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At the Academy of Occult Arts, our dress code policy outlines how we expect our students to dress in class. The adolescent individual should note that their appearance matters when representing our academy. A student’s appearance can create a positive or negative impression that reflects on our educational institute and culture. This policy applies to all of our students, regardless of their age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, classification, or national and ethnic origins. Should a student need to alter their dress code due to a physical disability or their religious preferences, accommodations can be made with the faculty.

Guidelines

• All students must be clean and well-groomed. Grooming styles dictated by religion and ethnicity are not restricted.
• All clothes worn during school hours must either be ordered through AOA or purchased from an authorized retailer.
• All clothes must project professionalism. Shirts should be buttoned up and tucked into either trousers, shorts, or a skirt. Blazers should also be buttoned unless seated, and the uniform is not considered complete without a tie.
• All clothes must be clean and in good shape. Discernible rips, tears or holes are not allowed.
• Regarding clothes that are not purchased through AOA: students must avoid clothes portraying any images, words, or phrases that are considered offensive or inappropriate.

Our dress code is best defined as business attire. We do allow special circumstances in which students may forego the uniform. For example, we do not require that students wear uniforms while attending club meetings and extra curricular activities on the weekends. We do, however, ask that they adhere to a “smart casual” dress code–meaning they dress in semi-casual wear that does not oppose the above listed guidelines. Students may also apply the “smart casual” dress code while attending Academy-sponsored events, athletic and academic competitions, and live performances, but only if they are attending as a spectator. Those involved in events, competitions, and productions have their own dress codes to follow, and those will depend on their extracurriculars.

Our Uniform

The following is a detailed description of the uniform options that we have available to our students.

Tops

• Students are to wear fitted black wool blazers†. All school blazers must be:
  • double-breasted
  • four button closure
  • classic shoulder (no pads)
  • double vent
  • peak lapel with class- and year- specific pins and placements‡
  • school crest stitched onto left breast with red thread
  • jetted pockets
  • two button sleeves “kissing”
• Blazers are worn over fitted white Oxford dress shirts. They should be:
  • collared
  • button-ups
  • one-button rounded cuffs
  • no marks or crests
  • tucked into bottoms
• Neck ties† are worn at all times. Neck tie specifications:
  • “new standard” width (83-89 millimeters)
  • medium to extra-large length (30-44 centimeters)*
  • red, black, and white plaid design
  • Balthus knot
• Pins are worn on the lapels of the blazer.
  • Classification-specific pins go on the right lapel:
    • Hunter: white lunar spiral
    • Enchanter: white solar cross
    • Haunter: white cosmic lemniscate
  • Year-specific pins go on the left lapel:
    • First years: white and black new moon glyph
    • Second years: white and black waxing crescent moon glyph
    • Third years: white and black waxing gibbous moon glyph
    • Fourth years: white full moon glyph

Bottoms

In regards to bottoms, we request that our students choose from one of the following three options:

1. Full-length black dress trousers
   • classic fit flat front
   • relaxed leg
   • no break, no cuff
   • Madras cotton
   • worn with simple black leather belt
   • no pockets
2. Knee-length black pleated shorts
   • classic fit single pleated
   • either straight leg or slim/trim
   • slight taper, cuffed
   • Madras cotton
   • worn with simple black leather belt
   • no pockets
3. Pleated skirts
   • red, black, and white plaid design
   • either ankle- or knee-length
   • can be either high-waisted or mid-waisted
   • Madras cotton
   • worn with sheer or solid pantyhose (white/black only)*
   • no pockets

Optional: students wearing shorts may pair them with sheer or solid pantyhose if they desire. We do request that their choice of hosiery be paired according to their footwear, as explained below.

*Pantyhose with red, white, or black accents are also acceptable.

Footwear

We have compiled a list of acceptable footwear options that students may pair with their uniforms. Likewise, we have created a list of examples of what is not considered acceptable footwear. Acceptable materials are leather and faux leather; acceptable colors are solid black, or black with red and/or white accents.

We request that students wearing dress shoes or boots also wear either white or black dress socks, and that students wearing heels, pumps, flats or booties wear pantyhose.

Please note that students wearing slacks and pumps or heels should still wear pantyhose underneath; flats and booties can be paired with no-show socks/liners.

Headwear, Jewelry, & Accessories

All accessories (hats, hair adornments, jewelry), are acceptable under certain circumstances:

Headwear

Hats, beanies, caps, or head coverings are prohibited unless dictated by a student’s spiritual beliefs or national and/or ethnic origins. Sunglasses and shaded spectacles are also not permitted unless they have been prescribed to the student as a visual aid. Hair accessories are limited to hair bands, small to medium-sized bows, and headbands with no hanging or raised attachments. Beads, shells, amulets, and other small tokens may be braided into hair. All students with long hair should not let it hang loosely, as it may pose a safety hazard to them or others.

Jewelry

Students may wear multiple facial and ear piercings so long as they do not display any inappropriate words, phrases, or gestures, and they do not interfere with their health or hygiene. Necklaces should be worn beneath the dress shirt to minimize safety concerns; chokers are prohibited. Earrings are limited to studs, plugs, and gauges sized three-quarters of an inch or less; jewelry that hangs or dangles may be considered a safety hazard. Rings and bracelets are permitted, but any spiked hand adornments may be considered dangerous and are not allowed on campus. Watches are not needed as students will use their DarkWatch while in the dark dimension. Anklets are not permitted.

Accessories

Blankets, wallet chains, suspenders, bags/backpacks/purses with chains in place of straps, pocket watches on chains, lanyards, and belt bags/fanny packs are not permitted on campus. Bags/backpacks/purses with leather or fabric straps are welcome. Students are allowed to adorn their bags with keychains so long as they are appropriate for school, but too many may be considered a hazard. Since this can depend on the types of keychains and their size, Code of Dress violations regarding keychains will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Outerwear & Seasonal Attire

Since the dark dimension is a realm untouched by Earth’s seasons or weather, students are asked not to wear seasonal attire during the week. Jackets, coats, hoodies, capes, capelets, beanies, billed caps, hats, recreational helmets, ear muffs, mittens, gloves, fingerless gloves, scarves (both functional and fashionable), and other similar articles/accessories are not permitted at the Academy. Students may adorn per their preferences when they are attending club meetings and academic/artistic practices. Athletic practice and competitions require athletic dress, so students must wear their gym clothes purchased from the Academy or ordered from an authorized retailer.

Miscellaneous

The faculty and staff at AOA have also compiled a list of items that students are prohibited from bringing on campus.

The Academy Café has dinnerware, cutlery, drinkware, and other meal-related necessities available for all students. This includes cultural, ethnic, and/or national-specific cutlery, and drinkware created for assistive purposes.

Disciplinary Actions

If there is an incident where a student is not wearing their uniform, or one or multiple parts of their uniform do not contend to the code of dress guidelines:

• First (1) offense: the offending student will receive a verbal reprimand and will be asked to change into gym clothes in order to attend their classes. Their guardian(s) will be contacted and asked to bring the appropriate dress.
  • If the student refuses to change, they will be kept in detention during school hours and their guardian(s) will be notified.
• Second (2) offense: the offending student will receive a written reprimand and will be asked to change into gym clothes in order to attend their classes. Their guardian(s) will be contacted and asked to bring the appropriate dress and sign the reprimand. The written reprimand must be signed by a guardian. All written reprimands are locked by a magick seal.
  • If the signature is forged by anyone who is not the offending student’s guardian, the Academy will be notified.
  • Forged reprimands will result in weekend detention and a conference between Dr. Shararah and the student’s guardian(s).
• Third (3) offense: the offending student will be asked to change into gym clothes in order to attend their classes, and they will be sent to weekday detention. Weekday detention begins at 4:10 am of the night of the violation and ends at 5:50 am at the ring of the final bell.
• Fourth (4) offense: the offending student will be asked to change into gym clothes in order to attend their classes, and they will be scheduled for weekend detention. Weekend detention begins at midnight and ends at 4 am.
  • The detention will take place the Saturday immediately following the violation, given that the Saturday is not a holiday or observance for the student’s classification.
  • Any club meetings or extracurricular activities the violating student takes part in will be suspended for that weekend. This includes any club meetings/extracurriculars that occur on Sundays, even though detention does not take place on this day.
• Fifth (5) offense: the offending student will be asked to change into gym clothes in order to attend their classes, and they will be scheduled for multiple Saturday detentions. They will also have club/extracurricular activities suspended for the remainder of the quarter, and will attend a conference with Dr. Shararah and their guardian(s).

If there is an incident where a student is wearing accessories that are against the code of dress:

• First (1) offense: student is given a verbal reprimand and is asked to remove their inappropriate accessories.
• Second (2) offense: student is given a written reprimand and will have their accessories confiscated. Their belongings can be retrieved after the end of night bell.
• Third (3) offense: student will have their accessories confiscated and will be scheduled for weekday detention. Their belongings can be retrieved after the end of night bell by a guardian.
• Fourth (4) offense: student will have their accessories confiscated and will be scheduled for weekend detention. Their belongings can be retrieved after the end of night bell by a guardian.
• Fifth (5) offense: student will have their accessories confiscated and will be scheduled for multiple Saturday detentions. They will also have club/extracurricular activities suspended for the remainder of the quarter, and will attend a conference with Dr. Shararah and their guardian(s). Their belongings will be held until the night of the conference when they can be signed out by a guardian.

These disciplinary actions, while specific to violations of our Code of Dress Policy, can also be considered as consequences for violating the other guidelines and policies in place at our institution. Students and their guardians are encouraged to read the student handbook for a complete list of Academy guidelines, policies, and disciplinary actions.

* Length will vary based on the student’s torso length; if the tie is visible at the waist then it is too long.
† This is a specific article of clothing that must be ordered through AOA or purchased through an authorized retailer. Please contact the main office for a complete list of retailers nearest your mortal residence.
‡ Classification pins go on the student’s right lapel; year-specific pins go on the left lapel. All pins are given to freshmen at orientation and mailed every subsequent year.