By Azzahra Osman (22S03P) and Ting Kaily (22S03P)

Your last paper has just ended, and in the heat of studying for As, you completely forgot that you need to find an outfit for the upcoming Grad Night. Fret not, as we fashion gurus here at Raffles Press are here to help! You may have struggled to find answers to half of your Mathematics paper just like us, but you’re likely to have a solution to your fashion dilemmas once you read our suggestions.

Suggestion #1: Your basic classic suits and gowns

One would obviously think of this when they’re picking out the perfect outfit for Grad Night. The best suits and gowns can possibly be found online at a reasonable price, but unless planes have started moving at the speed of light, it is unlikely that they will come on time. Consider trying rental shops, which are abundant in places like Orchard Road (but we bought our outfits online already, so do the research yourself).

Learning different eye makeup looks may be too troublesome for you at this point, but we got you! Just follow the makeup look below. We’re all free from the shackles of chemistry but at least, we can finally put those dot-and-cross diagram skills to actual use now. 

If you are still in doubt about how to apply this makeup look, do consider approaching any of the Chemistry tutors for help. They are certainly the most experienced beauty gurus in this field! 

Suggestion #2: Show off your Rafflesian pride by turning up in our sacred green, black and white!

If you are simply too lazy to look for a nice, classy outfit suitable for Grad Night, don’t worry—our school uniform, complete with the tie, makes you look just as stylish. After all, it might be a little too late to start looking for a suit or gown if you haven’t done so—you may need to get several fittings and those things are expensive! It’s time that you wipe off the dust on your blouses that have been tucked away in your closets for months. While it may look as if you’re retaking your Oral Presentation (OP) exam, at least you’ll be able to get some more friends to write on your shirt in case you missed some of them at Farewell Assembly. 

To top this look off, consider beautifying your face with a little green, black and white face paint. Many of us will be dolling up for this event, so you don’t want to be missing out. For those enlisting soon, we recommend full coverage of your face to brace yourselves for outfield. If the idea of shaving your head devastates you, at least this is something you can get used to.

If you want to take it a notch further, try your luck at asking the student councillors for permission to borrow the school mascots. A little more school spirit wouldn’t hurt!

Suggestion #3: Dare to be a little different by….wearing uniforms from other JCs

Auspicium Melioris Aevi? Nah, the best is yet to be. If you don’t want to be like other girls (or guys), try borrowing uniforms from your friends or siblings who pledge allegiance to something other than green, black and white. The theme of Grad Night is, after all, Afterglow, meaning that bright colours like red and gold are definitely suited to it, and just so happen to be the colours of a few other schools as well. You may get a few confused looks here and there (“Are you from RI?”), but embrace the quirkiness and all will be well.

Suggestion #4: Follow the Dress Code (literally)

The dress code for this event is supposedly smart casual (not that anybody is paying attention to it), but what exactly does that entail? Well, if it is too bothersome to attempt to decode this highly ambiguous phrase on your own, let us break it down for you. 

Firstly, there is the “smart” portion. However, we have all learnt while struggling to write AQs that Singapore is pushing to be a “Smart Nation”, so in that sense, that would naturally make all of us “smart”. Hence, there is actually no need to worry too much about meeting that criterion. 

Next up, we have the “casual” component. The typical casual outfit in Singapore usually comprises a tank top (to deal with the sweltering heat in this tropical country), FBT shorts (because really, who is going to wear long pants in this weather?), and the quintessential pair of Nike/Adidas flip-flops (we have no idea why either). However, if you wish to spice things up a little, you can always consider throwing in a fanny pack and a FILA bucket hat and switching out the tank top with an ADLV shirt instead. This outfit is not only comfortable, but it also does not require you to spend a single cent because most of these pieces of clothing can likely be found in your wardrobe right this moment!

Suggestion #5: Halloween Horror Nights (1 Raffles Institution Lane edition) 

If you missed the opportunity to attend HHN at USS this year because you were busy mugging for As, don’t worry! While it may make a little more sense to start celebrating Christmas now, Halloween only happens once a year too, and what would be a better way than to celebrate it belatedly at Grad Night? The event is taking place too early to summon the ghosts of the clock tower or the fields anyway, so while you may be giving free jumpscares to the people around you, it wouldn’t be enough to become a real-life HHN reenactment.

Nobody is stopping you from dressing up as Santa Claus or one of his many elves if you really want to though! 

Suggestion #6: World Cup Fever

Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé ~~ 

It is the World Cup season and for the football diehards (especially those who are planning  to catch the Ghana vs Uruguay or South Korea vs Portugal match later that evening), there is no better way to announce  your support for the country you are rooting for than to don their jersey on this very day where thousands of eyes will be on you. Not only is this a good opportunity for you to bond with your fellow aficionados, it might even garner you a few more votes for Prom King/Queen!  

For fans of Italy, however, you might want to keep that jersey in your closet for another 4 years. 

Just in case you are still clueless about what to wear and you think that football jerseys are too mainstream, here are some other unconventional outfit ideas you can take inspiration from: 

Suggestion #7: Fashion’s Biggest Night Out, the Met Gala Afterglow

Before the Met Gala in 2019, model Karlie Kloss said she was “looking camp (the theme) right in the eye.” A quick google search of her outfit will show you that it was, in fact, not camp at all. Well, this could be said of the majority of people attending Grad Night, including us writers, who will be showing up in dresses and suits. However, there have been celebrities who have turned up in unique, albeit questionable, looks at the gala over the years that you can take inspiration from.

Take Kim Kardashian at the 2021 Met Gala as an example: it is literally the most low-effort look, but people will still turn their heads towards you. Just throw a blanket over yourself and you’re done!

Suggestion #8: Bring the #Gentleminions Trend Back to Life

Perhaps you are a little bit late (and by “little”, we mean half a year) to hop on the #Gentleminions bandwagon, but don’t worry, because you are never too late to make the trend viral again. The best part about this look is that it’s very similar to the first suggestion (Classic Suits and Gowns), with maybe just a pair of sunglasses and a banana to embellish it. It’s a great way to match with your lads during your last school event ever.

There won’t be a Minions screening at Grad Night, of course, but you could probably request to play that obnoxious “I count money” (actually titled ‘Rich Minion’) song at the expense of your friends who have probably heard it too many times on their “For You” page.

Suggestion #9: Onesies with your Besties 

Honestly, we haven’t seen anyone besides babies wear one since 2019. However, for comfort’s sake, this is probably the best option out of all our suggestions. Just like the previous suggestion, it is a look best worn as a group. There are plenty of designs to choose from, so just throw one on and have the night of your life. Who cares if people tell you, “This is prom, not a sleepover!” It pretty much will be after the event is done: 4 hours of arm wrestling is really tiring!

This article is a work of satire. In all seriousness, whether you turn up looking like you’re going to the Met Gala or the nearby 7-Eleven, we hope you have a blast at Grad Night ‘22. Congratulations Class of 2022!