What to Wear to Graduation: A Men's Guide
The gown is borrowed and the hood colour is chosen for you. The photographs, though, will sit on the family fridge for years. What you wear underneath is the part you control: the collar, the tie and the strip of shirt that frames the hood. Get those right and the whole outfit comes together.
Under a graduation gown, wear a white or pale blue long-sleeved dress shirt, a tie, dark tailored trousers and polished leather shoes. A button-front shirt gives a hood loop something to fasten to. Echo your faculty colour with the tie, or choose navy. For a hot Australian December ceremony, leave the jacket with family while you are robed.
What should men wear under a graduation gown?
A shirt and tie with tailored trousers is a strong starting point for a business casual or semi-formal ceremony. Follow your university’s stated dress requirements first, including any uniform or traditional dress guidance. Many Australian gowns are open at the front, leaving your shirt and tie visible. Even with a closed gown, your collar, cuffs and shoes still matter.
| Part of the outfit | What shows | Our choice |
|---|---|---|
| Collar and tie | The space between the hood or stole. | A comfortable dress-shirt collar and a tidy knot. |
| Shirt front | A strip from collar to waist with an open gown. | White or pale blue; keep any pattern quiet. |
| Hood loop | Usually hidden behind the tie when fitted this way. | A chest-level shirt button to support a looped hood. |
| Cuffs | Your wrists during the handshake. | Long sleeves; button cuffs, or French cuffs with cufflinks. |
| Trousers and shoes | Below the gown as you cross the stage. | Dark tailored trousers and polished shoes you can manage stairs in. |
How does the graduation hood fasten?
If your hood has a small loop at its front point, hook it over a shirt button at chest level to help stop it sliding backwards. Where the robing instructions call for it, the tie sits over the front of the hood. Let the robing staff settle the shoulders and check the finished position.
Fastenings, cap styles and tassel instructions vary. Read your university’s academic dress guide before the day; use its method for your particular hood or stole.
How do you match your tie to your faculty colour?
Find your hood colour in your university’s academic dress guide or gown booking before choosing a tie. Colours can depend on the institution, award level and subject. A colour associated with one course at one university may mean something else at another.
We would either echo the hood with a tie in the same colour family or let the hood stand out beside navy. Satin gives a smooth, dressier finish; linen adds matte texture. Aim for a deliberate pairing rather than forcing an almost identical shade. Compare the actual fabrics in daylight when you can.
| UTS study area | Hood colour | Tie to start with |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | Scarlet | Red Cherry Satin Necktie |
| Health | Fuchsia | Magenta Pink Satin Necktie |
| Business | Eau de nil grey | Silver Sage Satin Necktie |
| Communication | Uluru brown | Cocoa Brown Satin Necktie |
| Education | Jade green | Browse green ties; dark green gives a deeper contrast. |
| Design, Architecture and Building | Chartreuse | Let the hood carry the colour; choose a navy tie. |
These are UTS examples, not a universal faculty-colour chart. The suggested ties are colour-family starting points, not official or exact regalia matches.
For a US commencement with a coloured gown or stole instead of a faculty hood, use the same approach: a pale shirt, then one complementary tie colour. Navy also works when the gown supplies all the colour you need.
A clear red to echo scarlet and crimson colour families.
145 cm · 8.5 cm wide · Satin finish
Shop Red Cherry
Deep pink for a fuchsia or magenta colour direction.
145 cm · 8.5 cm wide · Satin finish
Shop Magenta Pink
A pale grey-green starting point beside a soft grey hood.
145 cm · 8.5 cm wide · Satin finish
Shop Silver Sage
A deep green contrast beside lighter green shades.
148 cm · 8.5 cm wide · Satin finish
Shop Dark Green
Browse by hood colour: red, maroon, pink, purple, blue, light blue, green, gold, yellow, orange, brown, grey and silver.
Check the length with the gown on: the tie’s tip should reach the top of your belt buckle. Our tie length guide explains the fit, and a four-in-hand knot keeps the knot compact between the edges of the hood.
Which shirt works best under a graduation gown?
White is the easiest background for a coloured hood. Pale blue is another good choice, especially with navy or charcoal trousers. Choose long sleeves, a button front and a collar that holds your knot neatly.
Try the shirt with the top button fastened and the tie on. Turn your head, sit down and raise your arms; the collar should feel comfortable and the front should lie flat. The hood rests around this area for hours. Start with our Size Finder and Slim Fit vs Classic Fit guide, then use the collar guide to choose your knot.
Windsor Royal White Non-Iron Dobby Shirt
White cotton dobby with an Italian collar. A clean base for your hood colour.
Classic Fit · 100% cotton · Button cuffs
Shop the Windsor
Carruthers White Lucious Non-Iron Shirt
A white shirt with a soft built-in collar stay and adjustable button cuffs.
Slim Fit · 100% cotton · Button cuffs
Shop the Carruthers
Riskin Light Blue Lucious Non-Iron Shirt
Pale blue for a softer shirt-and-tie combination beneath the gown.
Slim Fit · 100% cotton · Button cuffs
Shop the RiskinFor cufflinks, choose the Walters White Twill French Cuff Shirt below. The three shirts above have button cuffs. Browse all OTAA shirts for more colours and cuts.
How do you stay cool at a December graduation?
At an Australian December ceremony, the gown is an extra layer before you even start thinking about a jacket. Plan for the walk between venues and the outdoor photographs as well as the air-conditioned auditorium. The same approach works for a warm May or June commencement in the US.
Hand the jacket to family before robing. Keep it ready for photographs after the gown comes off and for the celebration afterwards. Wear one comfortable shirt underneath; avoid a waistcoat or extra layers you do not need.
Choose the tie for its look. Linen’s matte texture feels right with a summer outfit, while satin gives a smoother finish. The bigger practical change is removing the jacket under the gown. Keep the collar and knot tidy for the ceremony, then relax them once the formal photographs are done.
Bring a spare shirt if the celebrations run into the evening, and keep it with your family’s belongings. Allow time to cool down before the camera comes out; a rushed walk across campus rarely improves a shirt.
Light Blue Linen Chambray Necktie
Pale blue chambray for a sky-blue colour direction.
145 cm · 8.5 cm wide · 100% linen
Shop Light Blue Linen
Light Grey Herringbone Linen Necktie
Two-tone light grey for a quiet silver-grey pairing.
145 cm · 8.5 cm wide · 100% linen
Shop Grey HerringboneFor more warm-weather tactics, read how to stay cool in a shirt and tie and our linen tie guide, or browse linen ties.
What changes for a winter ceremony?
For a cool mid-year ceremony in Australia or a winter commencement in the US, a well-fitting jacket can sit under the gown without bunching at the shoulders. Try the layers together before leaving. Carry an overcoat for the journey and take it off indoors; avoid trapping a bulky jumper beneath the gown. Keep the same pale shirt and tie for the photographs afterwards.
What trousers and shoes should you wear to graduation?
Dark tailored trousers in navy, charcoal or grey sit neatly beneath a gown. Wear them at a comfortable waist height so the shirt stays tucked when you sit and stand. Keep bulky keys and phones from pulling the pockets out of shape.
Choose polished leather shoes you can walk in: Oxfords, Derbies or smart loafers. Black works with charcoal and dark trousers; dark brown sits well with navy. Test them on stairs before the day. Save jeans, shorts, trainers and thongs for another occasion.
Wear dark dress socks long enough to cover your leg when seated. Our guide to sock colours with a navy suit and brown shoes covers the details. You do not need to buy a new suit if your existing shirt, trousers and shoes already fit the ceremony.
What should dads wear to a graduation?
Parents do not have a gown to pull the outfit together. A navy or grey suit, or a blazer with tailored trousers, looks considered beside a graduate in academic dress. A tie is optional for many guest settings, but it earns its place in the family photograph.
Let the graduate own the faculty colour. Choose a navy tie and a white pocket square to complement the hood. It is their day; you can have the next one.
At a summer ceremony, choose lighter tailoring and carry the jacket between venues. In winter, add an overcoat for the journey and keep a blazer or suit jacket on indoors. Wear shoes you will be happy standing in after a long stretch in the audience.
A subtle navy weave that sits quietly beside a colourful hood.
148 cm · 8.5 cm wide
Shop Navy Blue Weave
Midnight Navy Blue Flat Knit Sock
Plain dark navy for graduates and guests alike.
75% combed cotton · EU 42–46 · US men’s 8–12
Shop Midnight Navy SocksWhat is a good graduation gift for him?
A tie in his faculty colour is a gift he can wear on the day and keep for his first job. For something personal, choose silver cufflinks with his initials: the left and right letters can be selected separately.
Cufflinks need French cuffs. Pair them with the Walters shirt for a complete gift, and check dispatch time on the product page before the ceremony date.
Walters White Twill French Cuff Shirt
A white cotton twill shirt made to wear with cufflinks.
Slim Fit · 100% cotton · French cuffs
Shop the Walters
Choose the left and right letters separately for his initials.
Letter-shaped cufflinks · Wear with French cuffs
Choose his initialsThe Hoffa Silver Tie Bar is another useful keepsake. Clip it through both tie blades and the shirt placket, around the space between the third and fourth shirt buttons. Keep it clear of the hood fastening. Its silver finish sits well with the cufflinks.
A simple silver clip for the tie he will wear on the day and afterwards.
5 cm long · Clip-on
Shop the HoffaNot sure of his collar size or faculty colour? An OTAA E-Gift Card is delivered by email and lets him choose. To assemble a tie-and-accessory gift, explore Build Your Bundle.
Your graduation day checklist
- Confirm the ceremony’s dress requirements and your hood, stole or gown colour.
- Try the shirt and tie together; fasten the top button and check that you can turn your head comfortably.
- Check that the tie finishes at the top of your belt buckle and the shirt stays tucked when seated.
- Polish your shoes, practise walking in them and pack dark dress socks.
- Plan where your jacket goes while you are robed, especially for a hot December ceremony.
- Follow the robing instructions for the hood loop, tie and cap; ask staff to check the fit.
Graduation outfit questions, answered
What do guys wear under a graduation gown?
A white or pale blue long-sleeved dress shirt, a tie, dark tailored trousers and polished leather shoes make a dependable outfit. A button-front shirt also helps support a hood that fastens with a loop.
Do you have to wear a tie to graduation?
A tie is a smart default, especially with an open gown, and some institutions recommend or require one. Follow the ceremony’s dress rules; the tie is an outfit choice rather than a universal graduation requirement.
What colour tie should I wear to graduation?
Echo the colour family of your hood or stole, or wear navy to let the academic colours stand out. Use your own institution’s regalia guide; faculty colours are not universal.
Should you wear a suit jacket under a graduation gown?
Wear one if the dress rules require it or the weather calls for it. In warm weather, leave the jacket with family while robed and put it back on after the gown comes off. Check that any jacket worn underneath sits comfortably.
What should I wear to a graduation in summer?
Wear a long-sleeved cotton dress shirt, a tidy tie and tailored trousers. Keep extra layers to a minimum under the gown and have your jacket ready for later photographs. A linen tie is a matte summer styling option.
Can I wear a short-sleeved shirt under a graduation gown?
Long sleeves are our choice: they give the wrist a finished appearance and work for photographs with the gown off. Choose them unless the ceremony’s dress guidance calls for something different.
What should dads wear to a graduation?
A navy or grey suit, or a blazer with tailored trousers, a pale shirt and polished shoes. Add a navy tie and white pocket square if you want a more dressed-up family photograph.
What colour shirt is best for graduation photos?
White is a versatile base beside a coloured hood, stole or gown. Pale blue also works well. Keep patterns subtle so the shirt and academic colours sit comfortably together.
Ready for the stage
Start with the shirt, find your hood colour, then choose the tie. The gown takes care of the rest.
Congratulations, graduate.
