White graduation dresses for ceremony and photos

Some schools ask for white under the gown, and some girls just want it, because a white graduation dress looks bright against black or navy in every photo. Ours range from winter velvet and soft angora-blend knit to summer satin and floral prints, short and long.

See-through check before the big day

White shows everything underneath. Wear seamless nude underwear to the fitting, not white, and stand by a window. Then look again in your phone camera with the flash on. That’s what your family’s photos will do.

Rib knit and the fitted velvet styles sit close to the body, so this matters more with them. Floral and polka-dot prints hide a lot more.

Stains are the other thing. Keep the robe on through the reception if there’s red punch around.

Velvet for December, satin and prints for June

For a winter commencement, look at the white velvet midis. One’s a sheath with long sleeves and a round neck that ends just below the knee. Another has a V-neck that shows your collarbones. The pleated velvet midi with three-quarter sleeves leaves room for a bracelet at the wrist. If the after-party is formal, the floor-length white velvet with off-shoulder sleeves and a slit at the leg will do it.

Cold building, long ceremony? A milky white angora-blend midi with a turtleneck keeps your neck warm. There’s a short one too.

Summer ceremonies are where our white satin wrap mini comes in, with long sleeves and a tie waist. A white wrap midi with small violet flowers and short sleeves works for a June afternoon. We also sew a white midi with black polka dots and a bow at the neck, in satin that’s 98 % polyester and 2 % elastane. They’re from the summer collection, which returns in spring, so give yourself time for a fitting before the date.

Champagne or silver heels look good with every white graduation dress here. Pearls do too.

Other colors are on the graduation dresses page, all-year white styles are under white dresses, and if you only want short hems, see short white options for the ceremony.