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4 Game-Changing Graduation Outfit Ideas For 2023

By NA-KD

May 5, 2023  • Updated June 7, 2023

Girl, you did it! All the years you spent studying late at night, all those notebooks stacked up on your desk - it’s finally paying off. The day has finally come when you get to celebrate your achievements, and of course, you want to look stunning while it happens. 

 

Remember the fun of choosing what to wear for prom, and you’ve probably already thought about what to wear to your graduation. I mean, there’s just so much to choose from, right? Vibrant and bold colours? Classic black and white? Textured patterns? The possibilities are endless. And while that’s exciting, navigating through all the options could be confusing. You just earned a stressful degree, so there’s no need to stress about what to wear to graduation too! 

 

That’s why we’ve curated a list of some inspo looks to help you with your graduation outfit ideas. Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach with this, so feel free to mix and match these looks for a graduation outfit idea that suits you the best. After all, this day is all about celebrating you!

 

4 Graduation Outfit Ideas To Help You Decide What To Wear To A Graduation

It’s easy to get lost in the wormhole of all the graduation outfit inspo you see online, so we wanted to make it easier for you to decide what you wear to your graduation. Use these 4 inspo graduation outfit ideas as your template! 

 

The Timeless All-Black Outfit

You already know what we’re talking about - the high-fashion, couture, classy look. If you’ve been looking up ‘graduation outfit ideas’ on Pinterest and your feed is filled with black dresses, there’s a really good reason for that. There’s just no way you can go wrong with black. It matches your robe and cap, giving you a clean all-black look. Pair it with killer fox-eye makeup and red lipstick, and you’ll make heads turn during your graduation party. It’s powerful, feisty and timeless, exactly what you want.

The Centre-Of-Attention Look 

This look is bold, bright and eye-catching, with vibrant colours or textured patterns that make a solid first impression. Admittedly, it’s not a graduation outfit idea many go for, but it’s worth experimenting with.

 

If you want to be the centre of attention, there’s no better way to do it than with stand-out colours. The best way to do that is to pair complementary colours. It could be through either subtle patterns or textures, especially if you’re looking for a graduation dress for winter, then add those woollen textures. But suppose you’re looking for some real out-of-the-box graduation outfit ideas. In that case, you can also try wearing completely contrasting dresses and footwear - like adding fuchsia elements to your green dress. If you’re outgoing and bold, this look will suit your personality too. 

The Classic White Dress

If you asked your mum what to wear to a graduation ceremony, she would probably suggest the classic white dress. It’s the perfect option for what to wear to a graduation ceremony as a mother too! And you know, she’s not wrong. Who doesn’t love white dresses? They’re classic, probably why white graduation dresses are the most popular choice. But let’s not confuse its simplicity for boredom. There’s so much you can do with a white dress. You can experiment with the sleeves, try differently-styled necks and incorporate flairs to add a touch of intrigue to your outfit. Classic, yet modern, a white dress is a go-to for a graduation dress idea.

The Soft Feminine Look

If you’re in the phase in your life where you want to embrace your femininity, or you just gravitate towards pastel shades, this look is your answer to the question, ‘What to wear to a graduation ceremony.’

 

From sage-coloured dresses to subtle pastel pinks and purples, these colours for your graduation outfit ideas will bring out the minimal and gentler side of you - a good break from all the crazy ambitious stuff you’ve been doing! These shades usually look great when paired with diamonds or rose-gold jewellery and matching footwear. It’s also the perfect look to wear to a graduation as a guest, check out how to wear a slip dress to embrace this style.

Do You Have To Wear A Dress To Graduation?

Of course not! It’s 2023, and we’re so over the dresses-only stereotype. Now more than ever, it’s time to embrace the strong, independent woman you are and let her decide what to wear to graduation. Of course, if she wants to wear pants, she should. 

 

In fact, wearing a two-toned look with different-coloured pants and a top is a great way to make your outfit stand out. But that’s not all. Why not try a jumpsuit? They’re super in right now and will give you the comfort of wearing pants while keeping your look stunning. But hey, don’t even think twice if you want to go for the classic suit-and-tie look. 

What’s The Ideal Length For Graduation Outfits?

There’s always the looming question of your graduation dress length. Can graduation dresses be long? Well, traditionally, there’s only one rule. It should be shorter than your robe. But no one’s policing around, making sure you follow it. If you choose to wear pants or a jumpsuit, there’s no need to worry about the length of your outfit at all!

 

Have You Decided What To Wear To Your Graduation? 

It’s so exciting that you’ve achieved a new milestone in your life, and it’s great to know you will look stunning while you do it. Hopefully, we’ve helped you understand more about what type of dresses to wear to a graduation and curated a list of graduation outfit ideas to take inspo from. 

We’re always looking forward to seeing how you style your graduation outfits, so don’t forget to tag NA-KD in your posts. And hey, all the best for your next milestone. We’re so proud of you!



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