Is It Off-Brand to Go Off-White This Grad Season?

written by lily brown

photographed by mckenna smith

Eggshell. Ivory. Cream. White. Shades of stress for 18-year-old me choosing her high school graduation dress. You see, in the dark ages—okay, post-COVID spring 2021—white was basically the only option. It was tradition. It was expected. It was uniform. And of course, I obsessed over the difference between “off-white” and “warm ivory” like it was a life-or-death situation.

Fast forward four years and one very overpriced degree later, here I am again. Staring down the same color palette. Except now? I’m wondering if I really want to play it safe again, or finally shake things up.

With spring blooming and graduation looming, everyone is starting to plan the outfits that will live underneath the gowns. But let’s get one thing straight: white isn’t required anymore—high school Lily wore white because she had to. Half of me wants to try something new, but the other half thinks it might just be easier to wear white again. Call it what you want, but if you didn’t spend a questionable amount of time in high school debating the subtle differences between these “colors” for your graduation dress, were you even graduating? So, does the tradition of girls wearing white dresses still stand in college?

Still, the white dress remains a staple for a lot of graduates. And look—no shade to white. It’s timeless. It’s clean. It gives off “I have my life together” energy. It also photographs chef’s kiss under the typically black or school-color gowns. Just you, hopefully the sunshine, your definitely-not-yet-arrived diploma, and your “Classy in Cream” lewk. It photographs beautifully, doesn’t clash, and checks every box, but let’s be honest, it’s also the expected choice.

So maybe white feels a little…safe. A little too been there, done that. Traditions are great when they mean something to you. Otherwise, they’re just fashion peer pressure. For some, she’s still the go-to. But for others, white feels like just another uniform. And after four years of figuring out who you actually are (spoiler: not who you were at 18), maybe it’s time your graduation fit says something about that evolution. And listen, if your entire aesthetic has shifted from pastel-prep to dark academia or coastal cowgirl, who says your graduation outfit can’t reflect that growth?

College has been basically a crash course in self-expression. Maybe this time you want to go for a silky champagne slip dress. Or a bold red jumpsuit. Or a floral two-piece set that screams “I’m graduating and I’m the main character.” The beauty of college is that no one can stop you—except maybe your grandma, but even she’ll be fine once she sees the cute pics.

I know my style has changed a lot over the last four years. When I first got to campus, I was all about the soft, pastel aesthetic. Then came my fast fashion phase: one-time statement pieces that now collect digital dust on my Depop and Poshmark pages. These days, I gravitate toward bold colors: blues, reds, pinks. But really, who is a girl without her basics? White is still a staple in my day-to-day closet, but now, it’s on my terms. That’s the difference, isn’t it?

So this graduation season, wear whatever makes you feel powerful, gorgeous, and like the educated icon you are. White dress? Slay. Purple pantsuit? Slay. Vintage denim with a sequin top and boots? Honestly? Also slay. Just don’t pick something because you feel like you have to.

White or not, own it because you’ve earned this. You’ll still look like the smartest, most stylish student walking across that stage (and yes, probably crying a little). I know I will be.