Olivia Russo
Editor-in-Chief
As the spring 2026 semester draws to a close, seniors have to think about the incoming graduation to celebrate their accomplishment at the University of La Verne. However one of the questions they ask themselves in preparation for the ceremony is what do they wear under their gown.
For some students, finding the perfect dress can feel like a Herculean task. Trying to work with the constraints of the dress code, the color of regalia and however the weather is set to be that day.
ULV does not have an official dress code, students are required to wear the regalia they have purchased, but everything else except the shoes are up for the graduate to decide. There is a strict no stiletto or pointed heels policy. In fact, if a graduate shows up with these shoes, they will be denied access to the field. Wedges, block heels and flats are recommended instead.
In terms of the color of regalia, ULV chooses black caps and gowns, so it leaves the color for students up to interpretation, the only true obstacle they have in their way is that of the weather. However, if students search up graduation dresses online or on various social media platforms, they’re met with many photos and videos of girls wearing short white dresses of various styles. Even just searching different online stores, white is the only color that comes up when looking for graduation dresses.
The color white for graduation dresses is a widely accepted rule that is not actually a rule. It has its origins in the 19th century, according to National Geographic, when female suffragists would wear white because of its symbolism of youth, purity and moral virtue; as well as its timelessness.
Additionally, wearing a white dress has more specific roots within colleges and universities. In the latter half of the 19th century, it was traditional for women to wear white for their graduations along with initiation ceremonies into sororities and honor societies. Spelman College established a policy for wearing white in 1900, stating that the “…tradition established a uniformed appearance among those present and denoted the significance of the occasion or event.”
For some graduating students, this white may not be an obligation, but it does feel like one.
“I’m kind of expecting everyone else to wear a white dress,” Kat Bloomer, senior business administration major, said. “I would not feel as compelled to wear a white dress if I didn’t think that everyone else was wearing a white dress.”
However, some of the students planning to wear white for their graduation tradition is not a part of their reasons for picking their dress.
“The jackets tend to be a darker color so white or cream just seemed the best that would look good with it,” Nyla Barzaga, junior psychology major, said. “Also if it’s a form fitting dress, then it looks good against the gown, so that’s a big reason why I want to white and I think a lot of people do white.”
On the other hand, some students do not feel that they need to fit inside the box of a white graduation dress. Including that of Janira Hernandez, senior creative writing major, who shared that a tradition has nothing to do with her.
“I just don’t really care about it,” Hernandez said. “To me, this event is more about what I want to wear rather than traditions. I think traditions are sometimes outdated.”
Some other students also are choosing to focus more on their culture than a tradition that is really only talked about.
“I am a colorful girl who wants to wear color,” Wintana Tsegaye, junior legal studies major, said. “I also want to wear my traditional culture wear under my gown.”
Tsegaye also shared that the white tradition seemed outdated and compared the color to a wedding.
“It’s kind of weird that women have to wear that color but men just get to wear a suit and be boring,” Tsegaye said.
“I already feel like graduation is a special event for everyone so I want to stand out,” Amyah Smith, junior political science major, said.
Olivia Russo can be reached at olivia.russo@laverne.edu.
Olivia Russo is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print/online journalism and a minor in criminology. She is the Editor-in-Chief for the Campus Times for Spring 2026. She has previously served as the News Editor, LV Life Editor, a photographer and a staff writer for the Campus Times, as well as a staff writer and photographer for La Verne Magazine.
