Graduation Dresses: What to Wear to Graduation and Under Your Gown

Below: the dress types that work best, how long your dress should be, colors, fabrics for a hot day, shoes for the stage, the party look and senior pictures.

What Should You Wear to Graduation?

Start with the practical details. Check whether your school has guidelines for graduates; some ask for dress shoes instead of sneakers or flip-flops, or set rules for what can be worn with the cap and gown. Then find out where the ceremony is (outdoors on a field, in an arena or in a school gym), what time it starts and what happens afterward. A morning ceremony followed by a backyard party calls for something different than an evening ceremony followed by a dinner at a nice restaurant.

For the ceremony itself, aim for something dressy but not formal, roughly cocktail or semi-formal level: a pretty dress you can sit in for a long ceremony, walk in and still feel good in when the gown comes off for photos. Decide early whether you will wear one outfit all day or change for the celebration afterward, because that changes what you need the ceremony dress to do.

What Kind of Dress Do You Wear Under a Graduation Gown?

Almost any dress that is comfortable, fits well and suits the length of your gown will work. Here are the styles that work best, and when each one makes sense.

A Short White Dress

The short white dress is the classic graduation look. It reads fresh and celebratory, it works under any color of gown, and it photographs well once the gown comes off. Look at texture to make it feel special: lace, eyelet, crisp satin or pearl and bead details. Sherri Hill's white cocktail dresses give you a dressier version of the tradition that also works for a dinner or party afterward.

A Cocktail Dress

A knee-length or shorter cocktail dress is the most versatile choice because it fits under the gown, looks polished at the ceremony and goes straight on to a dinner or party. Short dresses tend to be either fitted all the way through or flared at the skirt. A-line and flared skirts are easy to sit and walk in and suit almost every figure. Fitted styles look sleek but can ride up when you sit on stage, so check how yours looks seated before the big day. In a neutral like black or navy, a cocktail dress is also easy to wear again.

A Midi Dress

A midi dress feels a little more grown-up and covered, which suits a college ceremony or a more traditional school. The catch is length: a midi often ends right where the gown ends, so the hem can peek out an inch or two underneath. Hold the dress against your gown (or check the gown's length) before you commit.

A Sundress for an Outdoor Ceremony

For a daytime ceremony on a football field or lawn, a light sundress in cotton, linen or chiffon keeps you cool under a polyester gown. Floral prints are a natural fit here: they are comfortable, a little more relaxed than a solid satin dress, and easy to dress up with jewelry and heels. If you want something dressier than a sundress with the same airy feel, look for a floral cocktail dress with a chiffon skirt.

Jumpsuits, Rompers and Two-Pieces

There is no rule that says you have to wear a dress. A tailored jumpsuit or a dressy romper is comfortable to walk and sit in and looks sharp once the gown comes off, especially in a bright color. Choose one with a defined waist so it does not read as casual.

What About Long Dresses and Ball Gowns?

A sleek floor-length dress can work under a gown as long as it falls clearly below the gown's hem. Very full skirts are another story: a ball gown is hard to fit under a robe and tricky on stage stairs, and a mermaid skirt that flares at the knee can bunch awkwardly under the gown. If you love a dramatic gown, save it for a formal reception or party after the ceremony.

How Long Should Your Dress Be Under a Graduation Gown?

Graduation gowns usually fall somewhere between mid-calf and the ankle, depending on your height and the gown. The simplest rule is to choose a dress that ends a few inches above the gown's hem, so nothing shows below it, or one that is clearly floor-length. The look to avoid is a hem that sticks out just an inch or two under the gown.

The neckline matters too, because the gown opens in a V at the front and that is the part of your dress people see during the ceremony. Straps, a halter, a pretty V or a detailed neckline all show nicely. A strapless dress can make it look as though you are wearing nothing under the gown, so if you love strapless, plan to unzip the gown for photos. Since graduations usually happen in late spring, sleeveless styles are usually the more comfortable choice under the extra layer.

What Color Should You Wear to Graduation?

There is no required color, but a few guidelines help:

• White and light colors. Some schools and families keep a tradition of white dresses for graduates, and white or pastel is a safe, fresh choice anywhere. Light colors also stay cooler in the sun.
• School colors. Wearing your school's colors, or one of them, is a fun way to tie your outfit to the day. If the colors are bold, a solid dress in one of them with neutral shoes keeps it from looking like a uniform.
• Black and white. Black, white or a black-and-white combination is classic and works with a gown of any color.
• Bright colors. Pink, yellow, green and jewel tones like royal blue stand out in photos once the gown comes off.
• Check your gown. Thin white or light-colored gowns can be see-through in the sun, so a dark or busy dress may show through. Under a light gown, stick to white, nude or pastel.

If you are choosing between a solid and a print, think about accessories. A solid color is the better canvas for statement earrings or bold makeup, and a busy print usually looks best with simple jewelry.

What Fabrics Are Best for a Hot Graduation Day?

Graduation gowns are usually polyester and do not breathe, so the dress underneath should. For an outdoor ceremony or a crowded gym, choose cotton, linen, chiffon or another lightweight, lined fabric, and skip heavy sequins, velvet and thick structured fabrics that trap heat. A dress that skims the body is cooler than one that clings. If the venue is an air-conditioned arena, pack a light cardigan or wrap you can slip on under the gown. A little blotting powder in your bag helps you look fresh in photos after a long, warm ceremony.

What Shoes Should You Wear to Walk Across the Stage?

You will climb stairs, cross a stage and walk while people film you, so pick shoes you can move in with confidence. Block heels, wedges, low heels and dressy flats are the safest choices. Thin stilettos sink into grass at an outdoor ceremony and can catch on stage steps. Wear your shoes around the house a few times before graduation, check that the soles are not slippery on a polished floor, and bring flats or sandals for afterward if you plan to dance at the party.

What Should You Wear to a Graduation Party?

The party is where the graduate can have more fun with the look. For a backyard party or family lunch, your ceremony dress with fresh shoes and jewelry is enough. For a dinner, a formal reception or a party at night, it is the moment for a dressier cocktail dress with sparkle, a bold color or a strapless style you could not show off under the gown.

If the celebration is formal, a long gown or even a ball gown is a memorable choice, since you no longer need to fit under a robe or climb stage stairs. Going as a guest instead? See our guides to what to wear to a graduation party and graduation guest outfit ideas.

What Should You Wear for Senior Pictures?

Senior pictures usually happen months before graduation, and many seniors bring two looks: one casual and one dressy. A graduation-style cocktail dress makes an easy dressy look, and solid colors or simple prints photograph better than tiny busy patterns. Choose something that fits the location, such as a light dress for a field or garden and a sleeker look for a city setting. For more ideas, see our guide to senior picture outfits.

Where Can You Find Sherri Hill Graduation Dresses?

Browse Sherri Hill graduation dresses for short and cocktail styles that work under a gown and at the party afterward. In the US, Sherri Hill dresses are sold through authorized retailers; use Find A Store to locate one near you and to check that a seller is authorized. Sherri Hill sizes run from 000 to 26, though not every style is made in every size, and your retailer can check whether a style is available to order in the color and size you want. If you are shopping well ahead, new spring styles start arriving in stores as early as late October or early November, with the full collection generally in by the end of January.

Once you have a shortlist, let comfort and instinct decide. Pick the dress you can sit, walk and celebrate in all day, and the one you will be happy to see in photos for years.