You’ve spent years walking across Memorial Circle, dodging the Will Rogers statue when it's wrapped in red, and surviving those brutal West Texas dust storms. Now, the finish line is actually here. But honestly, nothing makes the reality of leaving Lubbock sink in quite like that first time you unzip the bag and see your Texas Tech graduation gown staring back at you. It’s more than just a piece of polyester; it’s basically the final uniform for your transition from a student to a Red Raider for life.
People usually think buying the regalia is the easy part. Just go to the bookstore, right? Well, sort of. Between the specific velvet colors for doctoral candidates and the distinct difference between a bachelor’s and a master’s sleeve, there is actually a lot of room to mess this up.
The Weird Specifics of the Texas Tech Graduation Gown
Let’s talk about the actual look. For most undergraduates, the Texas Tech graduation gown is a classic black. It’s sleek, it’s heavy, and it is notoriously prone to wrinkles. If you pull it straight out of the plastic bag on graduation morning and head to the United Supermarkets Arena, you’re going to look like you slept in a discarded accordion. Don't do that.
The sleeves are the biggest giveaway of your degree level. Undergraduates have those pointed, open sleeves. If you’re getting your Master’s, you’ve got those odd, oblong sleeves that are closed at the end—the "oblong sleeve" style. It looks a bit like you have extra wings. Doctoral students, though, get the real heavy hitters: the velvet panels down the front and the three velvet bars on the sleeves.
Why the Hood Colors Actually Matter
If you’re a graduate student, the gown is only half the battle. The hood is where the real "expert" status shows. This isn't just a random splash of color. The velvet trim on the hood represents your specific field of study.
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White usually means Arts and Letters. Drab (which is basically a tan color) is for Business. Light Blue is for Education. If you see someone with a Salmon pink trim, they’re in Public Health. Wearing the wrong color isn't just a fashion faux pas; it’s technically a misrepresentation of your hard-earned degree. The interior lining of the hood is where the school spirit lives, though—it’s always scarlet and black, the official colors of Texas Tech.
Ordering and Timing: The Stressful Part
The official provider for Texas Tech regalia has traditionally been Oak Hall, usually managed through the Texas Tech University Bookstore. You can’t just walk in the day before and expect them to have every size in stock. This is Lubbock. Thousands of people are graduating at the exact same time.
If you miss the "Early Bird" ordering window, which usually closes a couple of months before the ceremony, you’re going to pay a premium for shipping. Worse, you might end up with a gown that is three inches too short, making you look like you're wearing a caped mini-skirt. Nobody wants that in their permanent graduation photos.
The Stole of Gratitude Tradition
A lot of Red Raiders choose to wear the "Stole of Gratitude." It’s a red stole that you wear during the ceremony. The idea is that after the commencement is over, you take it off and place it around the neck of someone who helped you get through college—a parent, a mentor, or maybe that one professor who actually made sense of Organic Chemistry.
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It’s a cool tradition, but make sure you know how to layer it. The stole goes over the Texas Tech graduation gown but under any honors cords or medals you might have earned. If you stack them wrong, you’ll look like a cluttered Christmas tree.
Dealing with the Lubbock Heat and the "Arena Effect"
The United Supermarkets Arena is air-conditioned, thank goodness. But getting from the parking lot to the check-in area in May? That’s a different story. The Texas Tech graduation gown is not exactly breathable. It’s designed to look good, not to facilitate airflow.
Wear something light underneath. Seriously. Most guys wear a button-down and slacks, and most girls wear a dress that is shorter than the gown itself. If your clothes stick out from the bottom of the gown, it breaks the silhouette in photos. Also, keep in mind that the gown adds about five degrees to your body temperature the second you put it on.
The Cap and Tassel Situation
Your mortarboard (the cap) should be flat. Not tilted back like a halo, and not shoved over your eyes like a beanie. The point should be centered in the middle of your forehead. Inside the cap, there’s usually an arrow or a label that says "Front." Follow it.
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At Texas Tech, the tassel starts on the right side. After the President confers the degrees, you’ll move it to the left. It’s a small movement, but it’s the moment you officially become an alum.
Pro-Tips for the Big Day
- Steam, don't iron. Unless you want to melt a hole in your $80 gown, stay away from the high heat of an iron. Use a handheld steamer or hang it in the bathroom while you take a very hot shower.
- Safety pins are your best friend. Hoods tend to slide around and choke you if they aren't pinned to the gown. Bring a few small black safety pins to keep everything symmetrical.
- The "Pocket" hack. Most gowns don't have pockets. If you’re wearing a dress or leggings underneath, make sure they have pockets, or you’ll be awkwardly carrying your phone and car keys in your hand the whole time.
- Check the length. Your gown should hit mid-calf. If it’s touching your ankles, you’re going to trip when you walk across the stage. If it’s at your knees, it’s too small.
What to Do with the Gown Afterward
Once the photos at the Seal and the "Will Rogers and Soapsuds" statue are done, what do you do with the gown? Most people just throw it in a closet. However, the Texas Tech Alumni Association often has programs or suggestions for donating "gently used" gowns to students who might struggle with the cost of graduation.
Regalia is expensive. Between the gown, the cap, the tassel, and the hood, you’re looking at a significant chunk of change. Donating it is a great way to "pay it forward" to the next class of Red Raiders.
Final Checklist for Success
- Order by the deadline on the Texas Tech Bookstore website.
- Verify your height and weight measurements; these gowns are sized by height.
- Check your hood color against the official TTU degree chart.
- Remove the gown from the packaging at least 48 hours before the ceremony to let wrinkles settle.
- Secure your cap with bobby pins—Lubbock wind is no joke, even just walking into the arena.
The Texas Tech graduation gown is a symbol of every late night at the library and every victory at Jones AT&T Stadium. Wear it with a bit of pride, even if it is a little itchy and overly warm. You earned the right to wear that Double T.
Actionable Next Steps:
Log into the Texas Tech University Bookstore portal immediately to check the current semester's ordering deadlines. If you’ve already received your gown, hang it on a sturdy hanger now to begin the de-wrinkling process naturally. Purchase a small pack of safety pins and bobby pins to keep in your car or bag for graduation morning adjustments.