What to Wear Under a Graduation Gown: Men's Style Guide

Your graduation is a milestone occasion that celebrates the knowledge and skills you’ve attained, your perseverance, and the challenges you’ve overcome. Congratulations as you transition into the future!

You honor your significant academic accomplishments when you’re thoughtful about the clothing you choose to wear under your graduation gown. Carefully selecting smart, stylish attire also honors and shows respect to those mentors, friends, and family members who have supported you on your journey.

Whether your graduation ceremony is held on a warm summer morning or a chilly winter afternoon, knowing what to wear under a graduation gown for men will boost your confidence and comfort.

In this guide, you’ll learn about graduation attire etiquette and dress codes, how to choose the perfect dress shirt and pants, whether or not you should wear a tie, how accessories can elevate your look, how to dress comfortably for the season and weather, and finally, how to care for your graduation outfit. That’s a lot to cover so let’s get started!

GRADUATE ESSENTIALS

Graduation Attire Etiquette: What You Need to Know

Graduation ceremonies follow long-held academic traditions that celebrate achievement and acknowledge the future. The dress code for this special day typically requires wearing formal-business or business-casual attire.

Follow graduation attire etiquette to enhance your confidence and leave a positive impact on your overall experience. When you scan the array of photos that were taken of you walking across the stage, receiving your diploma, and joyfully tossing your cap into the air, you’ll definitely be glad you took some time to select the right outfit for your special day.

Dress Codes and Expectations

The pomp and circumstance surrounding a graduation is filled with history and tradition that result in lasting memories. A graduation ceremony is generally thought of as a formal or semi-formal event.

The standard graduation dress code for men is formal-business or business-casual attire. If you’re unsure about the level of formality required at your graduation, check with your alma mater for specific guidelines.

• A formal or formal-business dress code requires that you wear a suit with a dress shirt and a necktie.
• A semi-formal or business-casual dress code requires that you wear a dress shirt with dress pants or chinos. A necktie is optional for semi-formal and business-casual dress codes.
• Either way, avoid wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

Essential Components of Men’s Graduation Attire

The Perfect Dress Shirt

Classic dress shirts are essential to graduation attire and will assure a pulled-together, sharp look. Whichever dress code your alma mater specifies, choose a crisp, good-looking dress shirt to wear under your gown.

A classic white dress shirt is always a great choice for graduation as white will contrast nicely with your gown. You can also go with a solid light color in gray, blue, or lavender. A subtly patterned dress shirt is another good choice. Brightly colored, loud, or boldly patterned shirts aren’t appropriate for formal or semi-formal wear so be sure to save those for another occasion.

A semi-spread or point collar will look best with the gown’s open v-neck, especially if you don’t wear a tie. If you’ll be wearing a necktie, you can choose a spread collar that will allow more room for complex formal knots like the Windsor Knot.

Choosing the Right Pants

The best graduation dress pants for men are in dark colors such as navy, black, or charcoal. If you’ll be going with a formal-business dress code, wear a dark suit in wool or cotton gabardine. Dark colored dress chinos or linen trousers are a great choice for a semi-formal or casual-business dress code.

Avoid wearing lighter colored pants at your graduation ceremony. Light colors have a less formal appearance and when worn under a dark gown, will create too much contrast with the gown. When it comes to styling, well-fitted, tailored pants will look best with the flowing style of a graduation gown.

Pay attention to the length of your trousers. Your pants hem should be long enough to create a slight fold where the hem touches the arch of your shoe. This is the classic “half-break” that provides the correct proportion and looks fashionable with both traditional and modern style pants. If you prefer an ultra-modern look, wear dark colored slim pants with a shorter inseam.

Should You Wear a Tie to Graduation?

Whether your graduation dress code is formal, semi-formal, or business-casual, a tie will always add a stylish and smart finishing touch to your graduation attire. You can style your tie with either a formal (Windsor) or informal (Four in Hand) knot, or even express a fashionable vibe by wearing the knot slightly loosened for a semi-formal graduation.

Still, many upcoming graduates ask, should I wear a tie to graduation? You’ll have the clearest answer to your question when you check with your institution’s graduation dress code.

• If the dress code is formal or business-formal, you’ll be required to wear a tie. Choose a traditional silk solid or regimental stripe tie that reflects your alma mater’s colors.
• If the dress code is semi-formal or business-casual, wearing a tie will be optional. If you like the idea of wearing a tie for your semi-formal or business-casual graduation, a tie in linen, cotton, or knit will provide a less formal vibe.

ALMA MATER COLLECTION

Accessories to Elevate Your Graduation Look

Enhance the overall appearance of your graduation look by adding a classic, well-chosen accessory. Accessories in colors, branding, or insignias that honor your alma mater can elevate your look.

Select a tie bar or cufflinks that reflects your degree specialization or a sport you participated in. If you want to add some subtle interest and a reflection of your personality, go with a lapel pin, suspenders in alma mater colors, or a pocket square tucked into your jacket pocket.

Summer Graduation Attire

If your graduation ceremony will be a summer affair, how can you look sharp while staying cool and comfortable? You can confidently stand up to the challenge of those hot, humid summer days when you know which styles and fabrics are the best choice for summer graduation attire.

Choose a dress shirt and pants in natural breathable fabrics such as 100% cotton or linen. In addition to going with natural fabrics, you’ll be most comfortable when you select pants and a dress shirt in materials that have more open weaves that will allow air to circulate air and release body heat.

Check the weather forecast for the date of your summer ceremony. If high temps and humidity are forecast for your graduation day, you’ll be more comfortable in styles that are cut slightly looser and offer a bit more room for air to circulate. Slim-fitting shirts and pants will hold in body heat more than looser clothing.

On warm summer days, try your best to avoid wearing synthetic fabrics. Although your graduation gown will most likely be made of a synthetic material, luckily the flowing style will allow air to circulate under the gown. Polyester shirts and pants will make you feel hotter because the fabric doesn’t absorb perspiration.

Winter Graduation Considerations

Layering is the key to comfort for a winter graduation ceremony. Check your alma mater’s graduation ceremony guidelines to be sure of the ceremony location. Knowing whether the event will be held inside or outside will help you know how to prepare and dress.

In snowy and icy cold climates, it’s more than likely your ceremony will be held indoors. Layers provide warmth but also give you the option of peeling off a layer if the thermostat in the room is cranked up too high.

Dressing in layers will be essential if your winter graduation will be held outside. Slip on finely woven 100% merino wool thermal layers under your dress shirt and pants to stay warm without bulk.

If the graduation dress code is formal or formal-business, you’ll be wearing a suit to your graduation ceremony. A wool suit in flannel or gabardine will be a good choice as these fabrics insulate and hold in body heat — a sure way to help stay warm.

Wearing a suit or a sport coat isn’t mandatory but is appropriate attire even with a semi-formal or business-casual dress code. Adding that extra layer will help seal in warmth. Also, you may want to consider wearing a merino sweater vest or cardigan over your dress shirt or under a jacket.

A necktie or a cashmere scarf will not only look smart but will keep you warmer than if you go without a tie. Don’t forget about keeping your feet toasty too. Merino wool dress socks are a far better choice than cotton or synthetic materials, especially in winter.

Caring for Your Graduation Outfit

If your graduation gown arrived crumpled or creased, be sure to steam or iron out any wrinkles. When using an iron, place a cotton tea towel over the fabric and iron on a low setting. If you place the iron directly on the gown, the heat and pressure of the iron can leave an unattractive sheen.

Another option is to iron on the wrong side of the fabric. Once you’ve removed wrinkles, keep your gown zipped up and arranged neatly on a hanger until graduation day.

After you slip on your gown, avoid additional wrinkling by spreading out the fabric before sitting. If you’re driving to the ceremony while wearing your gown, release and smooth out any pleats or crumpled fabric before you fasten your seat belt. While sitting waiting for your group to enter the stage to receive your diploma, avoid additional wrinkling by spreading out the fabric before you sit down.

Keep your outfit looking fresh throughout and after the ceremony by remembering that you have additional fabric around your body, arms, and chest — especially if you’re wearing a special sash, stole, or hood around your shoulders. Be aware of the additional fabric and take care when sipping celebratory drinks and eating.

Know how to keep your dress shirts looking fresh and crisp. Appreciate your clothing investment. This article on how to take care of dress shirts covers washing, drying, ironing, and folding.

Dressing for Success on Your Big Day

Your cap and gown symbolize the culmination of your academic journey. What you wear underneath your gown matters! The Tie Bar will help you look your very best on your big day.

As you prepare,

• Check with your alma mater for the dress code and any special requirements.
• Take a look at the weather forecast to make sure you dress comfortably.
• Explore The Tie Bar for your essentials: the perfect dress shirt and pants.
• Also explore our array of neckties and accessories for your ceremony.

Once you’re prepared, you’ll feel confident that you’ve chosen sharp, polished graduation attire.

The Tie Bar is committed to helping you look your best for any occasion, especially your graduation ceremony.

And remember, The Tie Bar is so much more than beautiful neckties — we have stylish dress shirts, pants, jackets, suits, sweaters, socks, and accessories that will round out the ideal graduation outfit.

SHOP GRADUATION ESSENTIALS