Look 1:
Dress: All Saints, £168
Heels: Boohoo, £22
Clutch: Whistles @ ASOS, £40
Bracelet: Topshop, £7.50
Ok, so admittedly this dress isn’t cheap, but most of us are only going to graduate once so this is the time to splurge. If you are, like myself, a huge fan of All Saints but usually can’t afford their hefty price tags, maybe graduation is the time to make an exception. And who knew All Saints did colour?! This is a dress you could wear again and again, and it would be perfect for a summer wedding or a trip to the races. With a beautiful summery print, silk material and relaxed shape, you will look effortlessly classy whilst also hiding that huge pre-grad meal food baby. Make up for the price of your dress with these cheap but super classy stiletto heels from Boohoo. They have such a wide variety of heels at generally inoffensive prices, but this pale pink pair would be an ideal match to the dress. Finish the whole look off with this Leather Whistles clutch bag. £40 is a lot for a clutch, and Primarni usually do ones that are a lot cheaper, but I think a plain, smart clutch is needed against the busy print on the dress.
Look 2:
Dress: Topshop, £95
Heels: Office, £55
Clutch: ASOS, £15
Earrings: Vivienne Westwood @ ASOS, £48
Topshop are always a firm favourite for finding grad dresses, but there is always the risk that someone is going to be wearing the same thing as you. Regardless, there is usually so much choice and you are bound to find a hidden gem, especially online. This lace midi dress is so unique, so if you like to stand out it could be the one for you. It’s classy but a lil’ bit edgy, whilst also fitting in nicely to the whole ‘return of the 90s’ thing that’s happening in fashion. Pair with these cute ‘Alexa’ pumps from Office. They look pretty stable thanks to their chunky heel if you are, like me, worried about falling flat on your face when you walk onto the stage. It could happen to the best of us, but if you’re choosing sky-high heels, you’re asking for trouble. Finally this asymmetrical black clutch will finish the whole outfit off nicely. It’s big enough to fit most of your make-up bag in, so if you need a touch up or three throughout the day and night-time events, it will do the trick nicely for storing your fave Mac lippy (and the rest).
Look 3:
Jumpsuit: ASOS, £50
Heels: Topshop, £69
Clutch: Matthew Williamson @ Debenhams, £36
Rings: Topshop, £8 for the set
For those of you who don’t do dresses, or who always do dresses and want a change, this jumpsuit from ASOS is perfect if you want to still look smart without the risk of flashing your knickers. It’s got a blazer-esque neckline which will make you look really fancy and academic while you’re holding your degree, and the cinched-in waist makes for a flattering silhouette. This is also a fab choice for those who just can’t stray from trusty black, and honestly, black probably is the safest option. Newcastle weather is really not reliable, even in July, and there’s a chance that your lovely white body-con dress will turn transparent when the downpour comes. Still though, you can please your mum by adding a smidgeon of colour into the outfit: enter accessories. These burnt orange leather heels from Topshop are amazing IMO. Not only will they jazz up your all-black look, but just look at that ankle support. That is really what you need for a full day on your feet. To round it all up, this orange suede fringed clutch by Matthew Williamson matches the shoes perfectly, and even has a strap for when you head out for your last night on The Toon (cry).
