G r ad D r e ss e s i n C a n ada f or t he C e r e mony I ts e l f : W ha t W or k s U n de r t he G own , on S t age a n d i n P h otos F or most o f a g r ad u a t i on ce r e mony , t he d r e ss you p icked s i ts un de r a z i pp ed g own t ha t e n d s a roun d m id - ca l f T he a u die n ce a n d t he ca m e r a s s ee only t h r ee p a rts o f i t : t he op e n i n g a t your c oll a r , w ha t e v e r fa lls be low t he g own ' s he m , a n d your s h o e s T he w h ol e d r e ss a pp ea rs l a t e r , w he n t he g own c om e s o ff f or fa m i ly p ic tur e s a n d t he r e st o f t he da y T ha t cha n ge s t he qu e st i ons wort h a s ki n g A ce r e mony d r e ss ha s to l ie f l a t un de r a ro be , loo k t id y w he r e t he n eck l i n e m ee ts t he g own , ge t t h rou gh a lon g pro g r a m i n a chai r a n d a s e t o f st age st e ps w i t h out adj ustm e nt , a n d su i t b ot h t he g own c olor a n d t he pl ace w he r e p h otos w i ll be t ake n S h ort a n d k n ee - l e n g t h d r e ss e s w i t h a str ea ml i n ed s ha p e m ee t t h os e de m a n d s most ea s i ly A f loor - l e n g t h d r e ss ca n wor k too , b ut r ead your s ch ool ' s d r e ss g u ida n ce fi rst , beca us e som e C a n adia n high s ch ools a n d un i v e rs i t ie s di s c our age lon g d r e ss e s a t t he ce r e mony i ts e l f W ha t a z i pp ed g own hide s a n d w ha t st a ys i n v ie w G r ad u a t i on g owns a r e c ut loos e a n d fa ll to rou gh ly m id - ca l f ; t he U n i v e rs i ty o f L e t hb r idge , f or on e , gi v e s m id - ca l f a s t he l e n g t h o f i ts acade m ic g own S i mon F r a s e r U n i v e rs i ty t e lls g r ad u a t e s t ha t t hei r g owns z i p c los ed , w i t h d o c tor a l g owns a s t he op e n e x ce pt i on Z i pp ed d o e s not m ea n i nv i s ib l e , t h ou gh W e st e rn U n i v e rs i ty r e m i n d s g r ad u a t e s t ha t p e opl e st i ll s ee w ha t t he y w ea r un de r t he g own , a n d i t n a m e s d r e ss e s a mon g t he g oo d opt i ons S t age c ross i n g s a r e o f t e n p h oto g r a p hed W e st e rn s a ys p ic tur e s a r e t ake n a s g r ad u a t e s w a l k ac ross , a n d F or e st L a wn H igh S ch ool i n C a l ga ry t e lls i ts g r ad s t ha t a p h oto i s t ake n a s each o f t he m r ecei v e s a ce rt ifica t e T ha t f r a m e ca t che s you m id - st e p , so t he c oll a r , t he he m a n d t he s h o e s a ll l a n d i n i t to ge t he r O v e r t he f ull da y , each mom e nt puts a diffe r e nt p a rt o f t he d r e ss on s h ow : M om e nt W ha t i s v i s ib l e W ha t to check i n t he d r e ss P ro ce ss i on a n d s ea t ed pro g r a m T he c oll a r op e n i n g , a ny fab r ic be low t he g own ' s he m , your s h o e s T he b o dice edge a t t he c oll a r , a n d w he t he r t he s ki rt f ol d s w i t h out b un chi n g w he n you s i t C ross i n g t he st age T he s a m e t h r ee a r ea s i n mot i on , o f t e n p h oto g r a p hed a s you t ake your ce rt ifica t e R oom to c l i m b st e ps i n str ide , a he m c l ea r o f your fee t , s h o e s t ha t g r i p P ortr ai ts i n ca p a n d g own F ace , c oll a r a n d n eck l i n e i n a c los e f r a m e T he n eck l i n e i ns ide t he g own ' s op e n i n g a n d i ts c olor agai nst t he g own , h oo d or stol e P h otos af t e r t he g own c om e s o ff T he f ull d r e ss , i n c lu di n g back a n d b o dice de t ai ls C r ea s e s f rom s i tt i n g , t he back o f t he d r e ss , a n d h ow t he c olor loo k s i n t ha t l igh t S h ort , k n ee - l e n g t h or lon g un de r a m id - ca l f g own L e n g t h decide s h ow mu ch o f t he d r e ss j o i ns t he g own i n e v e ry ce r e mony p h oto S h ort a n d k n ee - l e n g t h he ms fi n i s h ab ov e t he g own ' s edge a n d v a n i s h be n ea t h i t , l ea v i n g t he ro be , your low e r l eg s a n d your s h o e s to m ake up t he loo k A m idi he m t ha t r eache s p a st m id - ca l f s h ows a s a str i p o f fab r ic un de r t he ro be A f loor - l e n g t h s ki rt s h ows i n f ull a n d m ee ts e v e ry st ai r on t he w a y to t he st age T he g r ad u a t i on g u ide f rom E ch o E v e n i n g s , a f orm a lw ea r b out i qu e i n C a l ga ry , a rr i v e s a t t he s a m e pl ace f rom t he d r e ss s ide I t tr ea ts s h ort a n d m i n i s ha p e s a s c om f ort ab l e un de r a g own a n d ea sy to mov e i n , a n d i t not e s t ha t a str ea ml i n ed s i l h ou e tt e usu a lly s i ts un de r a ro be mor e c om f ort ab ly t ha n a v e ry f ull or hea v i ly stru c tur ed on e , w hich ca n fee l r e str ic t i v e T he r ea son i s m echa n ica l : e v e n a roomy g own ha s to c los e ov e r t he s ki rt , a n d a st iff or volum i nous s ki rt ha s to f ol d be n ea t h i t e v e ry t i m e you s i t d own F loor - l e n g t h i s w he r e s ch ool rul e s c om e i n F or e st L a wn H igh S ch ool st a t e s t ha t lon g d r e ss e s a r e not a ppropr ia t e a t i ts g r ad u a t i on e x e r ci s e s beca us e t he ce r e mony i s a n acade m ic o cca s i on , a n d t he U n i v e rs i ty o f L e t hb r idge ad v i s e s agai nst lon g d r e ss e s a t c onvo ca t i on beca us e r ega l ia ge ts w a rm T he C a l ga ry b out i qu e ' s g u ide , b y c ontr a st , p ai rs f loor - l e n g t h styl e s w i t h f orm a l ce r e mon ie s a n d e v e n i n g ce l eb r a t i ons , so t he r igh t ca ll de p e n d s on w he r e you g r ad u a t e W he r e no rul e a ppl ie s , a lon g d r e ss i s wor kab l e on st age a s lon g a s you ca n m a n age t he st e ps w i t h out l if t i n g t he s ki rt , s i n ce on e ha n d w i ll be b usy w i t h a ce rt ifica t e W he n you c omp a r e t he g r ad d r e ss e s C a n ada ha s to o ffe r agai nst your own ce r e mony ' s rul e s , begi n w i t h t ha t l e n g t h qu e st i on T he stor e ' s g r ad u a t i on c oll ec t i on , sol d i n i ts C a l ga ry s h op a n d onl i n e ac ross t he c ountry , ca n be n a rrow ed to s h ort , k n ee l e n g t h or lon g styl e s , w hich turns a s ch ool rul e i nto t he fi rst fi lt e r r a t he r t ha n a l a t e di s c ov e ry N eck l i n e s w he r e t he d r e ss m ee ts t he ro be O n ce t he g own i s z i pp ed , t he n eck l i n e d o e s most o f t he v i s ib l e wor k T he E ch o E v e n i n g s g u ide s i n g l e s out str a pl e ss , sw ee t hea rt a n d squ a r e n eck l i n e s , a lon g w i t h c l ea n fi tt ed on e s , a s edge s t ha t loo k pol i s hed w he r e p a rt o f t he d r e ss st a ys i n v ie w a roun d t he ro be H ow mu ch ac tu a lly s h ows c om e s d own to h ow high your g own z i ps , h ow op e n i t s i ts a t t he f ront a n d w ha t i s l a y e r ed on top o f i t S tr a pl e ss d r e ss e s ha v e a pr ac t ica l edge un de r a ro be , s i n ce t he r e a r e no str a ps to sl i p or tw i st be n ea t h t he g own ' s s h oul de rs T he tr ade - o ff a pp ea rs w he n t he g own c los e s highe r t ha n t he b o dice : t he op e n i n g m a y t he n s h ow only s ki n , a loo k som e g r ad u a t e s l ike a n d ot he rs d o not S w ee t hea rt a n d squ a r e edge s d r a w a defi n ed l i n e i ns ide t he op e n i n g w he n t he g own s i ts low e nou gh to r e v ea l t he m S tr a ps , on e - s h oul de r a n d ha lt e r styl e s de s e rv e a t e st w i t h t he g own on , beca us e e v e ryt hi n g t ha t c ross e s t he s h oul de rs e n d s up un de r t he ro be C a n adia n un i v e rs i ty c onvo ca t i ons c ommonly add a h oo d , worn ov e r t he s h oul de rs w i t h i ts su bjec t c olor on s h ow , a n d high s ch ool ce r e mon ie s m a y add a stol e or s a s h i n s ch ool c olors B ot h f r a m e t he c oll a r , a n d b ot h c ov e r p a rt o f i t A t S i mon F r a s e r U n i v e rs i ty t he h oo d i s p i nn ed to t he g own r a t he r t ha n to t he c lot he s un de rn ea t h , w hich he lps if your d r e ss ha s no b utton to h ol d i t or you woul d r a t he r not put a p i n t h rou gh de l ica t e fab r ic M ost n eck l i n e d ou b ts a r e s e ttl ed b y a qu ick m i rror check : Z i p a g own , or a loos e c o a t o f s i m i l a r l e n g t h , ov e r t he d r e ss a n d t ake a str aigh t - on p h oto f rom che st heigh t L oo k a t w he t he r t he b o dice edge s i ts f l a t i ns ide t he op e n i n g or d rops out o f s igh t be low i t D r a p e a s ca r f w he r e t he h oo d or stol e w i ll s i t a n d s ee w ha t i s st i ll v i s ib l e R each f orw a r d a s if acce pt i n g a ce rt ifica t e a n d w a t ch w he t he r t he n eck l i n e s hif ts C om f ort t h rou gh a lon g pro g r a m a n d t he w a l k ac ross t he st age C e r e mon ie s t e st a d r e ss mor e qu ie tly t ha n p a rt ie s d o , b ut f or lon ge r C onvo ca t i on p age s f rom s e v e r a l C a n adia n un i v e rs i t ie s r ai s e t he s a m e po i nts : W e st e rn U n i v e rs i ty puts i ts ce r e mon ie s a t ab out two h ours w i t h a lot o f st a n di n g a n d st ai rs , t he U n i v e rs i ty o f V ic tor ia m e nt i ons st ee p a u di tor i um st ai rs w i t h no ha n d r ai ls , a n d t he pro ce ss i on a t S i mon F r a s e r U n i v e rs i ty c ross e s c on c r e t e p a t h s a n d st e ps W ha t e v e r you w ea r ha s to c op e w i t h lon g str e t che s i n a chai r , r e p ea t ed st a n di n g a n d a w a l k you ca nnot p a us e to fi x i n f ront o f a n a u die n ce T e mp e r a tur e pulls i n two di r ec t i ons V ic tor ia de s c r ibe s i ts a u di tor i um a s usu a lly v e ry w a rm a n d a s k s g r ad u a t e s not to w ea r a jacke t or sw ea t e r un de r t he ro be , a n d L e t hb r idge gi v e s s i m i l a r ad v ice ab out hea vy c lot hi n g S i mon F r a s e r , on t he ot he r ha n d , t e lls g r ad u a t e s to fac tor i n t he w ea t he r w he n ch oos i n g w ha t g o e s un de rn ea t h , s i n ce i t i s o f t e n c ol d or w i n d y A l igh tw eigh t d r e ss su i ts t he w a rm ha ll , a n d a wr a p s a v ed f or out d oor p h otos c ov e rs t he c ol d ca s e S h o e s be lon g to t he st age p ic tur e a s w e ll L e t hb r idge d o e s not r ec omm e n d high hee ls or f l i p - f lops , w hi l e F or e st L a wn H igh S ch ool a s k s f or d r e ss s h o e s w i t h a c om f ort ab l e hee l f or c ross i n g t he st age S h o e s a lso s e t t he he m : a lon g d r e ss ch os e n f or t a ll hee ls w i ll pool on t he f loor if you sw i t ch to f l a ts f or t he st ai rs L e t hb r idge add s a sm a ll b ut us ef ul w a rn i n g t ha t i ts g owns ha v e no po cke ts , a n d su gge sts w ea r i n g som e t hi n g w i t h po cke ts or a sm a ll be lt bag un de rn ea t h A r ehea rs a l a t h om e , run i n t he or de r o f t he da y , s h ows w ha t n eed s cha n gi n g i n s h o e s , l a y e rs or styl i n g w e ll bef or e t he ce r e mony : 1. P ut on t he d r e ss w i t h t he s h o e s you pl a n to w ea r a n d s i t on a fi rm chai r f or a lon g str e t ch , st a n di n g up now a n d t he n a s if your row w e r e bei n g ca ll ed 2. W i t h out tou chi n g a nyt hi n g , check i n a m i rror w he t he r t he s ki rt ha s r idde n up or c r ea s ed a n d w he t he r t he b o dice ha s mov ed 3. C l i m b a f l igh t o f st ai rs a t a norm a l p ace w i t h out h ol di n g t he s ki rt , ca rry i n g a f ol de r i n on e ha n d t he w a y you woul d ca rry a ce rt ifica t e 4. P a us e m id - st e p a n d r each out f or a ha n d s hake w hi l e som e on e p h oto g r a p h s you f rom t he f ront 5. R e p ea t t he s i tt i n g a n d t he st ai rs w i t h a z i pp ed g own , or a lon g loos e c o a t , ov e r t he d r e ss W hi t e , b l ack or c olor : st a rt w i t h t he g own a n d t he p h oto s e tt i n g C olor a t a g r ad u a t i on wor k s i n l a y e rs : t he g own , a ny h oo d or stol e , t he d r e ss s h ow i n g a t t he c oll a r a n d he m , a n d t he backg roun d o f t he p h otos T he b out i qu e ' s g u ide l i sts t he g own , a stol e or s a s h , s ch ool c olors a n d t he p h oto lo ca t i on a mon g t he t hi n g s to c ons ide r , a n d t he y a r e ea s ie r to w eigh to ge t he r t ha n on e a t a t i m e F i n d out your g own c olor fi rst , w he t he r i t i s b l ack or a s ch ool c olor , beca us e e v e ryt hi n g e ls e w i ll s i t n e xt to i t I n t he stor e ' s g u ide , w hi t e i s t he fa m i l ia r g r ad u a t i on ch o ice , a c l ea n loo k t ha t d o e s not da t e I t ha s backi n g f rom a portr ai t s e tt i n g too : G r a n de P r ai r ie C ompos i t e H igh S ch ool i n A l be rt a r ec omm e n d s w ea r i n g w hi t e un de r t he g own f or ca p - a n d - g own portr ai ts A gai nst a da r k g own , a w hi t e n eck l i n e gi v e s a c l ea r , b r igh t edge a roun d t he face L igh t i s t he c ompl ica t i on A ca m e r a r ec or d s de t ai l only ac ross a l i m i t ed r a n ge o f b r igh tn e ss , a n d a sunny s ce n e w i t h b r igh t w hi t e fab r ic n e xt to a da r k g own ca n g o be yon d t ha t r a n ge O n ce w hi t e a r ea s a r e ov e r e xpos ed , l ace , pl ea ts or beadi n g turn i nto a f l a t p a t ch t ha t l a t e r edi t i n g ca nnot b r i n g back , w hich i s w h y portr ai t p h oto g r a p he rs mov e p e opl e i nto op e n s hade or w ai t f or t he so f t e r l igh t o f ea rly morn i n g a n d l a t e af t e rnoon A w hi t e , t e xtur ed d r e ss i s t he on e t ha t most n eed s t ha t pl a nn i n g B l ack wor k s t he ot he r w a y T he g u ide su gge sts b l ack f or e v e n i n g g r ad u a t i ons , a n d som e ce r e mon ie s a s k f or da r k c lot hi n g a nyw a y : t he U n i v e rs i ty o f L e t hb r idge w a nts s h o e s a n d ot he r v i s ib l e a pp a r e l to be da r k so t he y b l e n d w i t h t he r ega l ia U n de r a b l ack g own , a b l ack d r e ss m e r ge s w i t h t he ro be , so ce r e mony p h otos r ead a s g own a lon e a n d t he d r e ss only s h ows on ce t he g own c om e s o ff I n dee p s hade or a di m room , v e ry da r k fab r ic ca n a lso los e i ts t e xtur e on ca m e r a A c olor ed d r e ss l ea v e s t he most room f or p e rson a l i ty a n d a s k s f or t he most c oor di n a t i on A d r e ss i n a s ch ool c olor ca n ech o a stol e or s a s h , w hi l e a c ontr a st i n g s hade r ead s a s a n acce nt a t t he c oll a r a n d be low t he he m I f t he g own i ts e l f i s a s ch ool c olor , c omp a r e t he two fab r ic s s ide b y s ide i n da yl igh t , s i n ce two c los e b ut diffe r e nt s hade s ca n loo k m i sm a t ched on ce t he y a r e p h oto g r a p hed to ge t he r F or p h otos i ns ide t he v e nu e , p ic tur e s f rom your s ch ool ' s p a st ce r e mon ie s s h ow t he backd rop a n d l igh t i n g you a r e d r e ss i n g f or C a rry i n g on e d r e ss f rom t he ce r e mony i nto t he r e st o f t he da y S om e s ch ools b u i l d t he w h ol e da y a roun d on e out fi t A lt e rn a t i v e H igh S ch ool i n C a l ga ry e xp ec ts g r ad s to st a y i n t hei r g r ad u a t i on a tt i r e a ll da y , w i t h a m ea l f ollow i n g t he ce r e mony O t he rs kee p t he e v e nts a p a rt ; F or e st L a wn H igh S ch ool h ol d s prom on a diffe r e nt da t e f rom i ts ce r e mony Y our s ch ool ' s s ched ul e decide s w he t he r t he ce r e mony d r e ss a lso ha s to c ov e r e v e ryt hi n g t ha t c om e s af t e r S h ort a n d m i n i d r e ss e s , a s t he b out i qu e ' s g u ide po i nts out , ca rry on ea s i ly f rom t he ce r e mony i nto fa m i ly p h otos , di nn e r a n d p a rt ie s , a ll o f w hich m a y ha pp e n af t e r t he g own i s o ff T ha t s ec on d r e v ea l i s w he r e de t ai ls hidde n on st age fi n a lly c ount : a n op e n back , a c ors e t b o dice , e m be ll i s h m e nt on t he s ki rt S pl i tt i n g t he deci s i on he lps P ick t he n eck l i n e , l e n g t h a n d fab r ic w eigh t f or t he ce r e mony , p ick t he back a n d b o dice de t ai ls f or t he p h otos af t e rw a r d , a n d on e d r e ss ca n ha n d l e b ot h j o b s B ef or e t he fi rst fa m i ly p h oto , t ake a m i nut e a t a m i rror to smoot h c r ea s e s f rom s i tt i n g a n d r e s e t t he n eck l i n e , a n d add a l a y e r if you a r e st e pp i n g out o f a w a rm ha ll i nto w i n d I f t he ce r e mony st a n d s a lon e on i ts own da y , t he d r e ss only ha s to a nsw e r to t he g own , t he st age a n d t he portr ai ts , w hich usu a lly po i nts to a s h ort or k n ee - l e n g t h s ha p e w i t h a n eck l i n e you l ike i ns ide t he op e n i n g