Last year, a few of my senior friends mentioned how they wanted to find a nice outfit to wear under the gown during their graduation ceremony. I didn’t think much of it until recently, with my graduation just around the corner.
I wanted to find something nice to wear for the ceremony too, but wasn’t sure if there were any outfit parameters set in place by administration. “It’s not a strict dress code, [but it] should be business casual,” said Skyline interim principal Casey Elmore. “[The] dress can’t go below the gown, you either need pants or a dress shorter than a gown…[and] no shorts. We ask for dress shoes…[and] dark socks; no sandals or flip flops, to keep it formal and nice. We suggest black or blue tie if they’re going to wear a tie.”
According to Jostens, Skyline’s cap and gown supplier, “Jostens gowns have an 8-½ inch floor clearance.” So if you choose to wear a dress or skirt, make sure it’s close to mid-calf-length or shorter. If you decide to wear pants, make sure that they’re dark and fit the business casual dress code.
What you wear under the gown is just as important as what you wear over it. Some students will have cords that they’ll drape over their gown around their neck, symbolizing different achievements. “The only additional things you can wear [over your gown] are things you pick up with your gown,” said Elmore.
There’s also the tradition of decorating grad caps that many graduating seniors look forward to. I’ve always wanted to decorate mine, and I’ve seen so many cool ones that people have made. If you choose to decorate your cap, be mindful of the rules for what you can include on it. “Don’t include inappropriate language or things hanging off or sticking up out of it,” said Elmore. “[Also,] pay attention to your hair style so the cap fits on your head.”
The graduation ceremony is a big deal to a lot of seniors. It marks the end of an era, and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Students take a lot of pride in their accomplishments that are being showcased by this ceremony, and their loved ones are often even more proud and excited for them. “This is a special honor that [seniors] have worked so hard for, and the parents and families there,” said Elmore. “We’re just trying to keep it formal and nice, trying to keep a uniform look among the crowd.”
Keep in mind, too, that if these guidelines aren’t complied with, administrators will provide a different cap and/or gown for the student to wear during the ceremony. “We don’t do political statements or things like that at graduation…we’re trying to keep the formality of the ceremony,” said Elmore.
