rgent help needed!!! What to wear under a gown?

[Chandra]

A graduation gown, of course

My graduation is tomorrow afternoon and I'm about to hit the shops to try to find something suitable, the question is... is it too bad if I wear trousers, or better said? would I be the only woman wearing trousers? I have not used a skirt in years and would like to avoid it, specially as I don't feel like getting a new pair of shoes specially DS dropped a chair on my toes yesterday and I have a very black and painful big toe that won't welcome high heels )

[MamaMaiasaura]

Congratulations not had that yet.. can they see what you have on under? what are you graduating in? The norty side of me would be tempted to wear something fun.. or nothing at all!..

Wear sandals or dm's of comfys..

[zubb]

lots of women wear trousers, or did for any of the graduation ceremonies I've seen. Whichever shoes you normally wear would be fine - all photos will focus on the gown and hat anyway!

[Marina]

chandra, congratulations .
I'd say make sure you wear something you can attach the front of the hood to, securely, without the fabric rucking up. I kept coming untucked at my Masters' graduation and although I was more sylphlike in those days I cut a slightly ridiculous figure.
Normally I would say a really simple shift dress but I think that is out for you.
I can't see a problem with trousers myself - women Muslim graduates at our local university wear the salmar kameez under their gowns and look extremely smart.
Good luck!

[anchovies]

I wore trousers and a white shirt. If you wear a coloured top make sure it wont clash with the coloured bits on your gown.

[Tommy]

I think trousers would be fine. On your top half I would suggest a very thin blouse/top thing - those gowns are really hot at the best of times! When I graduated (too long ago to remember ) we were told that a blouse/shirt with a collar was best as it could go over your gown and the blokes' ties went in front of it IYSWIM.
I very dutifully got a blouse with a collar and then left the collar under the gown!
Good luck anyway

[Chandra]

Awen,notting at all? that's an idea! I'm graduating fromm Hist of Art, have to say that when I completed my BA (in art)thousand years ago, me and my friends wore a piece of a shower curtain from the mortard board that had the word "untitled". Awww... those crazy years!

Thanks for the reasurance about the troussers, I just need to find the top then, somebody recommended for it to have buttons to keep the hood in its place, would a pin do? I don't look very good in shirts, though may be a top with a collar would do fine...

[Marina]

Take a couple of sturdy safety pins. The teeny gold ones from dry cleaners are not enough IMO.
I graduated with a fellow actor who might as well have been starkers under her gown. She was so incensed at the Hyacinth Bouquet Ladies Tips for elegant graduation letter she received from Registry that she went to considerable trouble to source a dress that followed their guidelines apart from being transparent chiffon

[sarjon]

So pleased you posted this as it has reminded me that I should have sent my cheque for tickets to my own grad ceremony about 3 weeks ago!!!!! Oops!

[Tommy]

you've just reminded me - we were told to wear a shirt/blouse so the button could hold the gown on! This doesn't work of course with women's tops made out of thin flimsy material

[babyonboard]

He he..reminds me of my boyfriends graduation last summer, when i went in a bright red halterneck dress with pleated skirt..very marilyn monroeish.. and red and black stripy court heels. everyone else was wearing very muted sensible gear..I stick out like a sore thumb on the pictures and video..he he..

[soyabean]

I stuck out at my MA graduation as I was 39 weeks pregnant! I think I was wearing black top and long grey drawstring skirt under the gown. How did it go Chandra? Congratulations!

[Chandra]

Thank you for all your posts, at the end I decided to get a white shirt (though in the back of my mind I consider I should have gotten the black one...) anyways, shirt is ready as well as an alternative top in case tomorrow it's a bit cold (I wish). I will let you know how the thing goes.

Thanks for your help

[ChandraMAYorkWithDistinction]

Just a little note to say thanks again for your advice, as you have accurately informed me the gown was bloody hot, heavy enough to pull my shirt upwards but definitively it was a good idea to get the bluse with buttons as the safety buttons didn't do the job exactly right, and there were lots of women wearing trousers (I have not wore skirts since my wedding and I didn't want to ruin my record .

The graduation was OK, shoke hands with the former head of the BBC who told me several things I couldn't hear and stupid me, didn't realise who he was until the end of the ceremony . As much as I wanted to show off how much DS (then Bump) has grown up, I'm glad I didn't take DS with us, as the only other child was asked to leave the hall but we shot some lovely pictures with him once outside

And as you can see from my name for this message, I'm having a smug moment but only because I have never deserved such honour before, though may be was given as a token of sympathy to the woman who spent half the course pregnant and the other half in maternity leave

Thanks again.

[Doddle]

Chandra, just guessing from the new name that you did your MA at York, i did my History of Art BA at York and loved it!! What field did you study? Are Amanda LIllie and Christopher Norton still there? I have many fond memories of fabulous study trips away with them. Congratulations!!

[Chandra]

Yes both are still there, Amanda Lillie is as crazy as ever (better shut myself up, I'm highly recognisable, unless... were you the only other pregnant person in the department at the same time I was there? ) If you were, congratulations to you too

[Doddle]

I'm glad Amanda is still there, we had a wild time in Florence and Venice!! I was there many years ago, graduated in 1992 and went on to UEA to an MA in Italian Renaissance Architecture (inspired by Amanda!!). I loved York, still think of it fondly.