My Student Lessons: Lesson 16 - choosing the perfect graduation outfit

If you've made it all the way to graduation - congratulations! While graduation day is one of the best in your young life, the lead up to it can be super stressful. You have to sort accommodation, tickets for your parents, whether it's appropriate to invite your nan/auntie/cousin/nephew and, not forgetting, your academic dress!

Graduation is really formal, and if you'reanything like me, knowing you're going to have to look smart is a nightmare of gargantuan proportions. Somehow, I managed to pull it off, and I watched an awful lot of graduation ceremonies with a variety of outfits going on. So ladies and gents, it's time to get your wallet out and start taking notes on what to wear...

No matter what gender you are, make sure you check the colour of your gown and the colour of your sash. No one likes a red/pink colour clash. That's just not cool. The colour of your sash is particularly pertinent when it comes to the finer details of your outfit. For the ladies; this means accessories such as earrings & hair bits. Gents: I'm talking tie colour.

You've also got to check what colour your gown is. If you've got a grey gown, a grey skirt/trousers will leave you looking on the wrong side of "thunderstorn cloud". My advice: no matter what colour your gown - ladies should go for a blouse/black skirt combo, and gents should stick to a classic suit. Do NOT try and wear your suit jacket underneath your gown. You will look like you have massive shoulders but in a "chubby chubster" way, not a "I've been working out" way.

Some ladies do opt for a dress, but this can either be really right or really wrong. A pattered blue dress under a navy gown: right. A bright red minidress: wrong, wrong, wrong! Vis a vis shoes - make them match your outfit and make sure they aren't ones that you're going to topple over in as you shake the Chancellor's hand. You do not want to be THAT girl.

Being the helpful student blogger I am, I've found three blouses for you, suiting three different budgets. You can thank me later.