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Choosing the right shoes for your graduation

By Meg | December 15, 2007

Last night I went to my friend’s college graduation. I got to sit very close to wear the graduates stood to get their pictures taken after walking off stage, so I had a very close up view up everyone. Now, you might think that most people would put some effort into their graduation footwear, seeing how that it’s one of the few outfit choices they have that are visible. But as I’m constantly reminded, many people just don’t put forth the effort for one reason or another. Nevertheless, for those of you who do want to put your best foot forward, here’s my advice.

Do wear something dressy

This is a special occasion. Recognize that by wearing something dress. Please don’t wear flip flops, Crocs, or gym shoes. Almost to my surprise, I don’t recall seeing any graduates wearing Crocs, but there were many graduates wearing flip flops. Come on, people!

At least one lady wore sneakers. By itself, I could have excused it. I would have given her the benefit of the doubt, and maybe thought she has some sort of foot problem and couldn’t afford dressier shoes that would fit her orthotics — except that she was obviously wearing sweat pants! That’s lower than flip flops!

If in doubt, wear closed-toe shoes

I don’t think I had ever seen so much toe-claw and camel-toe toe in my entire life! Please, if you’re going to wear open-toe or peep-toe shoes, make sure that your toes look presentable. Make sure that there is no overhang whatsoever, make sure that the cut and shape of your shoes is flattering, and give your toes a nice pedicure.

If your toes don’t look perfect, go with a closed-toe show. They’re really more appropriate for this type of formal occasion, anyway. If you don’t have a pair of closed-toe shoes, it’s worth it to invest in a few pairs since they are also more work appropriate.

Do complement your gown

Remember that you’ll be wearing that awful robe over your outfit. Make sure that your shoes complement the robe color and not just the robe underneath. If your robe is black like most are, then black shoes are an easy choice. In fact, most colors will work. However, one lady I saw had espadrilles on and the color (as well as the style) just didn’t work well with the black robe.

Do wear comfortable shoes

While I’m not saying you should wear Crocs or sneakers, do wear something that’s comfortable because you are going to do a lot more walking and standing than you might expect. While heels are pretty standard for the ladies, dressy flats are an option, too. No matter what shoes you end up wearing, make sure they’re broken in and have been adjusted if necessary. Even then, keep a few band-aids in a pocket if possible in case you start developing a foot sore.

Do have show some personality

While I’m a big fan of classic black pumps for graduations, that isn’t your only option. Have a little fun with color and details. Usually, you don’t want to date yourself when dressing for big occasions since there will be lots of photos. That’s not as big a problem, though, when it comes to graduation shoes since they won’t show up in most photos.

So have fun and congratulations!


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