Comments on: Reader Question: what to wear to Graduation

By: Graduation

Graduation — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:02:52 +0000

I do agree with all the ideas you’ve introduced in your post. They’re really convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very quick for novices. May just you please prolong them a little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.

By: Moni

Moni — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:40:43 +0000

I would suggest wearing wedges or chunkier heels if you’re going to have to walk on grass. Sinking in when you’re trying to walk is never fun!

By: ann

ann — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:14:30 +0000

I work for an academic institution and have to wear gown and hood a couple of times a year. Since I own my gown, I removed the button from the pleated back and sewed it to the front of the gown so that I could attach the hood that way. I don’t have to worry about what I wear underneath, so can wear a tank dress or whatever and be much cooler than my colleagues. For shoes I usually wear candy-apple-red wedges.

By: Diana

Diana — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:58:06 +0000

Love all your suggestions! I’ve still got to decide if I want to walk at graduation in a few weeks, but I’ll keep these in mind.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:59:42 +0000

Add me to the list of women who didn’t bother pinning her hood. In fact, at my university, they didn’t even bother suggesting it–the hoods just looped over and hung loosely on our shoulders.

By: Becky

Becky — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:23:07 +0000

Thank you so much for answering my question! This has been really helpful, your suggestions are great and you responded so quickly!

It’s also been very helpful reading the other comments and getting tips from people who have done this before. It’s hard to know what to expect when it’s your first graduation.

Anna, I also think it’s ridiculous that the robes are so obviously designed for men and it reassures me that some women just wear whatever they want!

Thanks again, I really appreciate the valuable advice!

By: Caro

Caro — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:00:23 +0000

Shoe height and type and the length of the skirt should also be considerations if one is expected to kneel for the conferring of the hood.

By: caroline

caroline — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:23:51 +0000

I wore a dress similar to the first one you posted! And I wore metallic flats to go with it, since I definitely didn’t want to trip! :)

However, my biggest suggestion is to wear something with pockets, since my regalia does not have pockets! I had no where to keep my keys and cell phone, and I refused to carry a purse across the stage.

As a faculty member, I will be wearing pants with pockets to the next graduation.

By: charlotte

charlotte — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:19:05 +0000

I guess I’m just old fashioned. I still love females graduating in white, and have worn the same white dress under all my graduation gowns. It just seems so rare that we get to wear a white dress, I take every opportunity!

By: Tara

Tara — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:10:45 +0000

My only suggestion would be “be careful about the height of your heels!” When I graduated from my BA and MEd, the stairs of the stage were a really odd design. The website even suggested not to wear stillettos, and I was glad I didn’t! Nothing like falling in front of a couple of thousand people!

Also, I never wore a shirt under my gowns, only dresses. At my university, they said don’t pin the hoods, so we didn’t. Honestly, I think more girls wear nice dresses instead of the traditional shirt and nice skirt/pants combo.