academic dress

Family and friends who would normally attend have been invited to watch the ceremonies, conducted in Latin and in full academic dress, on a private livestream link.

Because of Cambridge's prestigious university, local suffrage posters often featured women in academic dress.

Their attire was identical: Every student wore full academic dress, or subfusc, as it is known here—black suits and white bow ties on the men; black skirts and velvet bows for women; everyone in gowns, mortarboards and a carnation buttonhole.

The university said the decision to end the practice was backed by its photographers and academic dress suppliers, “who often receive back damaged mortarboards.”

"This has been agreed by our academic dress suppliers who often receive back damaged mortarboards, and our photographers."