Great Commencement Fashion Myth No. 1:
I'm wearing a robe, so it doesn't matter what I have on underneath.
Commencement Fashion Fact:
The robe does not cover you from head to
toe, and what little of you is visible is suddenly very visible,
especially those uncovered hairy man legs or those clunky old flip-flops
that never stay on your feet.
Commencement is a huge milestone, an occasion to be celebrated by graduates and their proud families. You want to shine on this big day for all the right reasons, not for making a questionable or inappropriate wardrobe selection that makes you stand out like a sore thumb.
We can't and won't tell you what to wear. After all, you're almost college graduates.
But we will offer some advice. After all, we've been doing this for a long time now -- more than 150 years -- so we have an idea of what works, what makes degree candidates comfortable, what won't cause you to be the target of unwanted attention, and what will keep that proud smile on the faces of your loved ones looking down on you from the Reilly Center red seats.
Your Guide to Appropriate Dress for Baccalaureate & Commencement:
Women:
- Dresses are a popular choice;
- Dress pants just as appropriate;
- Please: no shorts and no jeans;
- Footwear: shoes or sandals that allow you to walk deliberately and effortlessly up and down stairs and across the stage; heels are discouraged. Please: no flip-flops.
Men:
- Long pants (no jeans, please);
- Collared shirt (dress shirt or polo). This allows the robe to sit better on your shoulders; you will look a little "undressed" without a collared shirt;
- Do I wear a tie? Many do. Whatever your choice, you will have plenty of company;
- Footwear: Closed shoes preferred; no sneakers and no flip-flops.
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