There is more than meets the eye to the proper way to wear tassels, caps, and gowns for your graduation day. Each academic level of degree has different attire, and these may be caps, hoods, gowns, and tassels in different colors, fabrics, and designs. For example, someone who is graduating with a Masters degree might wear black silk attire lined with white silk and a hood. A graduate with a Bachelors degree might wear black lined with orange or without an accenting color at all.
The academic dress worn in the United States today usually consists of a gown or robe, a hood, and a cap. Dress underneath the robe is formal and subdued; men should wear dress slacks with a tie and females usually wear black dress or another dark color. If you are graduating with attire that requires wearing a hood, it should be placed over your head so that it drapes down from your shoulders, laying over the back of your robe. If you also have a border to wear, that should be worn on the outside. The lining of the hood needs to be turned out so that any colors are prominently displayed. To do this, turn the velvet trim to the outside at your back, just below your shoulders. There is a cord on the back of your hood that will help to keep it in its rightful place.
There is a cord that you will see on the front of your hood. This is used to keep it away from your neck. You should fasten the cord to a dress button or to the robes zipper. Modern day scholars display their academic achievements by wearing these hoods at commencements. University regalia should comply with guidelines set by the Committee on Academic Customs and Ceremonies. The tassel is a small but mighty accessory that is more commonly worn for ceremonies, and they usually are different colors to represent the school that is being graduated from. There are some schools that recognize certain clubs and organizations with a different color tassel. For example, the school colors might be black and red, but the members of the schools chapter of the National Honor Society might wear white tassels.
The caps that are worn are commonly worn incorrectly, usually by women. Many women wear the caps to the far back of the head. The proper way to wear them is to have them right across the forehead, properly straightened and held in place with bobby pins if necessary. The mortarboard should be parallel to the floor to be properly worn. The tassels hang on the right side before ceremonies take place, and are usually moved along with classmates during the ceremony to the left.
