Classy graduation dress, covered midi cuts

A classy graduation dress stays quiet so the diploma gets the attention. Here that means sleeves, hems at the knee or lower and necklines that stop early, mostly in velvet and soft knit. Graduations keep their own calendar, so choose and measure ahead of yours.

For the ceremony and the handshake

You’ll be photographed from the waist up, in a gown, shaking a hand. Necklines matter most. Our blue velvet midi has a boat neck that should lie flat along your collarbones, so size it by your bust. The hem ends near mid-calf. Add a blazer for the morning and take it off at night.

Burgundy is the other strong candidate. That velvet midi has a narrow belt at the waist, a shallow V and long sleeves, and it covers the knees. We made it for people who like a closed silhouette at a party.

For lunch with the family afterward

Is your ceremony in warm weather? Then velvet isn’t your friend, and we’ll say so. Most dresses on this page are cut for the cold months. The pink midi is the exception. It has no sleeves, the neck is a V and the ruffles sit right at the waistline. We make it for every season, and a light cardigan over the shoulders covers you for the restaurant. In early fall you can layer it over a thin turtleneck and add ankle boots.

A thin chain or a small pendant is plenty with that neckline. Big necklaces argue with the ruffles.

For a winter commencement or the evening party

December graduates have it easy with us. Our black velvet midi pairs a V at the neck with a skirt that flares, its sleeves run to the wrist, and it looks right at a dinner or in a theater seat as well. Keep a clothes brush nearby, since black velvet picks up lint. Thin tights stop the outfit from looking heavy.

Want a classy graduation dress with a shorter hem? Our high-necked mini in blue velvet measures 88 cm shoulder to hem. Its top is fully closed, and that’s what lets the length pass at a formal event.

Frequently asked questions

What separates classy from plain?

The cut. A belt that marks the waist, a skirt that flares or a neckline that sits exactly on the collarbone gives a simple dress its shape. None of ours rely on trim.

Do I have to wear white?

Only if your school asks for it. If it does, our white graduation styles are gathered on a separate page.

How long should the dress be under the gown?

Knee to mid-calf works best. A classy graduation dress shouldn’t hang below the gown by much, and a midi leaves a neat line above your shoes.

What if my measurements fall between two sizes?

Send them to our manager, who’ll tell you which one to take. We sew XS to XL, and an M is roughly a US 6–8. For more choice, open the graduation collection, the midi lengths or our graduation dresses with long sleeves.