As the final days of spring quarter slowly pass, millions of impending graduates from the Class of 2022 are excited for the ceremony celebrating their momentous accomplishment of earning a college degree. Cameras are charged, families have flown in and nail appointments are booked. Everyone is finishing up their preparations for the big day, especially the young ladies who are planning to stress over their outfit choices until the moment they leave for the ceremony.
Women aren’t really afforded the pleasure of just waking up five minutes before graduation and merely slicking back their hair with water to “get ready.” So, here is a certified style guide to help you put together a show-stopping graduation look that is the picture of punctual perfection!
- do check the weather forecast to save your outfit, hair and makeup
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The single biggest mistake people make before any big event, whether that be graduations, birthday parties, weddings or baby showers: not checking the weather. If it’s going to be a million degrees outside, maybe don’t wear an outfit that shows sweat. Also, opt for a lighter face of makeup, so you don’t sweat it off and look like the Matchmaker in Mulan by the time you walk across the stage. And if it’s going to be freezing cold with drizzling rain, again take precautions with makeup while also making sure that your hairstyle won’t go flat or frizzy. Plus, you can bring a jacket for the sitting part of the ceremony!
- do plan your hairstyle around your grad cap
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Don’t waste copious amounts of money on getting a fancy updo at the hair salon just to take it out five minutes later when you remember that you need your grad cap to fit securely. Instead, opt to do a hairstyle where your hair is down or completely out of the way of your cap, so you’re not fussing with it the whole time. Pro-Tip: Pin down your cap to make sure it doesn’t move or fly off while you walk!
- don’t wear uncomfortable (Or dangerously tall) shoes
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I know you’ve been eyeing those 5-inch stilettos in the window of your favorite store, but I’m going to take over as your conscience so I can say, “DON’T DO IT!” Grad pictures are great for that perfect pair of pumps, but the day of graduation (where you have the potential to trip in front of thousands of people and will be walking/standing a lot) is not the time to wear them. Trust me. But if you really can’t go without, then bring them for pictures and change into more comfortable shoes for the duration of the ceremony.
- don’t clash colors with your gown/cap
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I hate to burst your bubble, I really do, but some colors just don’t match well together. Pull out your middle school art-class color wheel and plan out an outfit that compliments the color scheme of your cap and gown. Pro-Tip: If you want to stand out, choose an outfit with colors that go with everything (like black or white), and then get crazy with the colors of your accessories!
- don’t forget sunglasses
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While this tip applies to a majority of college students in the United States, those that have chosen to attend school in California, the state of eternal sunshine and sweat-inducing heat, will definitely be thankful for having sunglasses at graduation. Of course this piece of advice mostly pertains to if the event is outside (unless you want to go gangster-mode and wear sunglasses to an inside graduation ceremony; that could be cool, too).
Even as we grow older and memories get fuzzier, key moments in our lifetimes will remain treasured in the depths of our hearts. Graduating from college is in fact one of these life-altering moments you’ll never forget. So, amid all of the madness and stressing out over creating the “perfect look” for the ceremony, remember to pat yourself on the back and take a deep breath. You’re finally here, and you did it! Congratulations to the Class of 2022, I cannot wait to see how you all change the world and chase your dreams (looking absolutely killer while doing it).