Women's Graduation Dresses

While many types of women’s dresses are appropriate for graduations and commencement ceremonies, you'll want to keep a few key points about grad dresses in mind while you shop. Here’s what you need to know.

Grad Dresses Cum Laude

Class is over, but you still have one final assignment: conceptualizing some cute graduation outfits. First, check if your school has a dress code for the ceremony, like requiring a white graduation dress. Then, consider what the weather will be like when you’re graduating. Look at women’s, petite, and plus size spring dresses for springtime graduations. Summer dresses are the way to go if the ceremony is in summer. Winter graduation dresses are a bit more complicated. Long-sleeve graduation dresses are okay, but steer clear of heavy fabrics and chunky sweater dresses. Why? Because you’ll probably wear a heat-trapping cap and gown over your dress, and temperatures rise quickly under the bright lights of an auditorium.

Reach for the Diploma in Style

Other graduation dress ideas we love include midi dresses. The mid-calf length of a midi graduation dress looks sophisticated and matches the occasion. Plus, you side-step the problem of a short grad dress—nobody enjoys tugging their hem down the whole way to the podium. Long graduation dresses are another beautiful look. Just be careful that your heels don’t catch on the hem, which could lead to an embarrassing trip. Are you looking for plus size graduation dresses? Macy’s has lots of good options in your size, from fit & flare styles to tailored sheaths and everything in between. 

Revel in the pomp and circumstance with graduation dresses, available at Macy’s.