About Robes

[rainy_lilac]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C2073
From: rainy_lilac
Subject: About Robes
Date: 6/16/00 10:31 am  (ET)

I just went to the Harvard University commencements awhile back, and spent
a lot of time looking at the rich, often very ceremonial looking academic
robes people wore, which tended to differ according to their degree.

They all had very slight v-necks, intricate gathers and smocking about
the yoke, big full sleeves, and hemlines reaching below the knees. Many
of them had the crests of their schools sewn on at the collar, at about
the height of the adams apple, one on each side. The undergrads wore
plain black, but other who had degrees tended to have hoods (decorative
and not really functional) of different colors. Doctorates tended to
wear red robes with black stripes on the sleeves etc.

All of the robes were of light fabric, and many people wore them casually
and open as they walked down the street.

Back when I was in Britain I noticed that in Oxford, it was still the
custom of many to wear light academic robes over ones ordinary clothes
for everyday wear. This is sort of what I picture for Hogwarts students.

Has anyone foudn any references to other clothing in their reading? Any
passing reference to Hermione's sweater, or Harry's trousers? I would
be interested.....