<p>Our daughter is graduating this month and wants us to come to campus for the Campus Dance and other graduation activities. We don’t really know any other parents, past or present, so are at a bit of a loss as to what to expect for the Campus Dance.</p>
<p>What is the typical dress code for the Campus Dance during graduation weekend? She said it was “cocktail dresses”, but I’m not sure her idea of ‘cocktail dress’ is quite the same as mine. Is it really a pretty formal affair? </p>
<p>No, it’s generally relatively casual. It’s outdoors and mostly on grass, so no need to look too fancy. Slacks and a blouse, or a dress, would be perfect.</p>
<p>Whew!! Thank you!! That was my initial thought, so got a bit concerned when daughter said “cocktail attire”. </p>
<p>Thanks Bruno14 (and treemaven for asking the question), I am also attending graduation and was wondering the same thing. My son said he was going to wear a suit,but I would rather just be more casual and wear pants. I am expecting to freeze since I am from CA. And frankly, I don’t feel like high heels in the grass. I suspect the kids dress up more than the adults (or maybe some of the alumni do…after all they are seeing old friends and want to look their best!)</p>
<p>I’ve been to campus dance several times and with one exception, it’s been chilly and rainy, including the year my husband graduated. The kids do dress up and I’d say at least half of the adults do as well. But really, anything goes: I’ve seen everything from cocktail dressy to very informal. it’s a blast, especially if you like to dance, and the Green looks stunning strung with Japanese lanterns. Even in the rain, it’s such a joyous event. Congrats to the class of '14 kids & their parents. </p>
<p>Thank you for the additional information, RenaissanceMom!</p>
<p>I can’t wait to attend this dance… in 2018 when my daughter graduates!! I’m so excited!!</p>
<p>I’ve been going to campus dance for years and always considered it a semi-formal, dressy affair. People DO get dressed up. My husband always wears a suit, and he almost never wears suits. I usually wear a nice cocktail dress. </p>
<p>The weather is unpredictable, but RenaissanceMom must have bad luck, because I can only think of a few years when it rained. It can be cold, but sometimes I’ve worn a wool shawl and been fine. I would avoid high heels because of the grass. I agree that there is a wide range of clothes, and no one enforces a dress code. But many view it as a chance to get dressed up. </p>
<p>Thank you for your experience, fireandrain. It really helps! </p>
<p>We will be driving from the Midwest, then day after graduation day, packing DD up and continuing on up the coast for a work junket at family cottage, then back to Providence to pick up DD’s stuff and take her to NYC to start her post-college life and may have a couple other detours along the coast in between in order to get her stuff settled for the summer. </p>
<p>So packing for the extended trip AND keeping room for DD, her stuff, and necessary work junket tools may be tricky. </p>
<p>I can appreciate the grads, undergrads, and alumni getting excited for a summer semi-formal on the Green. What a lovely tradition! But as a non-alum who pretty much knows no one and given our multiple-purpose extended trip, I think I’ll take the out offered and go with a summer casual ‘cocktail’ outing such as our law firms have. So nice dress-up casual (on the more special end), but no jewels and bling as in semi-formal. I’ll leave that to DD. Hopefully, that will be sufficient to blend into the background and not feel totally embarrassed as too underdressed.</p>
<p>But I will truly enjoy people watching—one of my favorite pastimes! We are looking forward to the trip. DD surprised me by coming home for Mother’s Day and is very excited for all the graduation activities. </p>
<p>We dressed up too, it’s pretty festive. Casual dressy should be fine. Jewelry not necessary. I just found out dd is going for 5 year reunion. </p>
<p>Currently, long-range forecast looks to be 40% chance for rain the day of the Campus Dance . . . but nice sun for Graduation Day!</p>
<p>Cold and rainy. Brrrrr!!! </p>
<p>Ended up dressing up . . . . and freezing. Actually, pretty much packed a whole suitcase for the wrong weather.<br>
</p>
<p>But a very nice event-----especially for ‘the club’. :)</p>