Link to the American Academic Costume Code website
A Except for our John Wesley gown (Ready-made black with black velvet) sorry, no. Each set of regalia is a unique combination of school colors, field of study colors, and the wearer's garment preferences and measurements. Academic garments are not made until we have your specific measurements and all order details. It is not quite like having a "hands-on"seamstress in that we use our standard patterns in a large industrial plant and cannot take a tuck here and there or alter our patterns, but you do get a garment made to fit you as close as possible. If you are a hard-to-fit size it is possible that you might wish to alter the finished garment if you have unique fitting issues our abundant patterns cannot address, but we won't know until we have your measurements.
A Your bookstore may be ordering from our plant! If not, our garments could be better quality than what you've seen at your bookstore. In either case, you are smart to deal with us directly since we are the plant representative and you get the personalized service we provide, plus the high quality garments. Another plus- no sales tax for most customers! Our main plant, Oak Hall, is the source of regalia information nationwide and knows exactly what your school requires as to style, color, etc. Just tell us your school and degree- we take it from there!
A Generally 8-12 weeks, sometimes sooner depending on the season. Anything less than 6 weeks requires a RUSH surcharge of 20% (Grad season 10 weeks, more info below). If you need to wear regalia before your order can be completed, we also provide rental regalia at reasonable prices and can arrange for that in the interim. Count on us for convenience- we make it easy for you. Remember- even if you waited too long to make your upcoming event, getting it ordered means that you'll have your regalia for all future events- you'll never need to panic about ceremonies again!
A If you want the best price and quickest delivery, yes! From Feb 15-June 30 our delivery schedule is so loaded that we must add a surcharge to custom regalia orders needed within 10 weeks (by May/June graduation).
A If a person holds more than one academic degree, he or she may wear only one hood at a time. The hood worn should be appropriate to the gown. If the degrees are not equal, choose your custom regalia according to the highest degree.
A Some schools allow terminal degrees (no higher degree offered), such as MFA, to wear a doctoral robe with a masters hood. If you can verify that your school does not not have a higher degree in your field and will allow this, we will be happy to supply information on doctoral gowns.
A Sometimes we may have what you need on the shelf, especially in that crunch time in late spring when we try to anticipate the need, but don't count on it! Tams are made to your specifications, size, color, etc. These are all CUSTOM items.
A The academic code determines the colors for the velvet and satin. This is standard throughout the industry, so yes, we do provide the colors required for your school and field of study.
A Not really. We can send a brochure, but these web pages actually give you more information. Your main area of choice is fabric type, since colors are predetermined. We know the fabrics well and are happy to make suggestions to suit your needs. Optional piping is another area where you can be creative (see below). Ignore colors when you look at the style photos, as the style you choose will be made in your colors.
A All are appropriate. Choose the style features and price range you prefer.
A Doctoral gowns made from colored fabric are generally part of a distinctive "Special Regalia" that has been designed by certain prestigous universities. Unless you have a special regalia or permission from your graduating school, black is the standard. Masters and bachelors degree holders? They get any color they want, as long as it's black. :)
A Black velvet on the gown is a "default" for any doctoral degree.
A Piping is an optional colored cord that is stitched into the garment along the edge of the velvet. The academic code is silent on piping, so you are free to choose your color. For degrees below the doctorate level, piping is available for the hood only, since the gown has no velvet. It adds an extra richness to the look, and can also provide a way to distinguish your field of study (see above). Doctoral regalia may choose the option for the gown and the hood, which creates a more coordinated look. You do not have to use it, and you can elect to add it to only the gown or only the hood. Personally, I think the price is small for a very nice feature.
A The key price difference is fabric, style, extra features like corded piping, pockets, metallic tassel, etc. Schools that have adopted special regalia also designate the fabric, so those have a set price for each piece. If you need specific prices, request an academic brochure, as the included price list explains all the price options for each item- cap, tassel, gown and hood.
A Regalia with velvet and/or satin must be dry cleaned, although many of our fabrics are machine washable, allowing for easy spot cleaning.
A Sorry! Unless you have an MFA, (the highest degree in that field) they are for doctoral degree holders only. MFAs should check with their institution to make sure tams are permitted, as there is no official rule regarding MFA tams, just a growing trend in that direction. Some schools only allow them for the department head or not at all.
A Tams fit the head differently than a mortarboard. Cap size is not always accurate. It's important that you measure your head at the hat band point (see measuring instructions below). If you measure carefully and still the tam does not fit correctly, in SOME cases we can arrange a size exchange. You will need to ship it back and incur shipping charges to receive a new size. As this is a custom-made item, tams are considered non-returnable, so please measure!!
A Read through our web pages. We explain all the style choices, code requirements, describe fabrics and explain how to measure.
A We provide a "catalog" email link next to every item. This is a quick way to request a brochure or more information to order the item you found. You can also call with your order, once you have firmed up your choices.
The key measurements you need to supply are:
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2) Total height with the shoes on you would wear in the gown 3) Sleeve measurement (corresponds to a man's shirt sleeve size) This is the classic tailoring measurement which can be a little tricky if you are unfamiliar. Please see the diagram (left) as a reference. The arm must be bent and held at shoulder height in front of the chest. The measurement must be taken with a flexible tape. Start at the nobby bone in the back of the neck, go over the shoulder, around the back of the elbow to the wrist. 4) Floor clearance- how long the hem should be. Use a ruler, stand with the appropriate shoes and measure the number of inches from the floor to where you want the bottom of the hem. Anywhere from 4-12 inches is fine, it's strictly your preference. 5) Head measurement- for tams, measure 1 inch above the brow where the hat band will sit. For mortarboards, measure 1" above the ears 6) Not required, but insures a good fit- neck measurement and weight. |
A An estimated total for your order must be prepaid. Once shipped, the exact amount including shipping is invoiced, and any adjustments are made at that point. For government and school purchases that have rigid payment terms, we can make special arrangements on request.
A We are able and willing to be your source for regalia, but keep in mind that we only provide American styling. Due to risks of theft, loss and other factors, we have limited our international service area to industrialized countries with dependable delivery options. To consider us as a supplier, you must be able to provide us with a delivery method that can be guaranteed. We have many regalia customers in Canada, and are aware of the customs requirements there. For other countries, you will need to do your homework about your particular customs and duty charges. Some governments have such high duty and tariff fees that it could be costly to attempt to import regalia. Make sure you understand all the costs before committing funds to a regalia order.
A Custom-made regalia is not returnable.
DO NOT SHIP IT ANYWHERE UNTIL YOU HAVE CONTACTED US. All order questions or problems must be directed to us, the retailer, NOT our production plant which may have shipped your order.
DO NOT WEAR IT until you are sure everything is correct, as we cannot accept returns on worn garments.
If there is shipping damage, please save the packaging until our carrier has inspected it for insurance purposes.
If the garment is flawed, defective or the order is incorrect, we will replace it at no charge. Again, notify us immediately.
For a detailed customer service policy, please see our About Us page, policy section.
A We do not send swatches routinely as most of the time the choices are simple to make without swatches, saving significant funds. If you already have our brochure and fabric descriptions and still need swatches, we can make those arrangements. Keep in mind that Special Regalia (non-black) has NO CHOICE OF FABRIC.
A Our fabrics are top quality and even include exclusive fabrics that are not available from any other robe company. Although we do provide 2 natural fiber fabrics, we recommend polyester fabrics for their wrinkle resistance, durability and the ability to be spot-cleaned. Technically, polyester is machine-washable, but the special linings, velvets and trims of Academic Regalia require dry-cleaning. Here is a brief description:
Roosevelt: Available ONLY in BLACK, this ultra-light weight, silky fabric made from 100% recycled bottles is ideal for warmer climates and summer wear. Care is much easier than Tropical Wool- no moth holes, less wrinkling and lighter weight. It will withstand years of use, is snag resistant and is machine washable. Drapes beautifully!.
Tropical Wool ($): For those who value the breathability of natural fibers, this light weight wool/dacron blend fabric has a high quality fine woolen look, although it does require more care than 100% polyester fabrics.
Peachskin: A wonderfully soft and beautifully draping lightweight fabric, this polyester microfiber feels like peachskin to the touch.
Pavillion: A traditional fabric with a stately appearance. This 100% polyester faille has a slight horizontal ribbing in the texture.
Dalton Crepe is our classic robe fabric, featuring a soil release finish and better snag resistance than standard crepes. A Dalton Crepe robe maintains color brightness and releases soil more fully when washed. Draping and wearing qualities are excellent, due to the two-way texturizing- both warp and fill yarns are crimped. This double texturizing is responsible for Dalton Crepe's remarkable wrinkle resistance, its elegant draping qualities and its smooth, soft appearance. Note that the fabrics above are more lightweight and with all crepes you must be careful to avoid snags and pilling. Machine washable.
Venture is woven of 100% polyester Visa fibers by Milliken and is specially treated to release soil and stains during laundering. Venture is woven to be exceptionally durable. It is snag resistant, moderately wrinkle resistant, machine washable and requires little ironing, if at all. A flat-finish fabric similar to a cotton broadcloth, Venture's weight and stiffer drape lends itself beautifully to garments requiring greater fabric body.
Regency Poplin: This economical fabric is a sturdy 65% fortrel and 35% cotton. We do not recommend choosing Poplin as it has a heavy stiffness that is not the best choice for a soft-draping robe, but the budget price is appealing. Due to the cotton content it wrinkles easily and the color can fade with time so should be stored with care. This is an economical solution for those who cannot wear polyesters.
Aristocrepe (acetate) is still available but we don't recommend it except to match an existing acetate garment. Polyesters have replaced the old acetate standard, which was memorable for its tendency to shred and fade or change color entirely.
If you've narrowed your choices of fabric and need to see a sample, we would be happy to send it to you with a minimal deposit (refunded when fabrics are returned), but many times orders are placed based just on the fabric descriptions, since color is not usually an option.
The origins of academic regalia date back to the 12th and l3th centuries, when universities were taking form. The first gowns were patterned after the dress of the cleric and were believed to be a necessity for warmth in unheated buildings. Hoods were designed to serve as cover for the tonsured head. Caps were not used at that time. It wasn t until late 19th century that colors were assigned to signify degrees. The color used should be indicative of the subject to which the degree pertains. For example, the velvet for the degree of Master of Science in Education should be light blue, representing education, rather than gold, representing science. No academic hood should ever represent more than a single degree.
In the case of the Ph.D. degree, the dark blue color is used to represent the mastery of the discipline of learning and scholarship in any field that is attested to be the awarding of this degree and is not intended to represent the field of philosophy. For all academic purposes, the colors associated with the different disciplines are as follows:
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Accountancy- Drab Agriculture- Maize Anthropology- Gold Architecture- BlueViolet Arts- White Audiology- Spruce Green Biochemistry- Gold Business Administration- Drab Chiropractic- Grey City Planning- BlueViolet Civil Engineering- Orange Commerce- Drab beige Communication- Crimson Counseling & Guidance- Lt Blue Criminal Justice- Midnight Blue Dentistry- Lilac Divinity- Scarlet Dramatic Arts- Brown Economics- Copper Education- Light Blue Engineering- Orange English- White Family and Consumer Services- Maroon (was Home Economics) Fine Arts- Brown Foreign Service- Peacock Blue Forestry- Russet History- White |
Humanities- White Journalism- Crimson Jurisprudence- Purple Law- Purple Letters- White Library Science- Lemon Literature- White Medicine- Hunter Green Music- Pink Nursing- Apricot Oratory (Speech)- Silver Optometry- Seafoam Pharmacy- Olive Green Philosophy- Ph.D. Blue (Dark Blue) Physical Education- Sage Green Physical Therapy- Teal Public Administration- Peacock Blue Public Health&- Salmon Physics- Gold Science- Gold Social Work- Citron Speech- Silver Theology- Scarlet Urban Planning- Blue Violet Veterinary Science- Grey |
| Discipline | Color | ||
| Architecture (M.Arch.) | Violet |  | |
| Agriculture | Maize |  | |
| Arts, Letters, Humanities | White |  | |
| Commerce, Accountancy, Business | Drab |  | |
| Dentistry | Lilac |  | |
| Economics | Copper |  | |
| Education | Light Blue |  | |
| Engineering | Orange |  | |
| Fine Arts (including B.S.Arch.) | Brown |  | |
| Forestry | Russet |  | |
| Journalism | Crimson |  | |
| Law | Purple |  | |
| Library Science* | Lemon |  | |
| Medicine* | Green |  | |
| Music | Pink |  | |
| Nursing | Apricot |  | |
| Oratory (Speech)* | Silver Gray |  | |
| Pharmacy | Olive Green |  | |
| Philosophy | Dark Blue |  | |
| Physical Education | Sage Green |  | |
| Public Administration | Peacock Blue |  | |
| Public Health* | Salmon Pink |  | |
| Science | Golden Yellow |  | |
| Social Work | Citron |  | |
| Theology | Scarlet |  | |
| Veterinary Science (D.V.M.) | Gray |  |
Information obtained from the American Council of Education Academic Ceremony Guide
More details available at http://www.acenet.edu/faq/costume_code.html
Complete Regalia order form
Academic gown order form | Academic hood order form | Academic cap order form
Thank you for your interest in regalia from The Robe Shop! Please let us know how we can help you!
Back to Academic Robe page, with photos of available styles
