Commencement ceremonies are occurring all over the country, and many of us will be graduating or attending someone else’s graduation in the near future. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited; there’s nothing like shiny gowns and clear blue skies to end what has been a great academic year.
So for this installment of Outfits Under $100, I’m going to show you three graduation-appropriate outfits, each one under 100 dollars total. Whether you are graduating or just attending a ceremony, these outfits will be perfect for the occasion AND won’t break your budget.
Outfit 1: Floral Inspiration
This fun outfit plays on this season’s floral trend, but is still classic enough to wear to graduation. The dark, patterned dress is complemented by the lighter accessories, creating a balanced, flattering look. As a bonus, the shoes are neutral, so they won’t look odd with your gown.
If you are simply attending a ceremony, I recommend adding on a clutch for your cell phone, lip gloss, etc., so your look can easily transition to the post-ceremony celebrations!
Products: Pearl Earrings- Forever 21, Floral Dress- Forever 21, Belt- Shop Ruche, Shoes- ASOS
Outfit 2: Little Black Dress
A perfectly classic little black dress is always a great option for any occasion. For this outfit, I played on girly elements with pretty pearls, lace details, and bow shoes, but I stuck to a neutral color palette to keep things from looking over-the-top. This look is best for evening ceremonies or celebration dinners, but would also be appropriate for a more formal graduation ceremony.
Products: Black Dress- Delias, Pearls- Fancy Pocket, Heels- Debenhams
Outfit 3: Skirt Option
If you’re dress-averse, here’s an outfit that is graduation-appropriate and includes a skirt instead of a dress. This look is a little bit vintage-meets-nautical. The A-line skirt is reminiscent of the fashion of the ’50s, while the overall color palette is classically nautical. Wear this outfit to a daytime graduation and you’ll be perfectly chic as well as comfortable.
Products: Skirt- Forever 21, Heels- Modcloth, Top- Miss Selfridge
Want more graduation fashion?
Need extra inspiration for what to wear to a college or high school graduation or commencement ceremony? We’ve got you covered with the following posts:
- If you need a dress, check out 20 Cute Dresses for Graduation & Beyond.
- If you’re looking for something to wear to a graduation party, look no further than What Do I Wear There? End of Spring Semester Events.
Your thoughts?
Are you graduating? What are you wearing to your commencement ceremony? If not, are you attending any graduations? Let us know with a comment.
P.S. All of us here at CF want to say a big congrats to the graduating classes of 2010! You made it!
I’m attending a graduation this weekend and the invite says to dress in “business attire.” What exactly does that entail? Any outfit ideas?
do you have any suggestions for outfits that incorporate pants instead of dresses?
I am graduating in December. Suggestions from my school: black dress. I want to wear a fabulous black dress. Any suggestions??
These are all very cute! But…. I am graduating in Dec. In Minnesota. Could you do some graduation outfits for cold weather? Thanks!!!
I love the first dress!! it is so cute I want a flower dress for graduation with a belt. That dress would be perfect!! When I click on the liknk for the dress and belt it says they are no longer in stock or no longer there anymore ideas of where i could find a cute dress like that!!!
I would like to know if you could pair tights with any of the selections? I wanted to wear a floral printed skirt(with black waist band) and a blouse, however I not sure tight will go well with this. Any suggestion will be greatly appericated! Thanks!
i LOVE the second one. very audrey hepburn
My Graduation was last Fall, I did the exact LBD look, down to the pearl bracelets, but as it was fall I added black opaque tights to outfit. I was a hit and would definitely encourage others to work this look for their graduation as those pictures will be with you for the rest of your life.
Hey, I’m from Luxembourg and I’m going to graduate from ?highschool? (is that where you are at the age of 19 in the US?) in about a month. I’ve got a gorgeous black dress which I wore already on new year’s eve, but the problem is that it has quite of a neckline.. Do you have any idea what i could where to hide it during the ceremony, but which I can take off afterwards at the party? I still don’t want to look like a grandma with an old jacket over my dress 😉
thank you 🙂
Hi 🙂 I have my friend’s sister graduation coming up, she is graduating from high school and we are all so excited! She got accepted to her dream school UCLA, GO BRUINS! i think i am going to choose option three, that skirt is beautiful! Thanks for the ideas and also thanks for this website. I recently ‘discovered’ it and i am so glad, it relaxes me a lot, takes my mind away from college, exams and piles of homework; i am going crazy and it is only my first year! lol anyways,thanks!
This post came at the best time, I’m going to my cousins graduation from Columbia Medical School today, and I was at a loss at what to wear.
oh my! that Miss Selfridge top is absolutely adorable!! great find, girls <3
I love the first two outfits! They’re so so so cute 🙂
Great post – there will be a guest post about graduation dresses this week too…
Milana
What about a pants option? Sometimes pants are more suited to chilly weather…