In a few weeks, your child will be walking across the stage to receive their high school diploma. Oh, how you have looked forward to this day. You even bought a new camera to record the event. Before your graduate leaves for the ceremony, you might want to make sure that they have dressed the part. There is nothing worse than getting back photos of your graduate and discovering that you can see the outline of their dark, rumpled clothes beneath their graduation gown.

First, you need to check with your graduate and find out if their school has instituted a dress code for the ceremony. The school may have already determined what clothes should and should not be worn on graduation day. Women might be asked to wear light-colored dresses, and men, dress slacks, a white shirt and a tie. Women will want to make sure the hem of their dress matches the hem of their graduation gown. They will also want to limit their jewelry to a select few pieces.

The school may have also determined footwear. Women might be asked to wear black flats or heels, and men, black dress shoes. Comfortable shoes that fit well are a must since graduates will be doing a lot of walking. Because footwear will be visible, flip-flops, sandals, tennis shoes and slippers are a no-no.

In addition to following the dress code, graduates should consider other factors in their choice of apparel. Graduation gowns in general are hot. Graduates should be aware of this and choose cooler fabrics to wear underneath. They don’t want to be dripping with perspiration as they cross the stage. If the graduation is taking place outside, graduates must dress for the weather. If rain has been predicted and their gown is fairly dark, they might want to wear dark-colored clothing just in case their gown bleeds. If their gown is light, they may not have to worry about the risk of bleeding and wear light-colored clothing that won’t be as visible under the gown.

In short, graduates should dress for the occasion. They should find out beforehand what everyone else is wearing and stick to that protocol. There is no need to wear an evening gown or a suit if other students will be wearing business casual clothes. Graduates do not want to stick out like a sore thumb and bring undue attention to themselves.

You want your graduate to look sharp on graduation day and that starts with the clothing they put on. Yes, their gown will cover much of what they wear, but depending upon the weight and color of the gown, some of what they wear could be visible. Make sure they select the right clothes and clean and press them. Make sure they select the right shoes and clean them. Make sure they brush their hair and wear their graduation cap so the mortarboard remains flat.

Give your graduate one final check before they leave and don’t hesitate to have them make changes as you see fit. You may not be able to control what happens after they get out of the driveway, but at least you’ll know that they looked presentable when they left.