How to Wear Your Graduation Cap and Gown
If you’re finding one of the more confusing parts of commencement is figuring out how to wear your graduation cap and gown, you’re not alone! The cap and gown (and stole and hood) are fairly archaic articles of clothing, and it’s not necessarily intuitive to figure out how to put them on (and in the right order). I’m sharing today some tips in hopes they’re of help for you whether for graduation day, or for your own cap and gown portraits.
Which way does the tassel go?
TASSEL STARTS ON THE RIGHT AND GOES TO LEFT AFTER GRADUATING from both high school and college. For advanced degrees, the tassel goes on the left and stays on the left.
Which side should the tassel go for graduation photos?
On the left!
Which way does the cap go?
In general, the elastic goes on the back of your head. For UChicago students in particular, it’s flipped and the pointy part goes in the back!
For a classic look, caps should be worn with the flat part parallel to the ground, and the bottom of the cap should be an inch or two above your eyebrows.
How do I wear my PhD/Med Degree/Advanced Degree hood?
It’s more challenging to figure out how to wear doctoral regalia!
First, the hood has a tiny string in the front which you loop under a button inside the front of your gown. If you are planning on wearing your gown unzipped for portraits, there will be a little string hanging out – it’s best if you have a safety pin to hide it underneath the front part of the hood. Another option, if you are a tie-wearing individual, is to hide the string from your hood underneath your tie.
Second, the hood naturally wants to lay down flat down your back, but you’ll need a friend (or your photographer 😉 to turn the hood a little inside out so you can show off your school colors.
How to wear graduation cap with an Afro or tall hairstyle?
The best option is to pin the cap to the top of your hairstyle with bobby pins. For your portraits, we’ll take some photos with and without your cap on to get you variety!
What do I wear underneath my cap and gown?
What color dress should I wear under cap and gown?
White is a universal favorite. I often see clients wearing a white sundress with their favorite heels. I like nude espadrilles for how they visually lengthen your legs and because the espadrilles provide stability when walking.
What should I wear for cap and gown pictures?
If you’re not a dress-wearing person, nice pants and a button down shirt or a suit are great options. You’ll want to be comfortable because you’ll be wearing your outfit for a long time on commencement day, and
What not to wear under a graduation gown?
You’ll want to avoid outfits that are bulky as they will influence the silhouette of your appearance while wearing the cap and gown.
What is the order of stoles and cords to wear?
First wear the stole, then layer with cords. The long ends of the stole go in the front.
Do I need to zip up my graduation gown?
Yes during your graduation ceremony, and no for your portrait session. I greatly prefer graduation portraits to have an unzipped gown as it lends itself to a more attractive silhouette for photos. In fact, at your graduation portrait session I often have clients do a mix of photos with the gown on and off, and with just the cap and stole. This gives you variety in your images: the classic look of graduation with the gown on and a more modern and sleek take with the gown off.
Are you supposed to iron your cap and gown?
Yes to the gown, no to the cap! At the bare minimum take the gown out of the bag and hang it up in a steamy bathroom to make a dent in those wrinkles. A wrinkle-free outfit looks elegant and classy – just the way you want to look in your cap and gown photos!
How do I make wearing a cap and gown look good?
Beyond ironing your gown, you can also consider wearing your cap with a headband so it won’t crush your hairstyle. Honestly, the cap and gown are not the most attractive articles of clothing. That’s why for cap and gown portraits 1) I suggest clients wear the gowns unzipped for a more flattering silhouette; 2) we take some photos with the gowns on but also some with the gowns off and just pose with caps and stoles. Despite the less than flattering look of a cap and gown, there’s something to be said for the history and legacy of wearing this regalia and participating in commencement. It’s a true celebration of your academic accomplishments.
Kristen Hazelton is a multi award-winning Chicago, IL and San Francisco Bay Area high school senior, university graduate, and family photographer. She also photographs in San Diego, CA, Santa Barbara, CA, Monterey, CA, and Seattle, WA. She is a firm believer in human rights and welcomes LGBTQ+ and nonbinary clients. You can inquire about your own photoshoot here!
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