest Hunter Harris’s substack? She does Succession Power Rankings after every episode and will leave you literally cackling. I subscribe just to get the rankings.

Hi everyone! I’m the Masters graduate, Sarah, from the post. Thank you all for your congratulations! 🥹😭 This has been the most incredible journey, and my academic career isn’t over yet! I have future plans 😉 I ended up wearing a knee length, sleeveless dress (as other commenters mentioned, I was worried about being too hot under that polyester graduation gown), with strappy 90s-inspired heels and my hair down in my natural curls. I felt mature, feminine, and poised! Here’s the link to the dress if you want to see: https://www.anntaylor.com/clothing/dresses/cata000012/607444.html?priceSort=ASC

I like the idea of a dressy caftan for a graduation walk – the fluttery motion would be exquisite, and why not lean into the I-am-Athena-Goddess-of-Wisdom vibe with something neoclassical? Like this baby:

https://tnuck.com//products/grecian-gold-sevyn-dress

Then you could just wear it to the grocery store every once in a while afterward to remind yourself of your academic badassery, and to make other shoppers wonder if they’d taken an edible.

My two cents on the graduation outfit question: Focus on your shoes! Many universities expect you to wear a big robe that covers up almost your entire outfit that you spent so much energy/money on. Your shoes are often the only part you can really see in your gown! Also keep in mind that a lot of graduation ceremonies have rickety steps leading up to the stage, so be careful if you’re wearing heels – I always tell my friends to go for a sparkly/shiny flat for this very reason.
Also, CONGRATS!

Congrats to the graduate! How wonderful! I’d wear a jumpsuit all the way. I just wore one as a bridesmaid and received compliments from strangers on my choice of “dress”. One woman said to me, “Yaaasssssss girl! Rock that jumpsuit!” :) It feels modern (to me) and you don’t have to shave your legs or worry if you’re tan enough, if that’s what runs through your head before a big event. (It does mine) That said, only wear what makes you feel AMAZING and congrats!!!!!

For graduations, I think it looks odd when a woman’s bare legs stick out of their robes while the men are in trousers! I find it much more graceful-looking to wear pants or a longer dress/skirt.

In most British Universities we are quite strict with what people can wear when graduating which then makes the whole issue a lot less complicated!! The really old Univeristied like Oxford and Cambridge are particularly strict. Anyway at the Uni I work at, people who identify as male are supposed to wear a dark suit or traditional dress (so most of my Scottish friends wore the kilt when we graduated and at my Uni as we have a large Nigerian population, there is a lot of Nigerian Dress which is amazing!). Those who identify as female are requested to wear dark bottoms and a white top (could be a skirt or trousers), a dark dress or a white dress. Since there is a loop on the graduation hood, I encourage everyone to wear a white shirt/blouse with a button for the loop to be attached to for pictures. I noticed at our last grad ceremony we weren’t being as strict with dress code (cost of living, just the joy of being able to do in person grads again) and it made me a bit sad as its always so nice to see the graduands so smartly dressed!!

Yay, Sarah! What an awesome milestone! As an English professor and survivor of many, many graduations, I love the idea of the suit but feel the reality would be sweltering. That billowy polyester regalia is a beast. The wrap dress idea (I’d steer clear of that sweatery one pictured) is always classic and chic, though something more explicitly summery like others have linked to might be nice. So are basic black pants (fitted, tailored, wide-leg, whatever makes you feel chic) with a short-sleeve or sleeveless top you like. Unless you’re planning to ditch the gown for pictures, what truly matters most are your lipstick and your shoes . . . and then looking cute when you go out for lunch later. :) The where of the ceremony matters–the Napa Valley college I most recently taught at for 15 years had outdoor graduation, which could mean comfort if it was foggy and 65, or “break out the linen and resign yourself to sweat rivulets regardless” when it was 88 with no shade in sight. Block heels or flats if you’ll be navigating grass. Figure out hat hair you can live with (“cute” is a high bar, hah!) and celebrate the heck out of yourself!

I am so HERE for all these fabulous folks graduating… at all the ages! Count me in! I’m 41 and due to graduate with my masters after the fall semester. I feel pretty invincible and brilliant. And I’m certain you all are too.

I have watched that Snoop Dogg video 20 times & it gets funnier each time😂✌🏻!
#motherhood

I want to thank me. Because no one else will. No truer words indeed.

I also have a what to wear quandary: I just won a leadership award at my federal agency and will be presented the award at a ceremony in front of the entire agency. What am I wearing? Business clothes (a suit)? Church clothes (a nice dress)? Award clothes (sequins)? Somewhere in-between (a sequined blazer)?

SARAH!! YAY!!

Awww yes to the pink suit! It’s a once in a lifetime event-congrats!