college

Graduation Dresses

Well… this is weird.
After years of being ready to graduate, it’s finally actually happening.  I just keep thinking to myself, “This can’t be real!” Last year, living in a house full of seniors I had convinced myself that I was graduating with them. Of course, that was not the case. But it is now my turn and I frankly couldn’t be more excited!
I’m sure I’ll miss somethings about Georgetown and college in general, but I truly feel ready for the next stage of life. Maybe I’ll come back and read this post (and surely future posts and likely past posts) and think about how much has changed and how much I didn’t know and how I should have relished my time on the Hilltop.
But the thing is that I’ve put in the time. Whether I like it or not, graduation is inevitable. (What will be the fate of “The College Prepster” once she’s out of college?!?! No idea yet!)
The whole graduation ceremony is already beginning to stress me out… but not for nostalgic reasons. Mostly, the logistics of families, schedules, dinners, reservations, parties, friends…. ugh. I am looking forward to and not looking forward to picking out a dress for graduation. Not sure what I’m planning on wearing yet, but I’m sure that a bunch of you college seniors (and high school seniors) are in a similar boat. 
Here are some of my preliminary top picks:
[Note: I’m partial to navy because it’s one of Georgetown’s colors!]
I love the neckline on this! I’m always hesitant to wear strapless dresses when I know a bunch of pictures will be taken. Not a fan of when the dress doesn’t quite make the frame! I also like how the dress is longer.


I most definitely couldn’t pull this one off unless I got a spray tan (ha…), but I think it’s a darling shape. It has little postage stamps and postmarks all over it. And, hello, I’m dying to go to Paris.

How pretty is this dress? I love the bright turquoise blue… but since the print is on a white background it isn’t so intense. I also like the shift shape without being dramatically “Lilly.”


I love how simple this J. Crew dress is, but I would definitely wear a pretty coordinating belt. Or I’d throw on a super bold statement necklace, like this one.

This dress is more subdued, but I like it. A lot. It reminds me of the dress I wore to my high school graduation!
(It’s totally okay for you to be jealous of my sock tan…)
This is Jessica Simpson! I know, I couldn’t believe it either! If you have a later graduation date, the seersucker is perfect. I love the pink piping.

So I think this is basically the spring/summer version of my Anthropologie dress! I kind of want it… really bad!

I think I need to see what the fabric is like in person, but the little detailing around the waist is really sweet! I think the dress, in general, would flatter a lot of body types.
xoxo

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23 Comments

Kristina

These dresses are fabulous. I just started following your blog and I really enjoy it! I actually grew up in the Georgetown neighborhood going to Georgetown next year for grad school. Glad you love it as much as I do!

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Katie's Bliss

I totally feel ya on graduation! I actually just bought my graduation dress last week. It's a pretty floral cocktail dress from Elizabeth & James. I got it at Nordstrom. I suggest checking out what they have there!

katiesbliss.com

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Becky

Congratulations for making it! I'll be in your shoes in two years. It seems so far away now, but I know it'll go by fast.

And some girl in my class just wore the "Sincerely Paris Halter Dress"! It was so cute, but I never asked her where she got it from. Now I know!

–Becky
preppypremed.blogspot.com

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Landi {The Lifestyle Guide}

I vote for the eyelet navy dress! It's a flattering shape for most & you wouldn't feel all exposed if you aren't at your summers finest tan moment 😉 I experience this quite often!! Good luck with it all & remember the most important thing… there is no need to stress – it will all fall into place. They are all here for YOU & to celebrate YOUR successes… and you've already done that so it's not like you're trying to impress anyone! Live it all up… it will only happen once!! Have a great Wednesday!

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Christine

I love the circle eyelet dress and basket weave one! Don't stress or worry! Everything will fall into place.

This is such an exciting time in your life! Congrats! And remember to take a breather and let the this time in your life soak in.

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Nicole

Love them all! I wish each one was in my closet right now. I'm going on a cruise this summer and think that the seersucker one would be fun for dinner!

I graduated from college 2 years ago, so a little advice: Enjoy this time!! I can definitely relate about being stressed regarding family and logistics. My family was traveling hours to see me graduate and I was so incredibly stressed the week leading up to my graduation that I couldn't even enjoy my last days as an undergrad. I ended up going home in between exams and graduation so I ended up missing out on spending precious time with my friends. My family still teases me and reminds me about how stressed I was (so stressed that I ended up passing out before a breakfast event with my dean!) and that I can't control everything either; the great snowpocalypse of 2009 hit the same day as my graduation! I wish I could go back in time and be relaxed and carefree about graduation. So please learn from my mistakes and experience. Enjoy these last weeks and your graduation day!! You have worked so hard already…don't let anything ruin your college graduation!

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Kendall Walsh

I have the navy lace shift and its just adorable. I wore it to my engagement party! Also I have seen the vineyard vines dress in person and its stunning. The fabric is shiny but its very beautiful. The pink is cute too!

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BroncoMom

Love the style and the color of the basket weave shift dress. It is beautiful.
Lot's of luck trying to narrow your selection to just one dress.

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KATE ELIZABETH

The bouquet dress is my favorite too! I was just talking to my friend about how I wish I was getting married this season so that I could use the dress in the navy and coral as bridesmaids dresses!

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Grace

The Watercolor Gems one and the VV one are both so adorable! I know my sister wore an adorable J. Crew "Lorelai" one last year.

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breakingsilence

The watercolor gems and circle eyelet dress are too cute!! My university has said that the ladies need to wear dark dresses (for a spring graduation…boo!!), so the eyelet one would actually be perfect…

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