I don’t do flowery either. Had to go to wedding recently and found a $20 COS dress from thredup. Look on The Real Real, Thredup, eBay for brands like COS, Co., Toteme, Matteau.

Buy a Max Studio dress from Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, or even Amazon. I usually find them for $40 or so.

Most are floral, but some have geometric patterns or are mostly black. Bonus: machine washable and forgiving on curvy women.

Anything you want…

OP, tell us what you do have in your closet. Do you own a suit? If you had to go to a funeral or meet a potential client tomorrow, what would you wear?

OP specifically said no flowy or flowery dresses yet all the suggestions have been one or the other.

Also look at rent the runway

OP I think a white or black eyelet (broderie anglaise) dress is very classic and versatile. And you can wear it on vacation later. It also offers coverage with a breeze if you can find a good long sleeve maxi. It sounds like it would suit you better than a floral sundress.
You could also do an eyelet blouse with nice pants.
Don't listen to the people saying no one will be looking at you. You want to feel good on this day, and be happy for the photos and memories.

https://www.zara.com/us/en/belted-printed-shirt-dress-p02157045.html?v1=430847256

https://tnuck.com/products/ivory-eyelet-griffin-dress?variant=46143603343582

https://shop.mango.com/us/en/p/women/dresses-and-jumpsuits/dresses/openwork-embroidered-combined-dress_17081242

Anonymous wrote:I've been eying this
https://halsbrook.com/products/borrego-white-and-blue-multi-print-dress?_pos=1&_fid=93e17dcfa&_ss=c

I disagree with the PP who thinks this dress is awful. It's adorable for a college student on vacation.

It's way too young looking for anyone old enough to have a child graduating from high school.

Anonymous wrote:I've been eying this
https://halsbrook.com/products/borrego-white-and-blue-multi-print-dress?_pos=1&_fid=93e17dcfa&_ss=c

I’m sorry, but that’s awful.

I've been eying this
https://halsbrook.com/products/borrego-white-and-blue-multi-print-dress?_pos=1&_fid=93e17dcfa&_ss=c

Anonymous wrote:NP.
Same situation as OP except I need long sleeves. Also, graduation is outdoors without any shade.

I love the Boden/Quince options posted above.
Any recommendations on how to style those (or other short sleeve/sleeveless dresses) with a long sleeve top either over or underneath?

I probably wouldn’t layer a long sleeve shirt. I’d either look for a dress with long sleeves, or wear a button front shirt with a long skirt, like this:

https://liketk.it/5eVum

NP.
Same situation as OP except I need long sleeves. Also, graduation is outdoors without any shade.

I love the Boden/Quince options posted above.
Any recommendations on how to style those (or other short sleeve/sleeveless dresses) with a long sleeve top either over or underneath?

Anonymous wrote:Is it your child that is graduation? I find it very hard to believe if you have been even just somewhat of an involved parent, that you could have no idea how other parents dress. Are your children there on a scholarship or similar?

Sit down.

Some affordable amazon options

https://www.amazon.com/Simplee-Floral-Smocked-Sleeve-Empire/dp/B0DPFVHNZK/ref=mp_s_a_1_41?crid=3VIKSH0BPX8WN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.b3lE_c62XxzxZs-VAmO4H_fRfN70GLFzn8Hf9TCEsfL_YXvRpMI6PTSQfXw4c62jdhoWSVF3THWQwklV1ESLKKpZzbyCLDBTOZ9X2SByndEBhdvHJA3qwSkhG70cOR-hdXnL2dIAwEGWvQnJ3aN0ARybvNtIIeGTIIsZxe4opzzDRt1U94kTjxTV_R2Jr5bjqxy56zmOInLm18yYUGcrpCW5MIKd3DLOIVGTVahwQ03yPALzPOBez27po3K4rldDngmunFDjztrLRcUcWRI4-I-CTJgYihzmOrvhQ03gYdY.iEeraQIPsgGr3xK39P6--Y9sUDRoCscMTR03clBv0UY&dib_tag=se&keywords=midi%2Bdresses%2Bfor%2Bwomen&qid=1747792139&refinements=p_36%3A-3900&rnid=2661611011&sprefix=midi%2Bdre%2Caps%2C306&sr=8-41&xpid=h7GqFYGX9FZD9&th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/AUSELILY-Womens-Smocked-Flutter-Dresses/dp/B0DM5HX9T8/ref=mp_s_a_1_46?crid=3VIKSH0BPX8WN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wkt_fD4MXhw_U-mZ-Q4gbUwfbWCGs6ccGf_QHIOBOPiVghcpFsueP6j4gNpGRW2UhIEj2oc_mSRWDWnEGZuZZJ_lrXjcW90jADEOZTpTf2fHcTvDB6ISfk12Pg8SktG8a0aDql4Qgc7VC9mhs7aP5qUsQBAf1CRJWqvQJxmojyXdoJ4lbziW3Y6G5Gu5KZqWzauTTDwnjcSYXcD1-D06MwMzmgaMtkTRjEA2pwq25iMj4j18A6A9m3kMMDrQEfI3Wmto894tprM54GtqMw7_K10xCSL4JcYuwUFb78JfHQw.ZL6bGg9IHgV4TfWR-tyCGOdag7Sxxgi2jfEYJ4yivvg&dib_tag=se&keywords=midi+dresses+for+women&qid=1747792044&sprefix=midi+dre%2Caps%2C306&sr=8-46&xpid=N4ie4R78bV0Aw

https://www.amazon.com/Zeagoo-Floral-Sundresses-Pockets-Dresses/dp/B0DKF39L32/ref=mp_s_a_1_24?crid=3VIKSH0BPX8WN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.b3lE_c62XxzxZs-VAmO4H_fRfN70GLFzn8Hf9TCEsfL_YXvRpMI6PTSQfXw4c62jdhoWSVF3THWQwklV1ESLKKpZzbyCLDBTOZ9X2SByndEBhdvHJA3qwSkhG70cOR-hdXnL2dIAwEGWvQnJ3aN0ARybvNtIIeGTIIsZxe4opzzDRt1U94kTjxTV_R2Jr5bjqxy56zmOInLm18yYUGcrpCW5MIKd3DLOIVGTVahwQ03yPALzPOBez27po3K4rldDngmunFDjztrLRcUcWRI4-I-CTJgYihzmOrvhQ03gYdY.iEeraQIPsgGr3xK39P6--Y9sUDRoCscMTR03clBv0UY&dib_tag=se&keywords=midi%2Bdresses%2Bfor%2Bwomen&qid=1747792139&refinements=p_36%3A-3900&rnid=2661611011&sprefix=midi%2Bdre%2Caps%2C306&sr=8-24&xpid=h7GqFYGX9FZD9&th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/GRACE-KARIN-Summer-Sleeve-Pockets/dp/B0CPYKLG61/ref=mp_s_a_1_25?crid=3VIKSH0BPX8WN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.b3lE_c62XxzxZs-VAmO4H_fRfN70GLFzn8Hf9TCEsfL_YXvRpMI6PTSQfXw4c62jdhoWSVF3THWQwklV1ESLKKpZzbyCLDBTOZ9X2SByndEBhdvHJA3qwSkhG70cOR-hdXnL2dIAwEGWvQnJ3aN0ARybvNtIIeGTIIsZxe4opzzDRt1U94kTjxTV_R2Jr5bjqxy56zmOInLm18yYUGcrpCW5MIKd3DLOIVGTVahwQ03yPALzPOBez27po3K4rldDngmunFDjztrLRcUcWRI4-I-CTJgYihzmOrvhQ03gYdY.iEeraQIPsgGr3xK39P6--Y9sUDRoCscMTR03clBv0UY&dib_tag=se&keywords=midi+dresses+for+women&qid=1747792139&refinements=p_36%3A-3900&rnid=2661611011&sprefix=midi+dre%2Caps%2C306&sr=8-25&xpid=h7GqFYGX9FZD9

It literally doesn’t matter. No one will remember what you were wearing.