Think of it as a bespoke suit.

[willowroot]

I just dropped over $850 on purchasing my doctoral cap, gown and tassel (gold bullion thread, really? c'mon...) for commencement in April.

I was expecting about half that cost, but given that the material looks to be actual silk, as opposed to the polyester blend I had for my bachelor's gown, I'm considering this an investment in my professional academic wardrobe.

Honestly, that's about the same as I spent for my last suit, although I did get several shirts, ties, and a pair of shoes in the package as well...

Comments

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

It *IS* an investment in your professional wardrobe, no doubt about that! Unlike a crappy undergraduate rental, you can expect to wear this one at least once or twice a year as long as you're on the faculty somewhere. And in those few rarefied academic situations, proper regalia enhances your street cred. For serious.

[flinx.livejournal.com]

I'm now envisioning a posse of PhD professors strutting down the street in their regalia in all the colors of the sedate rainbow, living tha academic thug life... methinks that music video needs to be made!

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Most of the purchase price of a doctoral gown actually gets down to workmanship labor costs, rather than materials. Yes, the gowns are typically made of good quality materials, but it's the nine million hand-stitched cartridge pleats that gather the robe to the collar yoke that really rack up the cost.

[flinx.livejournal.com]

Good point that. Yeah, the cartridge pleats are going to be piece of work, especially on my frame.

[georgmi.livejournal.com]

Bright side is less need to replace/re-tailor the thing if/as life affects your waistline. :)

[jadesfire55.livejournal.com]

Holy cripes! I would never have expected such a high price. Whoa.

[yeopard.livejournal.com]

Yikes! That's huge! I guess they're expecting you to be walking the red carpet with E! entertainment waiting to interview you afterwards....wow.