Options for Grad Suit

[Canadian]

Hi guys,

I'm leaving to go to Toronto on Thursday. I will be going to my college to participate in graduation ceremonies, and I will also be doing tourist things while I am there.

I have packed a seersucker suit, a dark grey (almost black) SB suit and I plan to wear a DB PL coat on the plane paired with khakis.

I was wondering, what is the better option, considering that one is going to be wearing an academic robe for several hours, having lunch and Mass at the school and having an evening reception. It could be as cold as 9C or as warm as 22C.

I'm leaning towards wearing the seersucker pants and a dress shirt with tie, and just leaving the jacket in the cloakroom and putting it on after the academic ceremony for the evening reception. Another option is seersucker pants with the blue coat.

Any thoughts? It's a major divinity college, so there will be a lot of fellow grads wearing clerical collars. In my faith, I don't wear such a collar, and I recognize that a clerical collar with a dark suit is pretty formal.

The reception is definitely not black tie. They said for the evening, I should just wear a suit. Hence the question: seersucker, black suit or blue jacket with khakis.

C.

 

[MondoFW]

The only option I would rule out is a black suit Boring choice, go big or go home. As for the most moderate outfit, the blue jacket and khakis would be my choice, taking into account the predicted temperature. It's a timeless look too.

Call me crazy, but the seersucker pants and the blue jacket wouldn't look bad either. A blue blazer and light-colored summer trousers are a classic collegiate look that is, I think, still popular in the UK.

 

[Mathematicus]

I wouldn't say no to a black suit with a nice tie, provided the suit's fabric is not that horrible shiny polyester and has some body.
Plus, it is said that the suit is not black but dark grey, which is very classy under both natural and artificial light - it will not look like a black one.

Khakis and blue coat - personally I'd leave that look for a more casual environment and I'm not a fan of seersucker suits at all so if it were me, I'd avoid it at any cost. Personal taste apart, I think that such a light suit would look inappropriate at evening.

If one wish to recreate a "collegiate" summer look, then probably the best option would have been light grey trousers and blue coat, definitely not striped trousers or seersucker (which is not common in England).

 

[Zoukatron]

I have to agree with Mathematicus. I think it likely, from the sound of the event, that a dark grey suit would be best. I would argue that the graduation event itself is not really appropriate as an event to go big, but that's my opinion.

 

[Edward]

As a UK based academic who does three graduation ceremonies a year, I would say a dark suit is best. I tend to wear Black Lounge for Winter graduation, and in June/ July ceremonies a black or navy linen suit, with co-respondents (black and white).

 

[avedwards]

I'll add my vote for the dark grey suit too. I would wear it with a white shirt or a striped shirt with a white background. Any colour tie should work with the grey suit but I would avoid plain ties to avoid looking too dull. Cufflinks, collar bars and other accessories according to your taste. A tie clip might be useful if you won't be wearing your jacket during parts of the ceremony.

The seersucker suit sounds too casual to me. I understand that they're only considered acceptable business wear some southern states of the US. The blue jacket and khakis also sound too casual to me - more appropriate for a smart casual event.

 

[Canadian]

I wore the grey suit to the ceremony, under a robe. I wore the seersucker suit the next day while looking at tourist things.