Red graduation dresses for your ceremony day

Winter commencement in red velvet

Plenty of colleges hold a December ceremony now. An arena on a winter morning stays cold until it fills up, and that’s velvet weather. Our long-sleeved red velvet midi is cut with a side slit. The slit helps on the stage stairs.

Want a waist for the photos afterward? Look at the velvet midi with a thin tie belt and a V-neck. During the ceremony only the hem peeks out from under the robe, a strip of red at the calf. Then the gown comes off at the restaurant and the whole red graduation dress is finally on show, sleeves and all.

A mini works too. It just vanishes under the robe for two hours.

For a really cold day there’s a red angora-blend knit midi with a turtleneck. It’s soft, it covers your neck, and you won’t need a scarf under the coat.

A May ceremony on the lawn

June outdoors is a different story, with hot folding chairs, sun on the quad and a long wait in alphabetical order before anyone says your name. Skip velvet for that. One of our summer reds is a short dress with a tiny white floral print, sewn in satin that’s mostly polyester with a little elastane. Another is red with white polka dots, knee-length, with short sleeves and a small keyhole under the collar. Both belong to the summer collection, which returns to the site when the weather warms up, so plan your fitting in spring.

Wear block heels or flats for the walk across the stage. Bring the heels for dinner. Honestly, nobody’s looking at your feet in the handshake photo anyway.

Every other color for the day lives on our main graduation page, and longer red hems are grouped under red midi styles.

Frequently asked questions

Does red show under a black gown?

Only at the hem and a little at the neck. A midi shows the most red during the ceremony.

Is velvet too warm for June?

Outdoors in the sun, usually. Keep the velvet for a winter ceremony indoors and pick a summer style for June.

Which size do I pick in a fitted velvet mini?

Check your hip measurement first, since a short fitted skirt rides up when it’s tight there. We cut every red graduation dress here in XS through XL, and our L is close to a US 10.

Can red velvet go in the washing machine?

It can, turned inside out, on the delicates setting at 30 °C or cooler. Hang it to dry somewhere the heater won’t reach, and steam any creases from the wrong side.