How To Dress For Graduation

Yes, put on a tie for graduation. Your cap and gown are on for the ceremony, but they come off the second it's over. You'll be taking photos with friends, family, around campus, and even with your favorite teachers or professors. You'll likely head to dinner or a party afterward. For all of that, what's under the gown is your outfit.

A tie instantly elevates the whole look. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive, even a simple solid color necktie in the right shade makes a huge difference. And let's be real, your mom is going to want a nice photo. Give her something worth framing.

When it comes to picking the right color for your graduation tie, you've got a few solid directions to go.

This is the most popular choice, and for good reason. Wearing your school's colors ties the whole day together (pun intended). It looks great in photos and shows your pride. Check out our striped neckties to find your exact shade.

If your school colors are tough to match or you want something versatile, navy and burgundy are foolproof. They work with white shirts, blue shirts, gray suits, pretty much everything.

Pattern and textured ties are a great graduation choice. Look for options in your school colors or choose subtle, timeless designs in versatile shades like blue that you can wear again for internships, interviews, and everyday work.

Graduating is a celebration. If you want to wear a bright red, dark purple, or hot lime green tie because it's your color, go for it. This is your day. Not sure which color will work best? Browse the full lineup in our tie color chart.

Both are great choices, it really comes down to your personal style.

Neckties are the classic, safe pick. They work with every outfit and every body type. If you're not sure which way to go, a necktie is never the wrong call.

Bow ties have more personality. They stand out, you can see the entire tie with a gown on, they photograph really well, and they say you put thought into your look. If you've never worn one before, our pre-tied options attach in seconds and look just like the real thing. Check out our guide to bow ties and then shop our full bow tie collection.

Still can’t decide? We have an entire graduation blog post dedicated to the great necktie vs. bow tie debate.

Your graduation tie is the centerpiece, but the rest of the outfit matters too. Here's a formula that works every time:

• Shirt: A crisp white or light blue dress shirt. Button-down collar or spread collar, either works. Make sure it's ironed; wrinkles show up in photos.
• Tie: Your graduation tie in a color that works with the shirt. Need help pairing them? Our guide on how to match your tie with a shirt breaks it all down.
• Pants: Dress pants in navy, charcoal, or khaki. Dark jeans can work too if your ceremony is more casual. Just make sure they're clean and fitted well.
• Shoes: Dress shoes or clean loafers. You'll be walking across a stage, so make sure they're comfortable.
• Optional jacket: A blazer is a nice touch but not required, especially since you'll have the gown on during the ceremony. If you skip the jacket, make sure your shirt and tie look sharp on their own.

Want to coordinate with your friend group, honor society, or entire graduating class? Matching graduation ties make for incredible group photos and a memory you'll all share. Here's how to pull it off:

Choose one to two colors that represents your group. School colors are the obvious choice, but any color works.

Our ties start under $20 each with free shipping at $50, making it easy to outfit a whole group without breaking budgets.

Not sure which gold is the right shade? Order free color swatches before you commit. Hold them up against your school colors and make sure everyone's happy before ordering.

This takes planning ahead, but custom ties are more affordable than you might think, and allow schools to add logos, school mascots, and exact school colors.

Matching ties also make a thoughtful gift from schools, parents, advisors, or club sponsors. It's a small gesture that brings a group together on a big day. For more ideas on showing school pride, check out our tips on how to show school spirit.

If you're shopping for a grad, a tie is one of the most practical gifts you can give. They're about to enter the real world (job interviews, weddings, networking) and they'll need a few good ties in their closet.

At under $20 per tie, it's a gift that doesn't break the bank. Pair it with a gift box and a nice card and you've got something meaningful.

TieMart is an online retailer of men’s neckties, bow ties and other accessories. A wide selection of pattern ties are available at TieMart, including popular paisley ties for weddings, traditional plaid ties for the office and collegiate two-color striped ties for graduation or school uniforms. TieMart ties are affordable and ship quickly from their Midwest location.