Graduation Dresses | Short to Long, Formal & Semi-Formal (2024)

2024 Graduation Dresses For Your Milestone Moment

Commence down the aisle in 2024 graduation dresses from Windsor. These chic dresses are perfect for the ceremony to the celebration! From breezy skater dresses to bodycon silhouettes, find the perfect high school or college graduation dress to have your moment to shine. Windsor’s commencement dresses feature sheer lace, airy chiffon, silky satin, crepe, glitter, sequins, slinky knits, and smooth woven fabrications that elevate your special day.

For the grad looking to follow the classic tradition of wearing white dresses, you’ll find a wide variety of white styles in lace, chiffon, satin, crepe, and trendy glitter knit fabric for a subtle shimmer. Discover white dresses with eye-catching details like ruching, tie-fronts, ruffled trims, faux pearl beading, or shimmering rhinestone embellishments. Style white graduation dresses with silver or gold hoop earrings, layered necklaces, and your favorite pair of block or platform heels.

If you’re the grad who likes to keep it elegantly simple, co*cktail attire is exactly what you need! Update this classic look with the latest co*cktail details like one-shoulder or off-the-shoulder sleeves, cascading ruffled accents, and sheer inserts or skin-baring cut-outs that can take you from the throwing of the cap to celebrations following. Discover chic black dresses in iconic short LBD styles, with midi-length hems, or floor-length silhouettes. Black graduation dresses are an elegant choice for those who want to keep their look subtle yet stunning. Add some sparkle to these outfits with rhinestone jewelry sets or glamorous gemstone necklaces and earrings. Sleek strappy stiletto heels or neutral block heels are a perfect pairing for these dresses.

For the post-ceremony dinner or party, discover party dresses for the graduation celebration in beautiful colors like pink, purple, green, or blue. You’ll be in full bloom in gorgeous floral dresses with dainty ditsy patterns or bold blossoming prints. Explore fit-n-flare dresses or ruched romper dresses that style perfectly with strappy mules, and layer on a posh blazer for a chic look. Flowy spring formal dresses, satin ruched dresses, or airy chiffon midi dresses are the perfect graduation outfit for those post-worthy moments.

You’ll find at Windsor in-store and online a stunning collection of commencement dresses that are both affordable and stylish. You're going to be ready to celebrate with the trending graduation outfits that will make you feel beautiful and confident. Whether you’re a high school or college grad, find your perfect graduation dress at Windsor!

What Is The Best Dress To Wear For Graduation?

The best dress to wear for graduation will depend on your school’s dress code and the graduation dress that makes you feel confident and proud to celebrate the occasion. Popular graduation dress styles include skater, high-low, and dress designs that are shorter than the length of your graduation gown. A skater or midi dress is a perfect option because they usually do not add bulk or weight to your graduation attire. Discover cute, flared skater dresses with pockets, sexy ruched dresses, and figure-flattering wrap satin dresses as your short dress options.

What you wear with your cap and gown, from shoes and accessories to clothing, should be comfortable as you may have to sit for a while, stand up and down, and walk a short length to and from your seat. If white is part of your commencement dress code, choose here from an assortment of little white dresses in lace, satin, or glitter, short skater dresses, and trendy square-neck dresses in off-white to ivory. Also, think about happenings after the ceremony. If you’ll be attending a graduation party, celebration, or dinner, pick a dress you can style up or down accordingly.

Once you’ve got an idea of the type of dress you want, it’s also essential to take the weather into account. For instance, a ceremony that takes place outdoors during warm months will call for lightweight fabrics like chiffon as opposed to a winter ceremony that calls for more rich fabrics like velvet. If you’re looking for dress alternatives, a sleek jumpsuit or a dressy floral romper dress brings the glam too while offering added comfort.

As far as what not to wear, avoid any attire that may violate your high school, college, or university dress code or that can make you feel over or underdressed. For example, you may want to save your ball gown for another occasion to avoid feeling overdressed; on the other hand, save your jeans for more casual occasions. If you are a guest attending the ceremony, the dress code options will be different and usually more open. Striking the right balance of dressy casual is how you know your graduation dress is on point. This graduation season stay chic and comfortable in gorgeous dresses and on-trend outfits that make you feel confident as you celebrate this major accomplishment!

Is There A Dress Code For Graduation?

Yes, some high schools, universities, colleges, and organizations may have a dress code to consider for graduation ceremonies. Be sure to check your attire against these guidelines when picking the perfect outfit because your style options may range from smart casual to business professional, dressy to semi-formal. Your graduation dress should be appropriate enough to not feel out of place, but also comfortable enough to wear for long periods as graduation ceremonies are known to be hours in length. Aim for a timeless, polished look that makes you feel confident and that you can look back at with pride. Be sure to unpack/unwrap your regalia (i.e. cap, gown, tassels, stole, etc.) to take out wrinkles and to make sure you know how each piece should be worn. If your school’s commencement dress code is unclear, consider running your look by your squad to check for any red flags with your look. Picking your graduation dress should adhere to guidelines while reflecting your personal style and celebrating your accomplishments.

Does Windsor Have Graduation Dresses?

Windsor has a stunning selection of graduation dresses for both high school and college grads. Shop a chic selection of dresses in mini, midi, and maxi lengths and a variety of silhouettes to find your perfect style. You can find regular updates for a winter or spring graduation ceremony with the latest styles. Discover an assortment of details and designs you’ll love to walk across the stage in. Shop graduation dresses in-store and online at Windsor.

Graduation Dresses | Short to Long, Formal & Semi-Formal (2024)

FAQs

Is it better for a graduation gown to be long or short? ›

How Your Cap and Gown Should Fit. Graduation Gowns aren't intended to have a “tailored fit”. Your gown should billow and provide plenty of room for movement, but not be so long that you're “swimming” in it.

What is semi-formal dress code for graduation? ›

A semi-formal suit is a classic choice for a graduation ceremony. Choose a neutral colour such as black, navy, or grey, and pair it with a dress shirt in a light colour. Accessorize with a tie in a coordinating colour and a pair of dress shoes.

Do you wear a long or short dress under graduation gown? ›

Women are best wearing either dress pants or a shorter skirt underneath the gown, while men should choose khakis or dark-colored dress pants. Avoid brightly coloured bottoms if you choose to wear dress pants or a longer skirt, as they can be seen below the hem of the gown and stick to darker colours.

Can you wear short dress to graduation? ›

How long should your dress be for graduation? You can choose what length you're comfortable with, but remember, the graduate gowns are usually mid-calf to ankle length, depending on your height. Here's my tip: keep the length of your dress or skirt shorter than your gown length.

What length should a graduation dress be? ›

The size of a graduation gown is determined by the wearer's height. The gown is designed to reach down to the wearer's mid calf. Height should be measured with flat shoes or barefoot - no heels.

What is the proper length of a graduation gown? ›

If you chose your size using our guidelines, your gown length should fall somewhere below your knee, but above your ankle. If you would like the gown to reach just above or slightly covering your shoes, please consider choosing the next size up.

What are examples of semi-formal attire? ›

At a semi-formal event, the rules are more relaxed than formal. However, suits are still the standard. Semi-formal co*cktail attire, for instance, usually includes crisp dress shirts, dinner jackets, blazers, and a dressy pair of pants.

What should you not wear to a semi-formal event? ›

First up is, any garment that is explicitly formal wear, like a dinner jacket or morning coat, white or black bow tie, formal waistcoat, cumme*rbund, formal evening shirt or formal trousers with a gallon stripe. These should all be avoided. I mean, after all, this is semi-formal, not formal attire.

What should a female guest wear to graduation? ›

Go with a nice dress, jumpsuits, or fun co-ord set. 2. Wear something comfortable - Graduations are usually pretty long, so you will want to wear something comfortable. Try to steer clear of anything heavy, itchy, or too tight!

What is the best color dress for graduation? ›

#1. White - Given that it is a symbol of a fresh start, white is the perfect color dress to choose for graduation as you prepare for life after college. Not only that, but it's a timeless shade that will match lots of other colors, so it certainly won't clash with your robe.

What is the best way to dress for graduation? ›

If your school doesn't have a commencement dress code, you can pretty much wear whatever you want! Feel free to express your own personal style under your gown in a pretty and polished way. That means you can wear anything from floral dresses and little black dresses to sleek blazers, pantsuits, jumpsuits, and rompers.

Can a short dress be a gown? ›

They sure can be! While not all short dresses are formal, there are a few ways to make sure your short dress is fancy.

Can you wear a long dress under graduation gown? ›

However, when asking 'what do you wear for a graduation? ', there are some guidelines you should follow. For women who prefer skirts or dresses, try to ensure that the skirt isn't too long or puffy – combined with a gown, this can make the outfit look heavy and shapeless.

Can you wear patterned dress to graduation? ›

No colour or print is off limits – Graduations have a formal dress code and the gowns are usually black, so you have endless options on what colour and print you can wear.

What if my graduation gown is too long? ›

Zip the gown up and turn it inside out and drape the bottom half over the board. Fold the bottom hem up based on the measurement you need to shorten. (I needed to shorten by 10 inches) Pin topside and underside of the fabric together to hold in place.

Should a long gown touch the floor? ›

However, there are certain rules to wearing floor-sweeping dresses to make your Cinderella moments just perfect. Your perfect dress length should either touch the floor so your shoes isn't visible when you are standing still or leave a graceful and slightly seductive train behind you.

How long should an academic gown be? ›

In general, graduation robes should fall below your knees and well above your ankles, which is typically about 12” from the floor. Your shoe heel height will not affect gown length. In addition to the robe length, also pay attention to the sleeves. Robe sleeves should measure below your elbow, but above your wrist.

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