As my Commencement in May approaches, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect dress. Something simple and elegant, but still bright and fun. For a portion of the day, it will be under my cap and gown of course, but its completely necessary to have a beautiful dress underneath to unveil at the end of the day’s festivities with family and close friends. I’ve had my eye on this color blocked Alice + Olivia dress for weeks – if only my wallet would let me purchase it! I’m really drawn to all the solid brights of the season too, such as the coral and yellow ones. I’ve used these styles and patterns for inspiration as my hunt for the perfect dress still continues. If you could have one, which would you pick? Any suggestions on some wallet-friendly alternatives? 🙂
I love the red one
i love the mint green/white block one! and i was so with you when i graduated – i don’t care if my dress is covered up. i need a peek of style under all of that blue cape that i wore!
congrats on the upcoming grad!
I would definitely check out Marshall’s…I got a great floral Vertigo Paris dress!
I really love the ruffly royal blue option! Check out Dillards or Belk for some great wallet friendly options. That is where I got my graduation dress 🙂
These are some awesome picks! Love the yellow one
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definitely the mint green/white one! i’m in love with it, and it has a very graduation-ish vibe, to me.
i love the top middle one
xoxo,
F
Le Kiss Kiss- Click Here!
I like it
xoxo
I can totally see you in either of the dresses on the left. They just seem so you, and the colors are prefect for a blond.
All of those dresses are wonderful! I graduate in May and haven’t even started thinking about what to wear. Guess I better start.
♥ Oh.. Nice post.)) Love your blog.)) ♥
i love the blue one,great color and im a big fan of the one shoulder coral
Believe it or not, I got both my commencement dresses for less than $20 each. UCLA is weird and has graduation ceremonies all weekend long, so I had three to attend! Luckily, two were on the same day, haha. I ended up going with a simple, but classic white tube dress one day, and a bright yellow dress (since our school colors are blue and gold!) another day. Commencement is a once in a lifetime thing, so I say, find the perfect dress that makes you comfortable and happy! It will be in pictures FOREVER, haha.
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I love that blue dress, the color is spectacular. you could totally rock any of these dresses with a killer pair of shoes which can be seen even when you’re wearing your cap and gown 🙂
Modcloth and H&M are usually on my list of stores to hit up when I need a dress for an occasion. Both have a variety of wallet friendly dresses. I also went to urban outfitters this past weekend and got a cute dress for a little over $50.
I’m excited to see what you pick!
I vote yellow or the coral color! They are all tres expensive but you could always find similars (I think).
I LOVE ALL THE VIBRANT COLORS 🙂
GREAT BLOG!!
BEST,
MEGGIE
I graduated in January, but my ceremony is next month and I am totally struggling with buying a dress, too! I have two ceremonies and will be going out to celebrate after each one, so I want a dress that will be chic but comfy and wearable for both. I’ll be hitting up Banana Republic, the Anthropologie sale section and J. Crew for my search.
I love the yellow and blue dresses you’ve selected. I’m sure you can find something similar to either for less money!
All these dresses look fabulous…you would look great in all of them! I can’t stop looking @ the blue one it’s such a great color. Good luck finding the perfect outfit!
xxx
Libby
Beautiful picks! Love all the colors.
christine
http://un-stitched.com/
Personally I like the two blue dresses. They both look flattering but memorable, and plus I’m just liking blue right now.
Remember you’re going to look back on this dress and laugh, so try to choose something kinda classic. I think if I needed to be frugal I would buy something maybe a bit more expensive than usual, but very classic so that I could wear it over and over again.
Just a thought!
Love,
Heather
http://thestyleconfessions.com/
Love the dresses colours you’ve picked Marissa.
Obsessed with no. 5
Lee x
For the love of fashion, I say buy the Alice + Olivia dress! You only graduate once (and it’s everyday wearable…!). You deserve this gift to yourself. Congratulations!!!!
xo,
Jenna
I love the first one but they’re all pretty!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Alice + Olivia dress!! Ahhh. It gets my vote. 😉
the alice and olivia dress is def a winner!
i am in love with that turquoise colour!
x
http://www.devious-studios.blogspot.com
Lovely dresses, especially got my eye set on the first minty green dress!
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Happy Friday!!
xoxo,
melrod
Oh,I love that Alice & Olivia dress too! I remember they had it in black and white a few years ago and I lusted after that one too! You should keep an eye on the sale sites like Gilt and RueLaLa.. both seem to have a lot of fun dresses these days.
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Oh man great picks!!!
ASOS and lulu’s have really fun bright pieces right now for a friendlier budget. ALSO shop the nordstrom sale section on their site. The deals there are really really great.
i love the yellow one! i wore yellow for my college graduation. xx
Just bought my dress for commencement and decided on a Elie Tahari dress from the Neimans outlet- what a steal!
xxx Danielle from Stingy Style
http://www.StingyStyle.blogspot.com
Loving the yellow one but I’m sure whatever you choose will be beautiful!
Oooh, absolutely love these dresses!! Numbers 1 and 3 are my favorite 🙂 🙂 Either way, you’re going to look gorg!
PS. Early congrats on graduation!
xoxo
I love the last one in the middle!
xx
Shellena
mintalamode.blogspot.com
Excellent dresses information.. I love the blue one..
graduation dresses 2011