Fuchsia for Graduation

Remember a few weeks ago when I attended my friends’ college graduation? This is the outfit I wore! I photographed it before I left campus and planned on sharing the look last Thursday, but I’m only getting around to posting it today. I love how this summery outfit came together!

I’ve said it again and again on the blog now, but I had very limited ‘going out’ or fancy outfits to choose from at school this year. When I was packing to head back to campus at the end of winter break in January, the pandemic was still going strong, so I figured it would be a waste of space to bring fun fancy outfits that would just end up collecting dust in my apartment closet. But of course, then everything started opening up again this spring, and I found myself seriously lacking cute clothes for all the events suddenly filling my social calendar!

This dress was the only item I had in my closet at school that was remotely worthy of a graduation ceremony, which was disappointing considering I had tons of fun dresses to choose from back at home. I wasn’t very excited to wear this fuchsia shift and even considered borrowing a friend’s dress instead (what can I say—when my options are taken away, it makes what I do have to choose from less appealing, ya know?).

But in the end, this thrifted fuchsia dress turned out to be the perfect piece for graduation. The second I put it on, I was excited to get ready and do my hair/makeup for the first time in what felt like forever! These white heels were an obvious choice to wear with the dress considering they were the only heels I had at school. I kept jewelry minimal—just adding a wavy silver cuff—and I completed the look with my lavender floral crossbody from Kate Spade New York. At first, I thought the lavender and fuchsia shades would clash, but I actually kind of like the two together.

You may recognize this dress from the last time I wore it on the blog, for April’s Thrifty Six collab. I found it in my favorite thrift store in Las Vegas while I was there during spring break, and in addition to graduation, this dress would make a great outfit for a spring or summer wedding. I would love to style it with a belt at some point (there’s just a little too much fabric around the midriff) but the open back would make wearing a belt with this dress difficult, I think. Regardless, it felt so good to finally get dressed up for a purpose and not just for blog photos! And of course, I loved seeing all the fashion of the other attendees at graduation. Some dresses were classy, some were trashy—you know how it is.

Would you wear a bold color like this? When I first saw this dress on the hanger, I wasn’t sold on the shade. But then my parents convinced me that it’s bold, vibrant, and very pretty instead of tacky! What do you think?

As always, thanks for swinging by the blog today.

-Grace

Fuchsia Dress: Thrifted, $15, last worn here | White Heels: DSW, $50, last worn here | Lavender Floral Purse: Kate Spade New York, gift, last worn here