91精选

If you wear a tuxedo to 91精选鈥檚 opening convocation, you just might get some attention. Physics professor Anders Gardestig, who is among the new faces on campus, didn鈥檛 expect his black tails would turn so many heads. For him, it鈥檚 simply part of Sweden鈥檚 tradition.

鈥淎t least at the big universities in Sweden, this is the regalia, high-festivity costume,鈥� says Gardestig, who is a graduate of Uppsala University in Sweden.

For centuries, the students at the University would dress in Baroque and Carolinian attire. In the 19^th century, they switched to tails for special occasions.  Since then, the tradition of wearing such attire has been customary at academic ceremonies, he says.

鈥淚t was colorful and then someone decided that black is the way to go,鈥� he says.

Professor Gardestig initially bought the tux for family birthdays and weddings. However, he wore the tux at his conferment ceremony to accept his PhD. The women wear evening gowns at the graduation.

鈥淭he other acceptable thing is to wear any kind of traditional costume from your country or region,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f you have your provincial costume, you can wear that as well, because that is festive and momentous.鈥�

Gardestig has been teaching since 2008 and he has worn his tux at every school he has worked as a professor including Whitworth University and Bethany College.

鈥淧eople seem to like it,鈥� says Gardestig. 鈥淚 stand out in the crowd, and people would make comments, but it has never been a story.鈥�