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Outfits Under $100: Graduation Edition

Last Updated on March 1, 2019 by Kristina - University of Arizona
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase through our links. Please read our full disclosure here.
Graduation balloons

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!

Graduation outfit 1

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.

Graduation outfit 2

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.

Graduation outfit 3

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!

Tags : Budget Fashion, Graduation, Money, Outfit Ideas, Outfits Under $100

15 Comments
Originally published on May 18, 2010
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lola says

    May 28, 2019 at 10:24 am

    I’m attending a graduation this weekend and the invite says to dress in “business attire.” What exactly does that entail? Any outfit ideas?

    Reply
  2. Medhia says

    April 15, 2019 at 10:51 am

    do you have any suggestions for outfits that incorporate pants instead of dresses?

    Reply
  3. Stacie says

    May 28, 2019 at 10:20 am

    I am graduating in December. Suggestions from my school: black dress. I want to wear a fabulous black dress. Any suggestions??

    Reply
  4. AJ says

    May 29, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    These are all very cute! But…. I am graduating in Dec. In Minnesota. Could you do some graduation outfits for cold weather? Thanks!!!

    Reply
  5. Amy says

    April 15, 2019 at 11:11 am

    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!!!

    Reply
  6. sheena says

    April 15, 2019 at 11:10 am

    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!

    Reply
  7. Gracey says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:09 am

    i LOVE the second one. very audrey hepburn

    Reply
  8. Alexa says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:09 am

    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.

    Reply
  9. Anne says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:09 am

    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 πŸ˜‰
    thank you πŸ™‚

    Reply
  10. Marlen says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:09 am

    Hi πŸ™‚ 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!

    Reply
  11. Jamielikewhoa says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:09 am

    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.

    Reply
  12. Vie says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:09 am

    oh my! that Miss Selfridge top is absolutely adorable!! great find, girls <3

    Reply
  13. Lauren says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:09 am

    I love the first two outfits! They’re so so so cute πŸ™‚

    Reply
  14. Milana says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:13 am

    Great post – there will be a guest post about graduation dresses this week too…

    Milana

    Reply
  15. Steph says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:13 am

    What about a pants option? Sometimes pants are more suited to chilly weather…

    Reply

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