Graduation Outfit

Jackfire

Hi,

Sorry if this has been asked previously, but I searched and couldn't find anything.

On the description for the clothes required for the Graduation, men are told that they:
"must wear dinner jackets or full evening wear (tuxedo), white shirt, black or white bow tie
(clergy or military excepted), hood and gown, cap (optional)."

It might sound like a stupid question, but I'm really not sure what qualifies for a dinner jacket... is it just a suit jacket? i.e., something that I'd have worn to weddings in the past, say. And if it is just a suit, once I wear a white shirt and black or white bow tie with it, I should be sorted then?

Thanks

Tears in Rain

Technically a dinner jacket is just what you might know as a tuxedo jacket, it's the same thing you'd be wearing over your shirt if you rented a 'tuxedo' or a 'black tie' suit. It's not the same thing as a suit jacket.

However, if you have a black suit jacket, you'd probably get away with it, and most wouldn't even notice. If it's just a dark suit (i.e. dark gray or navy), then you will stick out, and you might feel like a bit of a berk when everyone else is wearing black tie. Doubly so if it's a lighter coloured suit.

Jackfire

Thanks a million for the detailed reply - will have plenty of time to get that sorted before November now.

Ravelleman

My experience of graduation is that the guidelines are not taken seriously by students or college. At mine there were people wearing regular suits with neckties of differing colours and nobody cared.

jd83

I wore a regular suit with dress shirt and bow tie. They only care that they get their graduation fees. They dont take it too seriously you would probably get away for this :

Tears in Rain

Ravelleman-

Weird, the graduation I attended, everyone (I can't think of a single exception to this) was wearing black tie with bow tie, I can't think of a single exception to this, not even a 'black suit, white shirt, black necktie'. These were CS'ers too, so not ones to conform to fashion conventions at even the best of times.

That said, if your experience differs from mine, I can't really argue with that...

Larianne

Was only talking about this the other day. Are they really strict on wearing either black or white? I'm not a fan. Would like to wear red. Would that be a big no no?? :cool:

Ravelleman

All the girls wore black or white at mine. Red could stretch it but do whatever you want.

As for suits, a lot of it is covered by the gown anyway so it won't really be under much scrutiny.

Kwekubo

I'm pretty sure red would be a no-no. Sure, you have a whole year to keep your eyes peeled for a nice black and white ensemble

Larianne

I don't like wearing black though. Might just wear a mimes outfit! Show them how ridiculous the rule is. :pac:

El Siglo

At mine one or two of the lads who owned black suits just wore them and bought self-tie dickey bow for 3 quid on Amazon. So it's very doable on the cheap. That said, conventions are conventions and everyone did wear black and white, and you would stick out like a sore thumb otherwise.

Larianne, if you think that's bad you should see the dress code they have for the Four Courts, it's like something out of secondary school. All suits/dresses to be black or very dark blue/navy, skirts should fall below the knee, arms are to be covered. So, trust me they aren't that bad in Trinity for these kinds of regulations!

gutenberg

Larianne wrote: »

I don't like wearing black though. Might just wear a mimes outfit! Show them how ridiculous the rule is. :pac:

I also think that red is a no-no. However you can have a lot of fun with the black-and-white thing, girls at my graduation were wearing dresses with big bold patterns like stripes and polka dots, and there were some great black & white shoes going around. I though the black&white thing was very restrictive until I attended my Master's graduation at my current university, where the dress code is strictly a black skirt, black tights, a white long-sleeved shirt and black formal shoes (i.e. no boots or even strappy-type shoes) :eek: While you are restricted in terms of colour palette in Trinity, you are very much at liberty with the style of your clothes.

bradyle

Larianne wrote: »

Was only talking about this the other day. Are they really strict on wearing either black or white? I'm not a fan. Would like to wear red. Would that be a big no no?? :cool:

Sadly everyone sticks to that rule...I know its a complete pain but in the end I decided that risking a different colour dress was not worth the hassle and worry of them refusing to let me take part.

I did go for coloured shoes though...green to match my cape thing...A few girls did that least it allowed a bit of break!