Cambridge is a place where traditions hold against the test of time. The more memorable ones are matriculation and graduation, where you sign a big, old, dusty book stored in your college library, promising that you will not break a long and convoluted set of rules, or actually receive the fruits of your labour in paper form. The actual ceremonies take all of thirty seconds, and are deceptively anticlimactic. But gowned occasions introduce a fashion conundrum that will plague you for the rest of your time in Cambridge: What the hell am I going to wear under my gown?

“You don’t want any awkward necklines, or worse, to look as if you just threw your bathrobe on”

Before we start delving into the details, any event where a gown is required is a formal event, so do dress accordingly. You will mostly wear your gown to formals, somewhat fancy three course dinners in colleges. Most students have a rotation of outfits that they know work with the gown. But before you have that to hand, I highly encourage you to try on the outfit that you are planning on wearing with your gown ahead of time. You don’t want any awkward necklines, or worse, to look as if you just threw your bathrobe on.

For colour combinations, avoid going for a monochromatic all black. If your gown is black, you will probably end up looking like a sack of potatoes, or if not – worst case scenario – a trash bag. Please avoid the black shirt under a suit. And for the few of you who have colleges that decided to do it differently, blue gowns and black clothing are okay together, but I would still opt for something else. I know it sounds boring, but white and black work for a reason. Simple, but efficient. Other colours such as burgundy or forest green can add a dimension of sophistication. You will attend your fair share of formals, so do look around to see if anyone has an interesting colour combination that you can draw inspiration from. A blouse with an interesting collar (not too frilly) or interesting pleating works great. A wrap dress does the job just fine. For men, you’ll quickly gather that any formal occasion in Cambridge will often be synonymous with a suit and tie. If you have a suit that is not the standard colour of black or navy, you will really make an impression. If not, a pocket square, accordingly matched with the tie, would really set you apart.

“A pocket square, accordingly matched with the tie, would really set you apart”

Some people tend to forget that formal events involve some sort of movement: walking, sitting down, and sometimes another fifteen physical contortions. It's important to be wary of fabrics that crease easily, such as linen or lightweight cotton; you want to avoid looking like your dress was just in the washing machine. Some of us will need to walk quite a distance to reach the adorned dining hall, so footwear is a crucial factor in how comfortable your night will be. A kitten heel or a loafer is the way to go. But for the brave high heel wearers amongst us, we will hold you in our prayers.

Perhaps overdone advice, but nonetheless crucial: make sure to accessorise! Necklaces, earrings, bangles, patterned tights, a colourful tie or cuff links could be the missing detail that makes your outfit stand out.

After all this – hopefully useful – advice, I want to make one thing clear: your outfit should make you feel confident and comfortable. Don’t be intimidated by the gown, it’s just another piece of clothing that you will eventually master the styling of. So, put your outfit on, go take some gorgeous photos, and have some fun.