Costumes & Reenactment

Etiquette for Wearing Official Caps and Gowns

There is a time and a place for everything. No truer words have been spoken especially when it comes to official ceremonies during which official caps and gowns are worn. No matter the occasion, whether a graduation ceremony or a choir performance, there is a particular code of etiquette followed while wearing caps and gowns.

To understand where the rules begin, you need to understand the origins of the traditional pieces which were basically academic regalia worn by students back in the middle ages. Since the church and state were one, church law required that students adhere to similar dressing codes which applied to clergy members. Back then, caps and gowns came in the form of cloaks and hoods. It was only towards the later part of the 19th century that a standardized form of graduation regalia was introduced by Cambridge and Oxford for official university functions.

When wearing official caps and gowns:

1. Be presentable

Caps and gowns should always be clean and pressed. This is especially so for higher academic ceremonies. PhD regalia, Doctoral regalia and even faculty regalia should never be worn when wrinkled, torn or dirty. Regular checks should be done on caps and gowns for wear and tear and remember to use hangers to keep wrinkles at bay.

Personal grooming should be looked at carefully to avoid coming while unshaved and untidy for the gents or with overly done hairstyles and makeup for the ladies. Keep it simple and tasteful.

2. Wear modest and official clothing underneath the gown.

For females, a simple dress, skirt and blouse or even a respectable pantsuit would suffice while for males, a dress shirt and matching dress pants would be appropriate. Avoid going overly casual with jeans and a tee just because you think no one will see what you’re wearing under there.

Shoes should be official for both genders. Get either brown or black dress shoes for the gents and something more dressy but still official for the ladies.

When it comes to choir robes or choral robes, it is obviously important to maintain modesty especially where religion is concerned. Wear something which will not draw undue attention once you take off the choir robe or choir gown.

3. Accessories

No jewellery should be worn over caps and gowns.

For a graduation, always keep the cap’s tassel hanging on the right side till your degree is handed to you after which you may switch sides.

Extravagant colours should be avoided. Caps and gowns are usually either black or dark blue and sometimes sport extra features like velvet, as in the case of a doctoral gown.

4. Caps and gowns should be worn the right way. Make sure the cap is placed in a flat position on your head. Don’t tilt or push it back. For the gown, ensure its floor length and if you have a hood, keep it away from the neck and fasten it down with pins or cords if it has some.

About the Author

Shuang Yan is the author of this article on Cap gown. Find more information on Graduation gowns here.

Buy a Jedi Cloak?

I want a Jedi Cloak, possibly one without arm holes, just a cloak. not a robe.
i want to buy it also. If there is no cloak without arm holes, the robe will do. make sure it is Jedi colors. I will accept links to sites.

The Mystik Merchant has excellent Jedi cloaks.

http://mystikmerchant.com/

They know their stuff. For example, according to the website:
“Yes, for the last 30 years you’ve called it a Jedi cloak, but it is really a ROBE. A cloak has NO SLEEVES. A robe does.”

They sell Replica Jedi Robes * Sith Robes* Anakin & Luke Skywalker cloaks