What to Wear to a Military Promotion (from someone who’s been there)

Attending a military promotion ceremony is exciting and fun, but it can also be daunting. If you’ve never attended one of these events, or if you’re feeling extra nervous because you’ll be playing a more prominent role, I’ve got you. Not only have I attended many promotion ceremonies, but I’ve participated as a spouse as well.

I still recall quite vividly trying to find the right dress to wear to my husband’s promotion to squadron commander. On top of the stress of planning and organizing the details of the promotion and party afterwards, hosting family, and the nerves of becoming a commander’s spouse, I was exactly one year post-partum. I was dealing with my post-baby body and it was pretty daunting. There was a dress I desperately wanted to wear for this event, but when I went to try it on it simply wasn’t loving me the way I loved it. Thankfully, we lived in an area where there were lots of stores to shop at, but that’s not always the case at military bases.

The first thing to do when figuring out what to wear to the promotion is to find out the details of the event: where will it be (indoors or outside), and what uniform will the military members be wearing (this can be anything from “uniform of the day” to service dress)? These details will help you determine how dressy, colorful, or dressed down it’s acceptable to be. For example, if you’re outdoors in Hawaii, you can wear a bright floral dress or linen pants and a Hawaiian shirt. However, if you’re indoors at the Pentagon, business dress, like a suit or knee-length dress in dark neutral colors, is appropriate. Be mindful of whether you’ll be sitting in the sun (go for lighter colors) or someplace chilly or windy (don’t forget a jacket). There’s nothing worse than being so miserable that you can’t even pay attention to the actual ceremony or speeches.

Next, you’ll want to put some extra thought into your shoes. Will you be on a slippery ship deck or an airplane hangar with potential tripping hazards? Aim for flats or wedges to keep your footing. If your spouse is relinquishing command, you likely won’t spend too much time standing- you’ll walk in and out of the ceremony, and stand a few times here or there. However, if your spouse is assuming command, there will likely be a receiving line afterwards, and you’ll be on your feet for an hour or more. Make sure whatever shoes you wear are comfortable enough to get you through the day, and don’t make much noise if you’re going to be escorted in and out of the ceremony.

If you’re fortunate enough to be stationed somewhere that has great stores to shop at, I highly recommend shopping locally so you can support the local economy and try things on in-store. Since that’s not always an option, there are great online shopping options. I do love places like Nordstrom, Kate Spade, Quince, Shopbop, Madewell, and Zappos because they offer free shipping. (Yes, Amazon Prime does, too- but in all honesty I’m trying to pivot towards investing in higher quality wardrobe pieces. But I know that sometimes we’re in a pinch, and Amazon is the easiest solution sometimes!)

Bonus: sometimes you can find a dress that you can wear again for other military ceremonies and events, or even as a wedding guest!

So whether you’re attending a military promotion as a spouse, unit member, or proud parent, you can dress confidently and focus on the big day.

Still need help figuring out what to wear for the event? I can help! Book a free consultation call- I’ve got you!