How to pick the perfect graduation outfit

By: Elizabeth Mollenkopf
Posted In: Entertainment

Purchasing the graduation gown may be exciting, but so is the shopping for the dress or suit that goes under it. For some people, shopping for clothing is fun, even addictive. Other people dread it.

By knowing in advance what to look for, shopping for that graduation outfit can be quick and easy, leaving more time to study… or head to the beach.

In order to pick out a party outfit which complements your figure, Liz Goncalves, store manager of EXPRESS Fashion in Newport, advises shoppers that above anything else, buy clothing that they feel comfortable in.

“I look for the vibe of the customer and ask questions to familiarize myself with their style before recommending certain tops and bottoms,” Goncalves said.

The first step when choosing the perfect party outfit is to match the outfit with the season. Pink is the “in-color” for spring and many clothing stores offer vast arrays of skirts, shirts, dresses, and shoes in this color.

You also want to make sure that the outfit will keep you properly insulated. You do not want to choose a short skirt in -40 degree weather, says Goncalves.

After you have matched the outfit with a season, Goncalves will look at a

person’s body type and shape.

“I ask the customer what they feel good wearing and then we go from there,” she said.

If you have a pear shaped body, you want to choose something that will elongate your body and highlight your hips, Goncalves noted. If you are tall, however, you want to stay away from skirts that are either too short or too long.

Taller women can tuck shirts into pants and skirts, which creates a horizontal line to show off their waistline. Taller women can also wear shorter skirts to show of their legs, Goncalves said.

Kera Edwards, a fashion associate at Ralph Lauren, Inc., recommends that plus-sized women opt for a monochromatic outfit where the top and skirt or trousers are the same color in order to achieve a sleek silhouette. She also advises that plus-sized women wear unbuttoned long blazers and cardigans for maximum vertical lines.

If you are petite, focus on elongating your silhouette. Edwards suggest that petite women wear things such as pleats, v-necklines, open jackets, and slacks which all help to elongate the figure.

“Horizontal lines tend to cut off the figure and make a woman look wider and shorter than she really is,” Goncalves said. “It’s good to avoid tops and bottoms that are high in contrast color, like a black top and white pants.”

Wedding, Work or Bar?

After you have chosen the clothing that matches your body size, you want to match the type of outfit to the social function that you will be attending.

“For instance, if you are going to a birthday party, you may want to pick out something flashy with sequins,” said Sarah Thomas, owner of Sarah’s Rare Cargo Boutique. “It helps to bring out your natural glow.”

If you are attending an office gathering, you don’t want to wear something glitzy that will draw a great deal of attention to yourself. Opt for a more professional look, such as a pair of black slacks with a matching black jacket and white blouse, Thomas said.

However, if you are going clubbing or to the bar, Thomas recommends that you buy a pair of dressy black pants that will highlight your figure.

“I always match a great pair of black pants with a vibrant and funky novelty top,” Thomas said.

Goncalves agrees with Thomas’ approach to choosing bar outfits.

“When people come to my store and tell me that they are going clubbing, I know that they are going to want to look sleek and sexy,” Goncalves said. “I usually go in the direction of bright pinks with reds and flashy, sparkly tops and bottoms.”

Fashion experts recommend that you avoid over-clashing. Do not mix too many colors together and make sure that you choose colors that will flatter your skin tone.

“I had a girl come in the other day and try on a black sequined top, and it washed out all of the color in her face,” Thomas said. “We went back to the drawing board on that one and found a pink-top that brought back the natural coloring in her face.”

If you are pale complexioned, Edwards recommends wearing bright pinks which bring out natural coloring in one’s face. One of the biggest fashion faux-pas, she says, is not matching color to skin tone. Even though this seems like a routine task, many women forget to do this and learn the hard way.

Accessorize!

After you have found the perfect articles of clothing, there is another important step: Accessorize.

“Always, always accessorize, and then you’re good to go,” Goncalves said.

If you are wearing a v-neck top, you would want to match it with a long necklace, perhaps with a silver or gold pendant.

If you are wearing a crewneck top, find a matching choker.

Attending a work-related function? You would want to stay away from flashy jewelry that would take the attention away from your professional outfit.