Ever wonder how that strange looking thing called an academic hood should be worn? 
Confused about what those colors represent?  You are not alone. 
I once had a customer complain that her hood was unfinished; had a jagged edge on the satin.  She sent it back and it turns out - she had turned her hood inside out. 
Take a look at the pictures below and get an idea as to how your hood should look when worn and what all those colors represent.  Go to our link and see what degree color you should be wearing.

SimplyAcademic-too

*Your hood should be worn draped around your neck with the large portion hanging down your back.
 

*The velvet border, indicating your degree or field of study, should be showing on the outside. 

*The velvet should fold under on the lower back to display your school colors.  (This is the school that conferred your degree.) 

*To keep your hood from being too tight against your neck, there is a cord on the front to help secure it to a shirt button or to pin to a blouse or dress.

Hope this helps a bit as graduations are almost upon us.