One quick thing! We still have a few spots left for this shopping party at Warby Parker on Abbot Kinney tomorrow night from 5-7—I’m getting my first big-girl pair of reading glasses, come help me pick, or let me help you pick (THIS IS MY FAVORITE THING IN THE WORLD TO DO!). RSVP here.
Earlier this week I was zoning out on IG and found this video of these two women trying to find something to wear to their kids’ graduations, and it was horrifying but also very funny. I think they went to a mall, and the only things they could find were super trendy like, vacation dresses that have cutouts, are sheer, show your buttcheeks, basically there was nothing there.
Getting dressed for something like a graduation is very tough. You have to look polished and appropriate, but not professional. It’s not as let loose or as exuberant as a wedding, but dressier than a summer BBQ party. But like a wedding, it’s not about you (unless you’re the bride). You want to look like yourself and feel cool and well dressed, but not scream for attention. You don’t want to show off, but you also don’t want to embarrass your kid by looking so old fashioned and stuffy or too look-at-me. It’s hard!!!
I started playing around with this while at my store, trying on our new deliveries, and this is also a pretty accurate look at what an appointment at the store is like (you come in, we chat, I put together looks for you and we play dress up and figure it out and hang). Make an appt here, or email me with questions about anything - earl@earlirl.com.
So then, here are my stabs at fancy but not really, polished but not professional, festive but not party outfits that also aren’t too hot, won’t give you a sunburn, and won’t show your midrift.
I go much more in depth explaining every look in the video, but I’ll give a little blurb about each of these but keep it short because this is a lot of outfits.
ELEMENTARY OR MIDDLE-SCHOOL GRADUATION
Keep it easy at this age! It doesn’t need to be some mother-of-the-bride situation, I like this because it looks pulled together but still relaxed and kind of casual. I love this Kallmeyer blazer, and it makes many appearances, but otherwise this is a totally day-to-day outfit: Rohe silk pants and my favorite Comme Si shirt in Grecian Blue. These sandals are Chanel, and I love them so much, and I’m wearing them throughout, but stopped buckling them because it took too long.
These are perfect shorts. AND!!! They’re UPF 50. They’re slinky, shiny, comfy, great color, not embarrassing, kind of vintage-feeling, and they look great with this long, slim navy blazer and cashmere tank.
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
My gut tells me that the older the kid, the dressier the graduation. This isn’t dressy though, but it is….I don’t know, festive! It feels not try-hard, and kind of cool and relaxed, especially if everyone else is showing up in some kind of prissy-ass dress.
This is a similar vibe, but a little less relaaaaaaxed. The pants are also UPF50, but aside from that the fit is beautiful, the color is great, and they’re peppy and happy, but not too fancy.
High Sport pants are the perfect thing for this kind of event! Crisp and polished and comfortable. This Rohe top is great with it—it has a wrap belt to do this kind of cummerbund look that I love. The length of the shirt is also great to cover your butt in tight stretch pants.
My kids were coming to meet me at the store, and I just didn’t have time to actually put this on, but I love it. I think this Suzie Kondi tee is a great thing to hit that balance of interesting, low-key, and polished. It’s not a normal jersey tee, it’s special! And it’s great with this Zankov patterned stretch pencil skirt. It’s a very easy very perfect combo.
COLLEGE GRADUATION
Ok, now we’re on to the big leagues! This honestly isn’t a great photo, and I’m praying this outfit looked better in my video, but it really is cute! This feels very spring/summer, very appropriate, very grown up, but also interesting and cool and personal. These pants are A+++++++++++++++++++++++.
And if you’re sitting outside in the blazing sun all day? Another very cute thing from Claudent with UPF50—this shirt. It’s somehow not hot to wear and will keep your skin totally protected. The skirt is from another brand I love, Birrot, and the buttons can do something else very special. You can see it in the video.
A PERFECT OUTFIT FOR THIS! Perfect. Colorful, polished, not too dressy, not too loud—it’s perfect.
And the first dress in the whole thing—I love this one because it’s a one-and-done, but still interesting, BUT! Allows for personalization. I love it with this little pink Valesque bag and flower pin….AND….
With a feather pin. There’s a lot of room to make it your own, but it’s also interesting with nothing extra.
Ok, and there’s a LOT more info in the video, but! That was fun! All of these things are in the shop now, come by!
Your friend,
Laurel
