A doctoral hood drapes over your head and shoulders with the velvet side facing up, the small tapered end hanging in front, and the larger open end cascading down your back to display your university’s colors. Getting it right takes about two minutes once you know the orientation and how to secure it, but most graduates don’t practice beforehand and end up fumbling with it in a parking lot. Here’s exactly how to put it on and keep it in place through the ceremony.
Parts of the Hood
A doctoral hood has three distinct sections that each communicate something different. The velvet border running along the outside edge represents your field of study. For a Doctor of Philosophy, that velvet is dark blue. For a Doctor of Education, it’s light blue. Other disciplines have their own assigned colors.
The silk lining visible when the hood hangs down your back displays the colors of the institution that granted your degree. This is the part the audience sees most clearly when you walk across the stage. The shell (the outer fabric) is typically black, matching your gown.
At the front, a narrow tapered panel hangs down your chest. At the back, the hood opens into a wide cowl shape. Some hoods also have a small cord or loop at the front tip and a separate cord with a button at the back near the neckline.
Step-by-Step: Putting the Hood On
Start before you zip up your gown. This matters because you’ll need access to your shirt buttons and the inside of the gown to anchor the hood properly.
- Check the orientation. Hold the hood in front of you and find the velvet border. The velvet side goes up (facing the ceiling when you’re wearing it). The silk lining faces down and will be visible hanging behind you.
- Slip it over your head. Pull the hood on like a very loose turtleneck. The small, tapered end should fall down your front. The wide, open cowl drapes down your back.
- Attach the front cord first. If the tapered front tip has a small loop or cord, fasten it to a shirt button before you close your gown. This single step prevents the hood from riding up against your throat during the ceremony. Some gowns have an interior button near the left side by the zipper specifically for this purpose.
- Secure the back cord. Look for a cord or button loop near the back neckline of the hood. Fasten it to the corresponding button to keep the hood from sliding off your shoulders when you move, sit, or lean forward.
- Close your gown. Zip or button the gown over the front attachment point so the cord is hidden.
Both attachment points serve different jobs. The front cord stops the hood from pulling backward against your neck. The back cord stops it from slipping off your shoulders entirely. Use both if your hood has them.
Adjusting the Drape
Once everything is fastened, check the back in a mirror or ask someone to help. The silk lining should be clearly visible, with your university’s colors showing. The hood should lie relatively flat against your upper back without bunching up around your neck.
If the hood sits too high and the cowl bunches near your collar, the front cord may be too tight or attached too high on your shirt. Try fastening it to a lower button. If the hood keeps sliding to one side, the back cord likely isn’t secured. Reach behind your neck and feel for the button and loop.
Keeping the Hood in Place All Day
Graduation ceremonies involve a lot of sitting, standing, and walking in a line. The hood will shift. A few practical fixes help.
If your hood doesn’t have built-in cords, or the cords don’t reach the buttons on your shirt or gown, a small safety pin can substitute. Pin the front tip of the hood to your shirt at chest level, and pin the back neckline of the hood to the gown’s collar. Place pins where the gown covers them so they’re invisible.
Avoid taping the hood to your gown. Tape tends to release in warm weather and can leave residue on rental regalia (which may cost you a cleaning fee). Bobby pins work in a pinch for lightweight adjustments but won’t hold a full doctoral hood, which is heavier than a master’s hood due to the longer length and wider velvet trim.
When you sit down, the cowl will pool behind you on the chair. This is normal. When you stand, give the hood a quick tug at the back to resettle it. Practice this motion once or twice so it feels natural on stage.
What to Wear Underneath
A collared dress shirt works best because the buttons give you anchor points for the hood’s cords. A crew-neck shirt or blouse without buttons makes it harder to secure the front loop. If you’re wearing something without buttons, plan on using a safety pin instead.
Dark clothing underneath the gown minimizes any visible contrast at the neckline. The hood already adds a layer of fabric around your neck and shoulders, so lighter fabrics help with comfort, especially at outdoor ceremonies.
When the Hood Goes On
At some universities, doctoral candidates wear their hoods from the start of the processional. At others, a faculty advisor or the dean formally places the hood over your head on stage as part of the hooding ceremony. If your school does a hooding, you’ll carry the hood folded over your arm during the processional and hand it to the person hooding you when you reach the stage. They’ll drape it over your head, and you may need to quickly adjust the front cord yourself while standing at the podium.
Check with your graduate school’s commencement office beforehand so you know which format to expect. If you’re being hooded on stage, practice the handoff once with whoever will be hooding you. It takes five seconds and avoids an awkward pause in front of the audience.