Comments on: Shoes for the Graduation, Part 1 http://shoeblogs.com/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/ Manolo Loves the Shoes! Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:20:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: the unfashionista http://shoeblogs.com/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-444131 the unfashionista Fri, 04 May 2007 03:02:28 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-444131 I will, with any luck, graduate from the University of Maryland in a little over two weeks. I understand that graduation is a somber occasion and a tasteful, somber shoe is called for - but I have worked like crazy for four years and I want to feel superfantastic at my graduation because dammit, I deserve it. The university's colors are red and white, and black and yellow. My ideal graduation shoe is something along the lines of black and white or red and white polka dots, and I doubt that thirty years from now, anyone will tell their children, "This girl wore polka-dotted shoes to graduation and ruined the somberness of the occasion." I however, will hopefully think, thirty years down the road, "I wore polka dotted shoes to graduation and man were they superfantastic!" I will, with any luck, graduate from the University of Maryland in a little over two weeks. I understand that graduation is a somber occasion and a tasteful, somber shoe is called for - but I have worked like crazy for four years and I want to feel superfantastic at my graduation because dammit, I deserve it. The university’s colors are red and white, and black and yellow.
My ideal graduation shoe is something along the lines of black and white or red and white polka dots, and I doubt that thirty years from now, anyone will tell their children, “This girl wore polka-dotted shoes to graduation and ruined the somberness of the occasion.”
I however, will hopefully think, thirty years down the road, “I wore polka dotted shoes to graduation and man were they superfantastic!”

]]> By: quakerchic http://shoeblogs.com/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443834 quakerchic Thu, 03 May 2007 15:16:59 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443834 At my college graduation (very conservative Christian school) I wore rainbow striped tights and pilgrim style shoes. No one complained and when I walked across the stage many students applauded. Wear what you like and be happy. At my college graduation (very conservative Christian school) I wore rainbow striped tights and pilgrim style shoes. No one complained and when I walked across the stage many students applauded. Wear what you like and be happy.

]]> By: Chris http://shoeblogs.com/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443794 Chris Thu, 03 May 2007 13:53:15 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443794 Hurrah for the Professor CJ! Hurrah for the Professor CJ!

]]> By: good peasant stock http://shoeblogs.com/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443783 good peasant stock Thu, 03 May 2007 13:21:11 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443783 Yes, a little civility in the criticizing of someone's tootsies, please. And, of course, color is rarely truly captured with a flash and fluorescent lighting, so shoe and skin color may be slightly different. Mostly, I would like to know what the Manolo sees that concerns him about the quality of the shoe. I would love to be a better informed seeker of the super fantastic, and who better to explain that than our insightful shoeblogger. Yes, a little civility in the criticizing of someone’s tootsies, please. And, of course, color is rarely truly captured with a flash and fluorescent lighting, so shoe and skin color may be slightly different.

Mostly, I would like to know what the Manolo sees that concerns him about the quality of the shoe. I would love to be a better informed seeker of the super fantastic, and who better to explain that than our insightful shoeblogger.

]]> By: Professor CJ http://shoeblogs.com/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443753 Professor CJ Thu, 03 May 2007 12:14:02 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443753 I hate to cast sobriety on the Rachel's day of acknowledgment, but there is in fact a written rule. Per the American Council on Education Costume Code: "Shoes and other articles of visible apparel worn by graduates should be of dark colors that harmonize with the academic costume. Nothing else should be worn on the academic gown." But fear not - there is wiggle room in that "harmonize with;" if, for example, the Rachel attends the Tulane University, then the teal (one of that school's colors) would harmonize nicely. Surely the Rachel's school has some vibrant color she can wear. The graduation exercises have their roots in centuries of tradition. In a very real sense the robe is a uniform. Everything is dictated: cuff style, sleeve length, hood lining, lapel width, and edging material. I love the sight of my colleagues in their academic finery, and can from across the campus easily recognize the engineer from RPI (ahh, the beefeater cap!) or the musician from the Hartt School (red and white lined hood with pink edging!). Understandably, the baccalaureates with the lowly status have the simplest of costumes and desire to be more colorful. People will see your shoes. If you walk across a stage, your feet will be eye-level for many in the front rows. Wearing sneakers or flip-flops (which I see on both men and women) does not make you look festive, it makes you look cheap and immature. I suggest either a nice, dark shoe or a muted school color. Given the time of year, a tasteful sandal would be lovely. And get the pedicure, not because your feet aren't pretty, but because a bit of pampering is a nice way to reward yourself on a special occasion. I hate to cast sobriety on the Rachel’s day of acknowledgment, but there is in fact a written rule. Per the American Council on Education Costume Code:

“Shoes and other articles of visible apparel worn by graduates should be of dark colors that harmonize with the academic costume. Nothing else should be worn on the academic gown.”

But fear not - there is wiggle room in that “harmonize with;” if, for example, the Rachel attends the Tulane University, then the teal (one of that school’s colors) would harmonize nicely. Surely the Rachel’s school has some vibrant color she can wear.

The graduation exercises have their roots in centuries of tradition. In a very real sense the robe is a uniform. Everything is dictated: cuff style, sleeve length, hood lining, lapel width, and edging material. I love the sight of my colleagues in their academic finery, and can from across the campus easily recognize the engineer from RPI (ahh, the beefeater cap!) or the musician from the Hartt School (red and white lined hood with pink edging!). Understandably, the baccalaureates with the lowly status have the simplest of costumes and desire to be more colorful.

People will see your shoes. If you walk across a stage, your feet will be eye-level for many in the front rows. Wearing sneakers or flip-flops (which I see on both men and women) does not make you look festive, it makes you look cheap and immature.

I suggest either a nice, dark shoe or a muted school color. Given the time of year, a tasteful sandal would be lovely.

And get the pedicure, not because your feet aren’t pretty, but because a bit of pampering is a nice way to reward yourself on a special occasion.

]]> By: Chris http://shoeblogs.com/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443618 Chris Thu, 03 May 2007 04:59:50 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443618 Deniz goes too far, but Jeanie Dahl and Empress are both correct. Mostly, though, I am shocked that Manolo, who rightly criticized the wearing of sandals to the White House, has backed off his endorsement of protocol and tradition in the ceremonies of gravitas. The only shoes appropriate for a university graduation ceremony are black leather covering the toes, whether for men or women. Anyhow, it seems to me that the superfantastic girl would have several pairs for the day of graduation: (1) comfortable and casual for breakfast/brunch with the parents; (2) black and formal for the ceremony; (3) colorful and festive for the after-ceremony reception/lunch/supper; and of course (4) disposable for the inevitable drinking party. Deniz goes too far, but Jeanie Dahl and Empress are both correct.

Mostly, though, I am shocked that Manolo, who rightly criticized the wearing of sandals to the White House, has backed off his endorsement of protocol and tradition in the ceremonies of gravitas. The only shoes appropriate for a university graduation ceremony are black leather covering the toes, whether for men or women.

Anyhow, it seems to me that the superfantastic girl would have several pairs for the day of graduation: (1) comfortable and casual for breakfast/brunch with the parents; (2) black and formal for the ceremony; (3) colorful and festive for the after-ceremony reception/lunch/supper; and of course (4) disposable for the inevitable drinking party.

]]> By: Chris http://shoeblogs.com/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443617 Chris Thu, 03 May 2007 04:58:05 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443617 Deniz goes too far, but Jeanie Dahl and Empress are both correct. Mostly, though, I am shocked that Manolo, who rightly criticized the wearing of sandals to the White House, has backed off his endorsement of protocol and tradition in the ceremonies of gravitas. The only shoes appropriate for a university graduation ceremony are black leather covering the toes, whether for men or women. Anyhow, it seems to that the superfantastic girl would have several pairs for the day of graduation: (1) comfortable and casual for breakfast/brunch with the parents; (2) black and formal for the ceremony; (3) colorful and festive for the after-ceremony reception/lunch/supper; and of course (4) disposable for the inevitable drinking party. Deniz goes too far, but Jeanie Dahl and Empress are both correct.

Mostly, though, I am shocked that Manolo, who rightly criticized the wearing of sandals to the White House, has backed off his endorsement of protocol and tradition in the ceremonies of gravitas. The only shoes appropriate for a university graduation ceremony are black leather covering the toes, whether for men or women.

Anyhow, it seems to that the superfantastic girl would have several pairs for the day of graduation: (1) comfortable and casual for breakfast/brunch with the parents; (2) black and formal for the ceremony; (3) colorful and festive for the after-ceremony reception/lunch/supper; and of course (4) disposable for the inevitable drinking party.

]]> By: Mary http://shoeblogs.com/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443572 Mary Thu, 03 May 2007 01:07:00 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443572 Rachel's feet are elegant and her toes are just fine. The shoes will look dainty below that godawful gown. Rachel’s feet are elegant and her toes are just fine. The shoes will look dainty below that godawful gown.

]]> By: la petite chou chou http://shoeblogs.com/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443553 la petite chou chou Thu, 03 May 2007 00:06:23 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443553 Wow, I've seen feet a LOT worse than hers.... One friend of mine actually had a toe nail fungus. Probably because she never wears the superfantastic shoes. Wow, I’ve seen feet a LOT worse than hers….
One friend of mine actually had a toe nail fungus. Probably because she never wears the superfantastic shoes.

]]> By: me http://shoeblogs.com/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443506 me Wed, 02 May 2007 22:01:51 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2007/05/02/shoes-for-the-graduation-part-1/#comment-443506 Wear them. Wear them.

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