Newcastle menswear experts Mr Munro share their graduation suit advice for North East graduates.
With graduation ceremonies having taken place across Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland and Teesside throughout the summer, one Newcastle menswear specialist says the question he’s been asked most often isn’t what suit to buy, it’s what to wear underneath a gown that still looks right in every photo.
“You’re stood there for hours, and there’ll be more photos taken that day than almost any other in your life,” said Jess Robson, co-owner of Mr. Munro.
“So it’s worth getting right, but it doesn’t need to be complicated.”
The first piece of advice is about colour, and it isn’t really about the suit at all.
“Check your university’s sash colour first. You don’t need to match it, but you don’t want to clash with it either.”
Bristol’s deep red and Leeds’ green sashes are among those he flags as worth checking before choosing an outfit. Beyond that, grey, navy and black remain the safest and most popular choices, since they work with almost any gown and any sash colour a graduate is likely to be wearing.
The second tip is about structure rather than colour. Most graduates are better off in a two-piece suit than a three-piece, since the jacket comes off under the gown for the ceremony itself.
“Nobody sees the jacket during the ceremony, so don’t spend on it. Save the money for a waistcoat if you’re going out afterwards, that’s what people will actually see in the evening photos.”
Fabric is his final consideration, given most undergraduate ceremonies fall in the warmer months.
“Lightweight wool or a linen blend gets you through a hot ceremony hall without looking like you’re melting by the time you’re on stage.”
With some North East universities’ ceremonies running into the autumn term, Mr Munro says the advice holds regardless of when in the year graduates walk.
“It’s the same three questions every time: sash, structure, fabric. Get those right and everything else takes care of itself.”
Mr Munro’s graduation suit range is available in-store in Newcastle or online at mrmunro.co.uk.
