What are traditional graduation colors?

Research doctorates wear crimson doctoral gowns, while professional doctorates and terminal master's degrees wear black doctoral gowns. Bachelor's gowns are maroon and master's gowns are black.

What is the traditional color to wear for graduation?

Wearing white underneath graduation gowns has a rich history, which prompts one to ask if girls wear their white dresses for the meaning, or to simply follow fashion trends and what they've seen from past graduating classes. Knowing more about this tradition and history can amplify the meaning of graduation.

What do the different graduation colors mean?

3) Different colors mean different things

White: Humanities, Arts, English, etc. Beige: Business. Green: Medicine, Pharmacy and Physical Education. Orange: Engineering.

What is the most popular graduation colors?

There are a few different colors that are typically used for graduation robes, but the most common ones are black and white. Sometimes, other colors like blue or green are used as well, but it really depends on the school and their traditions.

Are you supposed to wear a certain color to graduation?

The tradition is for boys to wear dark colored gowns and girls to wear light. This can be either black and white, as it appears to be in your school, or the school colors with the boys in the dark one. For instance, my high school colors were Forest Green and Old Gold so boys wore green and girls wore gold.

How to wear your graduation gown and mortarboard

What not to wear to graduation ceremony?

While deciding what to wear, it's also important to know what not to wear. Jeans, t-shirts, and overly casual clothes are inappropriate for graduation ceremonies. Remember, it's better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed for such an event.

Do graduations have dress codes?

There is no official Commencement dress code, but for those who are still scrambling for picture-perfect attire, here are some practical tips to help dress and prep for the big day.

What do 2 stripes on a graduation gown mean?

Bachelor's degree—one stripe. Master's degree—two stripes. Doctoral degree—three stripes. One could then instantly recognize the achievements of the wearer of the robe.

How many honor cords can you wear?

Traditionally, graduates wear a single honor cord per honor or achievement. Unlike the graduation tassel on your graduation cap, a grad can usually wear more than one honor cords. For example, if a student is recognized for cum laude honors and membership in an academic society, they may wear double honor cords.

How many honor cords can you get?

At some universities, pairs of honor cords, in the school colors, indicate honors graduates: one pair for cum laude, two pairs for magna cum laude, and three pairs for summa cum laude. These are in addition to any cords for membership in an honor society.

What does purple mean in graduation?

The purple honor cords signify a graduate being creative, independent and a great future. The white honor cords signify a graduate being complete, being pure, and new beginnings.

What is the purple color for graduation?

The color purple is usually used as designation for those graduating with a degree in Law, Architecture, and Dentistry.

What does 3 stripes on a graduation gown mean?

There is a narrative from medieval times that describes the nature of the three chevrons on the sleeve of a doctoral robe. As legend has it, those three stripes stand for the three pillars of doctoral scholarship: academic curiosity, academic honesty, and academic courage.

What do parents wear to graduation?

A cotton button-down shirt, sports jacket and slacks, or a light-colored suit, collared shirt and tie are good choices for men. For a woman, proper attire would be a cotton dress, a skirt and blouse, or a nice pantsuit.

What is the yellow color for graduation?

For graduate hoods and academic regalia colors, gold or shades of gold or yellow, are used to designate the degree or discipline of Agriculture, Civil Engineering, Engineering, Criminology, Economics, Environmental Science, Industrial Arts, Library Science, Mathematics, Military Science, Nursing, Philanthropy, Physics, ...

Can I buy my own cords for graduation?

While schools and organizations may hand out honor cords to students, they can also be purchased to ensure you stand out during your graduation ceremony!

Do colleges care about honor cords?

While the physical honor cords themselves are not a focus for college admissions committees, the hard work and high GPA that earned you those honor cords absolutely do matter. Earning honor cords can be a nice way to publicly acknowledge your academic achievements, and you should certainly feel proud of your hard work!

What does 4 bars on a graduation gown mean?

Those in the procession wearing regalia that is not black are likely to be faculty wearing the colors of the school from where they received their highest degree. Four bars on the sleeve indicate the wearer is a sitting president.

Why do masters students get hooded?

After your degree is conferred, move the tassel to the left. The master's hood is a modern interpretation of the hooded robes worn by medieval monks who taught in the early universities. The monks would use their hoods to keep warm in the winters and also to collect alms.

What does a white collar on a graduation gown mean?

This small white collar adds a nice finishing touch to the graduation gown and is typically worn by female graduates when a uniform white-collar look is desired. The collar attaches to the inside of the gown yoke with small safety pins or a basting stitch.

Where do you put your phone when graduation?

There are a few ways to carry a phone when wearing a dress with no pockets. One way is to carry it in a small clutch or purse. Another way is to wear a belt that has a small pouch or case attached to it, in which you can carry your phone.

Do you bring a purse to graduation?

For the ladies, clutch bags aren't ideal as you might need both hands free to shake hands and take your award. However, small shoulder bags can work well if your university's graduation dress code allows it. This way, you'll have somewhere to store your essentials without having to actually hold anything.

Do family members dress up for graduation?

A good rule-of-thumb when deciding what to wear to a child's graduation is to aim for what will look nice while also satisfying comfort and not overshadowing the graduate. A nice dress, slacks, or a suit will meet any unofficial dress codes.

Is jeans OK for graduation?

Jeans, T-shirts, trainers and other casual clothes are not considered appropriate and some universities might not let you into your graduation ceremony wearing them. That said, if your university is less traditional, you might be able to get away with a laid-back look, like a printed shirt and a more colourful suit.