What to wear to my graduation

[JoeMaplin]

It’s January, I’m size 16 and tallish. Does it have to have buttons on the front or will safety pins be ok? I like dresses but will I be able to pin the hood to a dress or will it ride up?

Any ideas/suggestions? Thanks.

Buttons do make it easier to attach the hood but lots of women wear dresses so I'd just wear something smart that you feel comfortable in.

You might also want to consider warm layers if you are in the UK as chances are they will have to open all the windows for ventilation!

Most of it will be covered by the robe anyway, so wear something that suits you and you feel comfortable in.

My overriding fashion memory of my sons’ graduation days was the shoes.
Every style, colour, heel height imaginable. Dirty trainers through to sky high gem encrusted monstrosities. It was fascinating watching the hundreds of students parading through the halls and across the stage.

Congratulations! 🎓. You don't have to have buttons as they usually provide you with pins. Bring some of your own too and it will help you anchor the gown and the hood.

I graduated a long time ago and no pins were provided and I didn't have buttons. I just hadn't thought about it. Photos all show me being strangled by the sash. Beware.

Think your arms are exposed with the gown so something with long sleeves maybe ? A jacket underneath, over a dress,
Nice shoes , as that’s pretty much all you can see !

A suit jacket helps the hood sit properly. You could wear a jacket or blazer with a dress.

Wear shoes you can walk easily in, teetering along looks silly.

I graduated recently and the hood was attached to the gown with velcro, so no worry about pins etc.

I would be careful with a dress, the hood can pull up a dress. You might be better off pinning the hood to your shoulders.

I find the gowns quite hot, actually very hot.

I've graduated a couple of times and you may find the gown hire people 'dress you', even if they don't they will help.

You cannot have too many pins.

Most places you have to walk across a stage so make sure you can climb steps in your shoes.

Congratulations, have a great day.

Shoes you can walk in are essential. I’ve been to many graduations and it’s noticeable that the men stride confidently across the platform and many of the women teeter hesitantly on shoes they haven’t thought through well. You might get lucky and get a hood that fixes to the shoulders of the gown with Velcro, we’ve had those for a couple of years. Otherwise a safety pin works well on a dress or blouse, whatever you pin it too needs to have some structure or weight to stop it being pulled. Or you can pin it at the shoulders to avoid it pulling. You might find a jacket under the gown too hot, it depends how warm the hall is.

Why have I never had a Velcro robe?

The Velcro appeared at the last graduation I went to pre-COVID, we were all very pleased to see it and the servitor who robes up all the academic processions was thrilled not to be doling out as many safety pins. I don’t think all the gowns had it, so maybe they are gradually replacing them. The staff who come from places without academic dress get something the right size out of what we call the dressing up box, a collection of gowns and hoods from goodness knows where. They don’t get Velcro.

Thanks so much all. The website I’m to hire from says I may have Velcro on the hood but doesn’t commit and suggests buttons. I really don’t suit buttoned things! I don’t really have blazers or suit jackets any more as my job does not require it, although a blazer would be useful I suppose, maybe a jersey one. Maybe I’ll go for wide leg trousers.

Arghh, my ideal would be a long sleeved, plain coloured, slightly flared or a line knee length ponte or thick jersey dress but can I find one!

I wish I had worn something with buttons to mine. The hood kind of hung around my neck and I had to adjust it constantly.

I really struggled to find something to wear for my graduation but eventually got a knee length velvet dress from Primark of all places! It was perfect and didn’t look cheap ( which it was).

I've just been to a graduation.

What's your gown like? They're all a bit different in the sleeve. And all of the gowns had velcro, no matter which gown it was. But they still have the button loop too, and it does look better if you can use that button loop.

And pp was right. The shoes! The shoes were the centerpiece because you can't see much else! I'd go for what you want to wear afterwards when you've returned your gown.

Have a wonderful day. I bloody love a graduation!

Arghh, my ideal would be a long sleeved, plain coloured, slightly flared or a line knee length ponte or thick jersey dress but can I find one!

I don't know if they've got any at the moment, but Lands End often have something like that.