Attire Under Graduation Gown 40's F Outdoor

[ktown]

I'm attending graduation this weekend and it will be outside for some hours with 40-50 F weather. I want to dress up a little but I'm thinking a suit won't be warm enough. The graduation gown itself is a thin polyester material so I'm not sure if it would help trapping heat. How does this look? I'm swapping the suit jacket for a wool coat. Will this keep me warm? Will I get too hot?

Here's the normal suit for reference:

 

[breakaway01]

If you're wearing a cap, that will also add a little warmth. I wear cap and gown annually (indoors) and I figure they add 5 degrees or so. If you're sitting near a lot of people, that also adds a few degrees IME, so figure on 5-10 degrees.

Do you plan on going to another event immediately after graduation? If so, you might prefer your suit jacket to an overcoat so that you're better dressed once you take your cap and gown off.

It's very hard to give definitive advice without knowing how warm your suit and overcoat are, and how well you handle cool weather. Can you wear your suit in 50 degree weather? Personally I'd try to wear just the suit as long as you'd be comfortable for 50 degree weather, disregarding the cap and gown (since those + people nearby will add 5+ degrees). You could maybe consider a thin set of long underwear as a baselayer if your suit is summer weight or open-weave. Have a pair of thin gloves handy.

 

[ktown]

I will be wearing a cap and sitting near people. I can wear the suit in 50 degree weather and plan on bringing gloves. You've convinced me and I'll just wear the suit since it looks better. The cap and gloves should help.