Graduate Accoutrement

[TheBrus]

I just got notification from my advisor that I just have four more courses to go before I graduate with my MBA from Argosy University, near Chicago. That means I graduate in the spring--I would have been done sooner, but I had a serious medical emergency in March that's delayed my progress. I've mounted a savings plan that involves rounding in my chequebook and squirreling away the bottle deposit money. So with that money, I plan to buy a black Argyll jacket to wear with my five-button waistcoat and Clan Bruce tank.

I'm wondering about other accessories. Since it's a Masters degree, I'll be wearing a stole. What neckwear goes best with these? Are there any modifications I should make to my gown? Can this be worn open? Any other suggestions?

[JSFMACLJR]

I just got notification from my advisor that I just have four more courses to go before I graduate with my MBA from Argosy University, near Chicago. That means I graduate in the spring--I would have been done sooner, but I had a serious medical emergency in March that's delayed my progress. I've mounted a savings plan that involves rounding in my chequebook and squirreling away the bottle deposit money. So with that money, I plan to buy a black Argyll jacket to wear with my five-button waistcoat and Clan Bruce tank.

I'm wondering about other accessories. Since it's a Masters degree, I'll be wearing a stole. What neckwear goes best with these? Are there any modifications I should make to my gown? Can this be worn open? Any other suggestions?

One wears the Masters gown required by the University, with the hood of the degree. There is a horrible American trend to wear gowns fastened up the front. Please don't, unless it is an absolute requirement! Masters gowns are cut differently than bachelors gowns, so make sure the gown is a masters gown. I'm not sure what a "stole" is in this case, but academical dress is highly regulated and specific. Some college gradutates wear white ties; others tabs; others just plain old everyday neckwear.

[TheBrus]

Hood, yes--sometimes (possibly erroneously) referred to as a stole. I wasn't sure what to call it.

[spglenn]

As JSFMACLJR said check on the ettiquette of the University and the level of degree.

I'm sitting in the room where all the family graduation pictures are. My Bachelors degree was at one of the new Universities and it was neck tie. My brother went to Scotland and graduated with a Masters and he is in white tie, however that was at St. Andrews which has its own code as the oldest Scottish University. We are both hooded in our respected University hoods, worn differently as the university traditions dictated.

But a number of my Scottish friends have graduated recently in kilts and look really good in the pictures.

[saxandpipes]

Wear a normal long tie, with a nice double-windsor knot. The front part of the hood is normally a thin strip, and can be placed under the tie... to keep it in place...

I will try to see if I have a pic (sorry, my own graduation was before the general profusion of digital cams, so if I do have a pic here I'll have to scan it.

(it's difficult to explain...) And, again, it might depend on the academic dress of your particular University.

Cheers,

Michael

[saxandpipes]

This is not me!

But you can see what I mean (more or less) ;)



Cheers,

Michael

[Old Hippie]

I just got notification from my advisor that I just have four more courses to go before I graduate with my MBA from Argosy University, near Chicago.

Congratulations!

Since it's a Masters degree, I'll be wearing a stole. What neckwear goes best with these? Are there any modifications I should make to my gown? Can this be worn open? Any other suggestions?

Looks like from the picture, "open" is an option. Every university is a little different, but my experience across several of them is that undergraduates get a "stole," while Master's and Ph.D. graduands wear a "hood."

The doctoral hood is grander, in keeping with our elevated social status. (*koff*)

If you're wearing a jacket under the robe, I'd say a bow tie would be appropriate, but then I wear a bow tie almost every day (and nobody's ever called me a pansy). If you're wearing a shirt with no jacket, then probably a necktie would be adequate.

I'm gonna speculate here: It'll be a spring grad, you'll be outside in the sun and wind. Your gown will blow everywhere, as will a necktie, but you'll be nice and cool with a kilt on.

One trick I've seen to keep your hood from choking you, is to come prepared with a length of ribbon into one end of which you've sewed a buttonhole, and a medium diaper pin. Pin the hood to the ribbon, then button the ribbon to your shirt.

Some robes have a cord between buttons on either side of the collar, that is supposed to go through a loop on the hood and serve the same purpose. Experience tells me that with a hood, a tie, a tight collar, and the robes -- you'll find breathing a sufficient challenge to keep you entertained through the valedictorian's "As We March Forward Into Our Bright Future" speech. (Seriously...there's just one speech and they pass it on from one year to the next.)

I've been to a number of convocations kilted. Here in British Columbia kilts are maybe more usual attire. At any rate there are two or three other professors kilted, along with the pipers who lead the procession, of course. (We pipe them in and drum them out, recognising our British settler heritage and our place on the traditional lands of the Secwepmc First Nation).

Most Canadian doctoral gowns are open, most American ones closed. I frequently wear my American (U. of Iowa) gown open. The only comment is usually from Canadians, lamenting that THEY don't have the three contrasting velvet bars on the sleeves as I do.

When it's 90 degrees F outside, the ventilation is marvellously comforting.

:ootd:

[TheBrus]

Dr Hays,

Greetings from Iowa. Thank you for your response. I, myself, graduated from Iowa State University, and my lovely niece is currently attending the U of Iowa. Were you by any chance a Highlander?

Yours aye,
Jared Brus, Class of '00

[saharris]

In the United States, gowns are designed to be worn closed. Your Master's gown will have silly oblong sleeves (bachelors have simple sleeves and doctorates have even sillier ornate sleeves and also have three velvet bands that match the hood trim, and is color-coded for your degree (see below).

Your hood tells your degree and the institution conferring it. Your hood will be 3-1/2 feet long (3' is for a bachelor's and 4' is for a doctorate). The trim of your hood (that's the velvet part that goes around your neck and down your back) will be 3-inches wide (2" is for a bachelor's and 5" is for a doctorate), and should be a dark grayish-brown color (which signifies a degree in commerce, accountancy, or business). The silk lining of your hood (which lays open on your back) will be in the colors of your school and in a specific pattern assigned to just your school (I'd guess some form of green and gold for Argosy University).

[Old Hippie]

I, myself, graduated from Iowa State University, and my lovely niece is currently attending the U of Iowa. Were you by any chance a Highlander?

Both are good schools.

And no, I didn't hit Iowa City until 2000 -- long after the Highlanders had succumbed to that fearsome weapon, The Budgetary Axe.

I do recall an effort to revive the band, but the university was being pretty coy about diverting funds from the production of cast bronze plaques honouring major donors.

:ootd: