Caps and Gowns NOW

Traditionally, tams were 8 sided. Most tall or large men look best in 8 sided tams.  Short and stocky individuals may look better with the 4 corner tam, since it is less round looking.  Most average  sized women and small to average sized men look best in the 6 sided version, as it looks very similar to the 8 sided model, but is smaller and less round.

Both tassels are very beautiful. They are two button doctoral tassels that are permanently sewn onto your selected tam. The difference between them is whether they are made of fabric or metallic thread. The metallic tassels definitely have a special shine to them and stand out more than the silky ones.

Because these tams are made of velvet, it would not matter which fabric your gown is made from; you could still purchase the tams without fear of mismatching. This differs from hoods which should preferably be made from the same fabric quality as the gown. Also for this reason, many people purchasing Souvenir Quality gowns also purchase these tams as a way of upgrading their look without actually purchasing a more expensive gown. Even if you should upgrade to a more expensive gown later on, you would still use the same tam.

Most faculty members who have doctoral degrees purchase tams to differentiate themselves from students and non-doctors. However if you do not wish to purchase a tam, then we will be happy to send you a mortarboard and tassel at no charge, upon request.

Be sure to indicate your hat size or your head size. Using a tape, measure the circumference of your head about an inch over your eyebrow. the size should be in the neighborhood of 22 to 23 1/2 inches. It should be snug but not too tight. Round size to nearest quarter inch. If you are between sizes, err to the larger quarter inch. A cap size would be something like 6 7/8, 7 1/4, 7 3/8, etc.

As people's head size seem to vary with haircut, most people tend to prefer our adjustable tams, based on the head size or measurement you provide. If however you would prefer a non-adjustable tam, simply let us know and we will send you the exact fit style.