You’ve made it!
After four (ish) years of busting your butt, you’re finally about to walk across that stage and officially receive that degree. Graduation is the perfect time to celebrate an end to everything you have done, from figuring out dorm life as a freshman to completing that final class as a senior. Naturally, the best way to do that is to walk across that stage in the perfect college graduation dress! Below, we’ve collected the best stores and websites to search for your dress, as well as some tips to aid your search.
Things to Consider for a College Graduation Dress:
Before you purchase a college graduation dress, there are quite a few things that you should consider. These will help you to find the perfect outfit:
Are you going with the traditional white?
White has become something of a tradition to wear under your gown. This likely started because universities wanted a look that was fairly uniform, and then it just stuck. White is a fantastic choice because it goes with everything and maintains that traditional, formal look. If you want classy, traditional looking photos, white is a perfect choice.
If you’re not going with white, what colors might clash with your graduation regalia? Which ones will go well?
This is where it becomes super easy to just wear white. However, another color might go better with your outfit. While you will be wearing your gown over the dress for most of the ceremony, your dress will still be visible in pictures. Because of this, you should consider what goes with your school’s colors (i.e., if your colors are red, maybe don’t wear bright blue or neon green) and what would look best with your complexion. If you’re taking pictures on campus, you should also consider where you want to take those pictures to avoid being washed out.
Are you going to get a dress for the ceremony and a separate one for the pictures?
If I’m being honest, I dreaded going graduation dress shopping. I knew I’d be picky, and I just didn’t feel like wasting my time. So, when pictures came around the week before graduation, I didn’t have the white dress that I wanted. Instead, I just took pictures in another sundress that I had. Although it wasn’t what I initially wanted, I was actually happier with the outcome! It felt more authentic in a way.
Is there a dress code?
Some universities want their student body to look uniform, and most have an overall dress code of what should be worn. It can be as simple as “business casual,” or it can be incredibly specific. At my university, the dress code wasn’t very specific. Most people just ended up wearing white dresses (for girls) and a long sleeve collared shirt and slacks (for boys). However, the last thing that you want is to be not let in to your graduation ceremony if your outfit doesn’t meet their standards.
Will you want to look back on this dress?
This is a tricky thing to think about, because you obviously can’t place yourself in the future. However, it’s important to consider. In twenty years, will you be cringing at the college graduation dress you wore? Will you care? Will you wish that your pictures looked better? Are you going to have to deflect questions from inquiring relatives about it? At the end of the day, it’s 100% your day and your choice, but it is good to keep these considerations in mind before you purchase a dress.
And most importantly: Will this college graduation dress be comfortable enough to sit through a ceremony in?
It’s important to feel and look your best, yes, but this includes being comfortable. Chances are that you’re going to be sitting for a few hours in seats that weren’t designed for comfort. You might be stuck in that seat, too. Are you going to want to be in a super tight, barely breathable dress? Do you really want to have to worry about wardrobe malfunctions? Is there a concern that the dress will break? Will you have to keep messing with it to keep it on right? Do you even feel super comfortable in it, or is it just something that other people have told you that you should wear? Will it be too hot/cold for this dress? Is the weather going to change throughout the day (i.e., cold when it starts at 8 am, blazing hot when it ends at noon)? For something that only happens once (and that lasts a surprisingly long amount of time), you really shouldn’t have to bother with feeling uncomfortable.
Not a Super Tight Budget
Lulus
Lulus is one of the best places to find a college graduation dress. Their outfits are simply adorable, and few retailers can do dresses as well as they can. Most of their items range from $50-$100, and they offer a wide selection. Whether you’re looking for a traditional white dress or a colorful patterned dress with lots of colors, you’ll be able to find something here. One of my favorite parts about Lulus is that they have an entire “fan photos” section on each dress’s page, and they usually have quite a few helpful reviews. This helps so that you can see what the dresses look like on actual people. You also usually get to see what it looks like on someone who has their regalia on as well, so it gives you a better idea of what you can expect. Plus, there’s that added benefit of being able to buy something without leaving your couch!
Madewell
These dresses are a bit on the pricier side, but they’re great quality and they’re super cute! Most dresses range from $60+, with the average being in the hundreds. You can sometimes find them at Nordstrom Rack, but that will take some serious digging. One of my friends wore a Madewell dress for graduation, and it was absolutely adorable. It fit well, it was obviously well-made (hence the name), and she’s since reused it for work. These are fantastic dresses, especially if you’re going into a business-casual or school setting profession after college.
Nordstrom
Nordstrom is a great place to find quality clothes that will look great. They’re a bit on the pricier side, with dresses ranging from around $50-$150, but you can always find awesome discounts. A plus about Nordstrom is that they carry Lulus and other similar brands, so you can do a two-for-one. If you want Nordstrom clothes at a lower price, you should try Nordstrom Rack (see below).
Windsor
Windsor dresses are hit or miss, at least in my opinion. In my hometown, Windsor was the go-to for things like prom and homecoming, but I never found much luck. Their prices range from fairly cheap to more on the expensive side, with most prices being around $35-$45 for college graduation dresses. In my experience, the dresses there were usually either overpriced for the quality or not that comfortable. However, I do know many other people who have had better luck there, primarily for special event dresses. If it’s a dress that you’re going to wear once, it’s a good deal.
Macy’s
A traditional go-to for clothes, Macy’s has a history of quality. I’ve found a lot of special events dresses here, and while they’re initially priced higher, I’ve gotten dresses down to as low as $25 with coupons. Macy’s is good because it puts the junior section toward the front of the store (usually, depends on location) and makes those clothes cheaper. The women’s section often has dresses that could easily be reused in business casual or business formal situations, depending on what field you’re going into.
Getting Some Bang for Your Buck
Target
Target is one of my favorite destinations for dresses! It’s really hit or miss each year, but you can usually find a cute dress that lasts a while for $25-$30. I bought dresses there about seven years ago that I wear often and that are still in good shape. This is where I found my high school graduation dress, and I got it for under $25. This was definitely the right move for me, because I only ended up wearing it once or twice. While Target is great for price, they don’t always have the most expansive selection, and they tend to only carry a few brands, so you just need
Kohls
I ultimately found my college graduation dress at Kohls for $35-$40 (maybe even less with Kohls Cash). The best thing about Kohls was that they put the college graduation dresses right up front. I was able to literally walk in, pick one, buy it, and walk out, all in about five minutes. Kohls is tried and true, and although they might have a smaller graduation dress selection than other stores, they usually select their choices well.
Old Navy
Old Navy is a good option for affordable summer dresses, especially if you’re veering away from the traditional white. While many of their outfits might be a little more casual, they have a wide range of dresses that they release every spring, and they throw sales very often. If you’re looking for something that’s decent quality and you want to wear it again, keep scrolling through Old Navy’s website and watch for those sales. Chances are strong that you’ll be able to hit up a one-day sale and get your perfect college graduation dress 10-30% off!
H&M
If you want something trendy that you’d likely be able to wear to a job after graduation, H&M is the perfect place to find a college graduation dress. They do a fantastic job of making decently-priced clothes for young professionals, and they have a fair spread of more casual clothes as well. Especially if you’re not looking for the traditional white dress, H&M will offer you some outfits that you could easily re-wear in a formal or informal setting. Most of their clothes cost around $25-$50.
Nordstrom Rack
If you love Nordstrom dresses but don’t want the prices, this is probably where you should look. Nordstrom Rack varies significantly on their prices, options, and stock at their various locations, but you can usually get designer outfits for a decent price here. If you like Calvin Klein, Free People, Topshop, or any brands along those lines, I’d recommend shopping here first. This is also a fantastic option for getting graduation shoes that are cheap, comfortable, and cute. Nordstrom Rack is my top shoe destination, from teaching to formal wear, and graduation shoes are no exception.
Amazon
Amazon is probably the easiest place to get a college graduation dress. They have a huge range of styles and sales, and you can get anything from around $15 to $60 on average. If you’re running late on finding that dress, this is a fantastic option. You can get it shipped to you in barely any time at all and hardly even have to lift a finger. The best part about Amazon is that you can get really specific with your searches (i.e., white graduation dress scalloped hem). Their suggestion algorithm is also probably one of the best I’ve seen for online shopping, and it will give you some ideas. Plus, you can always buy a few options and return the ones you don’t pick to your nearest Amazon dropoff location!
Cheapest Options
Thrift Store
This is a great option, especially if you love being sustainable or you don’t see any point in shelling out a lot of money for a dress. At many thrift stores like Good Will or Salvation Army, you can find graduation dresses that are practically brand new (some even unworn) for next to nothing. In recent years, thrifting has become huge. Considering that many people only wear their graduation dress once, there’s also a great shot at finding something that’s cute at a great price here.
Borrowing
Maybe you don’t even feel like paying anything for a dress that you’re only going to wear once. That’s fair enough. I did that for a prom dress, and I’ve never regretted the hundreds of dollars I saved. Great people to look for here are siblings, family friends, college friends who graduated before you, and sorority sisters (if this applies). Chances are that they have a cute dress laying around that they haven’t worn in a year and that they just haven’t gotten around to donating yet. This can be a great way to go, especially if you already know that they have the same style as you.
Rental (Rent the Runway)
I haven’t personally ever rented a dress, and I haven’t tried out Rent the Runway, but I know of people who have. They did this for more formal events like prom, but they were happy with the fact that they saved money and didn’t have to make space in their closet for a new outfit that they’d never wear again. This is an often overlooked option, especially if you fall into one of those two categories.
SHEIN
Known for their super cheap fast fashion, SHEIN is a great option if you’re on a budget, especially if you’re only going to wear the dress once. Their dresses are cute (although they might not always be the best quality) and are generally on the trendier side. Most people won’t be able to tell the difference between a SHEIN dress and a more expensive dress, so it could be a very good option in that regard.
A Final Word
If you’re going to only look at three of these stores, I would look at Amazon, Lulus, and Kohls. That’s where I had the most luck when I was looking for mine. Hopefully this helped you to narrow down where to look for the perfect college graduation dress and what each store has. Let me know in the comments, and congrats on your graduation!
