How to Use a Graduation Gown for Halloween

Wear your graduation robe again.

A graduation robe is a good basis for several different costumes. A black robe can be a judge's robe. Any dark color is suitable for a pilgrim woman's dress. You can use a primary-colored robe in red, green, yellow or blue as a Quiddich uniform for a Harry Potter character. Any color of robe can be converted into a costume choir robe.

Things You'll Need

• Graduation robe in appropriate color for costume choice
• Quilt batting
• Scissors
• 1/2-inch black ribbon, 12 inches
• Gavel
• White apron
• White cloth napkin
• White ribbon
• White fabric or shawl
• Sweater and pants to match robe
• Broom
• Knitted scarf, optional
• 6-inch wide ribbon, 2 yards

Instructions

1. Make a British judge's wig by cutting a 2-foot square of quilt batting and draping it over your hair. Gather it together at the nape of your neck and tie it with a ribbon. Wear the wig with your black graduation robe and a white ascot. You can be an American judge with just your robe and a gavel.

2. Tie on a white apron to give the gown enough shape to make a pilgrim's dress. This works best if the robe is floor length on you.

3. Make a pilgrim cap by pinning a ribbon to two adjacent corners of a large white napkin. Drape the edge of the napkin between the ribbons over your head and tie the ribbons under your chin. Fold the side and back edges of the napkin against your head. Fold the excess fabric at the back corners toward the center of the back of your head an pin them down.

4. Fold a 3-foot square of white fabric in half diagonally and drape it over your shoulders like a shawl. Pin it close to your neck and let the corners hang down in front.

5. Carry a broom and wear your primary-colored robe as a Quiddich robe for a character from a Harry Potter book. Wear a matching sweater and pants under the open robe. A coordinating scarf is a nice addition.

6. Cut the ends of a 2-yard length of 6-inch wide ribbon into a point. Wear the ribbon draped over your shoulders as a stole, over the graduation gown. You can be a choir member or a preacher.