Welcome to the final installment of The Accessory! Before diving into the main content, I want to say how much this blog has meant to me throughout the school year. I couldn’t have created the pieces I did without your interviews and support. I enjoyed talking with everyone and am excited to see what the blog will become next year.
The Riley Style
The final interviewee of this season of The Accessory is none other than senior Riley Forster. I specifically chose Riley to be the last because, as a senior, she embodies graduation fashion, and she’s also probably my best friend—someone who has supported me throughout my life, including with this blog. But enough with the sentimental stuff; let’s get to the fashion. Riley describes her style as wearing anything she finds “comfortable and cute.”
Riley shops frequently at Marshalls and Hollister. Her wardrobe also includes brands like American Eagle and other stores from the Great Northern and South Park malls. Riley says she goes thrifting “maybe once or twice a month” (usually with me when she does). Our main thrifting spots are Value World and Savers.
Riley also indulges in the guilty pleasure of shopping on SHEIN. Riley’s style aligns with the “clean girl aesthetic.” “It makes me feel clean and put together because it’s simple,” she added. Riley plans to wear “a simple white dress” for graduation.
Riley’s jewelry is “simple, but not so simple that you can’t see it,” meaning it’s noticeable without being overpowering. She tends to favor dainty pieces and often receives jewelry as gifts from her boyfriend, friends, or family. Riley prefers gold jewelry.
The Graduation Style: The Gowns
Most people know that you wear a “cap and gown” for high school and college graduations. According to History.com, this tradition dates back to the 12th century, when scholars wore robes and gowns to stay warm in drafty buildings. While this is just a theory, it makes sense given the historical context.
Different sleeve shapes indicated varying levels of academic achievement. According to History.com, “In the 19th century, a group of American colleges and universities attempted to standardize their gowns, paying particular attention to the sleeves. Their ‘Intercollegiate Code of Academic Costume,’ published in 1895, prescribed pointed long sleeves for bachelor’s degree recipients, long closed sleeves for master’s degrees, and round open sleeves for doctor’s degrees. All gowns were to be black, period.” It’s interesting that college gowns were traditionally all black, whereas most colleges and high schools now opt for colors that match their school, such as the purple gowns worn at Lakewood High School.
Decorated Caps
Decorating caps with messages, popular sayings, characters, or themes is a long-standing tradition. Many high schools and colleges offer free art supplies for students to personalize their caps, reflecting its popularity. I plan to decorate mine after graduation. Fun fact: this tradition began in the 1960s as a way to promote anti-Vietnam War sentiments and emphasize the need for peace.
The Little White Dress
We all know what to wear over clothes for graduation, but there’s often debate about what to wear underneath the robe and cap. Most websites recommend “business casual” attire. While dressing up for a significant milestone like graduation makes sense, questions often arise about what women should wear—specifically, how to find something that matches the robe’s color without being plain black. This is where the “Little White Dress” (LWD) comes into play.
What Should You Wear To Graduation?
Focusing on the business casual aspect of graduation attire, here are some recommendations for what you should wear when you graduate. A simple dress that complements the long gown creates a seamless and timeless silhouette, making the dress and gown appear as one. Shorter dresses are preferred because they look better under the gown, but maxi dresses can work too. Recently, I’ve seen cute white dresses at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Aeropostale, American Eagle, and Aerie. I suggest checking Forever 21 online, though they’re going out of business, so selection may be limited.While there’s some controversy surrounding SHEIN, Romwe is also a reputable source for graduation dresses. Remember, your dress doesn’t have to be white!
For the guys, a nice button-down and khaki shorts are probably your best bet. I have seen a ton of graduation-appropriate wear at American Eagle and Aeropostale recently. Go to your local mall, and invest in a pair of nice shorts and a nice button-down for semi-formal occasions. You can reuse these pieces for college or for a date.
Parting Words
I feel like it would be fun to thank some people who made this blog what it was. First off, I’d like to thank Ms. Garritano for suggesting I run a fashion blog; I’d like to thank my editor Del for putting up with the remarkably long pieces I’ve created all school year; I’d also like to thank my mom for running some of my earlier pieces through her professional Grammarly so my editor had less work to do. The final person I’d like to thank is my boyfriend, who reads EVERY piece I put out. Alright, bye y’all, for the final time!
