subject: Finding The Right Graduation Cap And Gown [print this page] Graduation cap and gown apparel and academic dress in general is a traditional form of clothing that is used in academic settings, primarily in tertiary and sometimes in secondary education. They are worn by those who have been admitted to a university degree program or those that hold a status that entitles them to assume them, such as undergraduate students at certain old universities. The graduation gowns, caps and other attire is also known as academicals or in the United States as academic regalia.
In contemporary times, a cap and gown is commonly seen usually now at graduation ceremonies. Formerly, this academic dress was worn on a daily basis. In some ancient universities, to a lesser degree it still is. Today the ensembles are distinctive in ways and original to each academic institution. These generally consist of a graduation gown, which is also known as a robe, sometimes with a hood and sometimes without, and usually some kind of a cap (either a mortarboard, a tam or a bonnet). The academic dress is sometimes also worn by people in certain learned societies and in institutions as official dress or uniform.
The modern graduation caps and gowns or robe is derived from the Roba worn under the Cappa Clausa. This is a garment that resembles a long black cape. Early in medieval times, students at the European universities were in at least minor orders and they were required to wear the cappa and other types of garments. They were also restricted to being able to wear clothing that was black or another dark color.
Those gowns or robes that are most commonly worn are the types of gowns that people usually wear for Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees, and they are the same throughout the English speaking cultures. They are made traditionally of black cloth for universities, while for high schools the school colors are often worn. Some of the graduation gowns have bell shaped sleeves, and some of the sleeves are closed at the end, with the arm passing through a slit at the elbow. There are two types of yokes that are used for graduation robes. The curved yoke is more traditional, and a square or straight yoke is used for modern looks.
There is another version of the traditional graduation cap and gown called the lay type gown, which is similar in that it has long closed sleeves but does not have a yoke. Instead, there is a flap collar with the gathers underneath these types of graduation cap and gown sets.
