DRESS UP OR DOWN?

Dear China, Mai-Mai And Tingting,

I am graduating this month and I want to know what kind of formal dress I should wear under my toga. What cut, design and color would suit a black toga? Should it be plain or with designs? Light or dark color?

Sophie

Ask your professors to define formal for you first. Depending on the school you’re graduating from, the time of day and the number of graduates, formal may mean a gown, an ankle-length dress or just something below the knee. After you’ve had it defined, then your options are wide. Stay away from the layered skirt or ones with petticoat because it might bulge under your toga. Apart from that, you’re free to wear whatever your heart desires.

China

I don’t think it really matters what you wear under the toga because it’s going to be covered anyway. Do you have a graduation ball after? If you do, then what is the dress code? Are you encouraged to wear a gown or a cocktail dress? If you don’t have a ball after graduation, what are your other plans? Are you going out with your family after? Or are you going to have the celebration in the house? In choosing your dress, think of your activities and graduation rites. Congratulations!

Mai-Mai

If the school advises you to wear a formal attire, then my suggestion is for you to dress up as comfortably as you possibly can. Graduations can sometimes drag on for hours so you might as well be relaxed. It would also give you the chance to savor every moment. Dressing comfortably though doesn’t mean dressing sloppily. You shouldn’t sacrifice beauty and feeling good for comfort. The toga is the least of your worries as it will cover your dress during the ceremony anyway. You should look and feel beautiful, as well as feel comfortable in whatever celebration you are going to after the ceremony.

Tingting

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