Morning dress

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From right to left: Japanese emperor Hirohito, United States president Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy in 1983, both men in morning coats with formal trousers, known as morning dress Reagan hirohito.jpg
From right to left: Japanese emperor Hirohito, United States president Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy in 1983, both men in morning coats with formal trousers, known as morning dress

Morning dress, also known as formal day dress, is the formal Western dress code for day attire, [1] consisting chiefly of a morning coat, waistcoat, and formal trousers for men, and an appropriate gown for women. Men may also wear a popular variant, where all parts (morning coat or waistcoat, and trousers) are the same colour and material, often grey, and usually called "morning suit" or "morning grey" to distinguish it; [2] considered properly appropriate only to festive functions, [3] such as summer weddings and horse races, [4] [5] which consequently makes it slightly less formal. The correct hat would be a formal top hat, or if on less spacious audience settings, optionally a collapsible equivalent opera hat.

Debrett's states, that morning dress should not be specified as the dress code for events starting after 6 p.m. If a formal event will commence at or after 6 p.m., a white tie should be specified instead. [1] [6] The semi-formal daytime counterpart of this code is the black lounge suit. [7] [8]

Morning dress is generally restricted to certain weddings, royal, government, or municipal audiences, and social season events, e.g., horse races. It may also be seen sometimes worn at church services, as well as fraternal orders, and gentlemen's clubs.

History

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) in 1844, wearing a double-breasted cutaway Verdi 1844.jpg
Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901) in 1844, wearing a double-breasted cutaway
Caricature of Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon in Vanity Fair, 11 September 1869 Henry Herbert, Vanity Fair, 1869-09-11.jpg
Caricature of Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon in Vanity Fair , 11 September 1869
Morning dress fashion (middle), as opposed to frock coats (left and right) (1848) Mens fashion plate 1848.jpg
Morning dress fashion (middle), as opposed to frock coats (left and right) (1848)

The name originated from the practice of gentlemen in the 19th century riding a horse in the morning with a cutaway front, single-breasted morning coat. [9] The modern 20th-century morning dress was originally a more casual form of half dress, but as the 19th century progressed, it gradually became acceptable to wear it in more formal situations instead of a frock coat. In the Edwardian era, it took over in popularity from the frock coat as the standard daytime form of men's full dress. When it was regarded as a more casual coat, it was common to see it made with step collars (notched lapels in American English), but as it took over from the frock coat in formality, it began to be made with the more formal pointed lapels (peaked lapels in American English).

Composition

Morning dress consists of:

If the trouser cloth matches the coat, the ensemble becomes a morning suit. The waistcoat may also match, or not (an "odd waistcoat"). Morning suits will sometimes be a middle-tone grey. Morning suits, especially the lighter-toned ones, are considered slightly less formal than morning coat ensembles.

The following can optionally be worn or carried with morning dress:

Considered slightly less formal by some, a morning suit can be worn in variant sometimes referred to as "morning grey dress", which has mid-grey matching morning coat, waistcoat, and trousers (all cut the same as above); being more relaxed, this is a traditional option for events in less formal settings such as Royal Ascot, and is now often worn to weddings as well.

Morning coat

The modern morning coat is single-breasted and usually has peaked lapels. [10] It is usually closed with a single button [10] but may have a link-front closure instead. [11] [12] It is traditionally in either black or Oxford grey [13] [14] herringbone wool, [1] which should not be too heavy a weight, [14] with curved front edges sloping back into tails [1] [12] of knee length. [15]

The coat may feature ribbon braiding around the edges of the collar, lapels, and down around the tails; [16] it may also be present on the hook vent, breast pocket, and sleeves. [17] Nicholas Storey advises that braiding should be avoided for very formal morning wear. [18]

Waistcoat

A black morning coat with matching black waistcoat is the most formal option, [19] [20] being worn for Court, [20] funerals, [21] memorial services, [22] civic dress [23] and diplomatic dress (replacing or supplementing Court Dress), with academic dress, or in government use in America.

At social or festive occasions, such as horse races and weddings, a contrasting waistcoat is usually worn. The most traditional colours are dove grey, [24] light grey [1] [25] (including pearl grey [13] [4] ), buff [1] [25] or camel [26] (both yellowish tan colours), duck-egg blue, [1] and occasionally white. [27] [28] There has been a tendency towards 'fancy' waistcoats [1] [25] of multicoloured and embroidered materials such as brocade, [26] especially at weddings, [1] although brightly coloured waistcoats may be considered garish. [29] Other colours sold by traditional English tailors include pastels such as powder blue, pale pink, pale green, and other pastels. [30] Generally, traditional waistcoats are made from linen, silk, [1] [26] or wool. [27]

Spanish man-about-town Victor Penasco in morning suit, with waistcoat with shawl collar, 1912 Victor Penasco.jpg
Spanish man-about-town Victor Peñasco in morning suit, with waistcoat with shawl collar, 1912

Waistcoats may be either single-breasted, with or without lapels, or double-breasted with lapels. [1] Single-breasted models with lapels usually feature a step collar and are worn with the bottom button undone, whilst double-breasted models commonly have either a shawl collar or a peak lapel and are worn fully buttoned. [1] In either case, Debrett's advise against wearing backless waistcoats [1] because they do not look as smart as real ones. [26] Sometimes a white slip is worn, which is a strip of fabric buttoned to the inside top of the waistcoat [18] to simulate the effect of a paler under-waistcoat, [31] though the actual wearing of two waistcoats was obsolete even for the late Victorians.

Trousers

Hamide Ayse Sultan (1887-1960) with her husband in morning coat and formal trousers Ayse-sultan-abdulhamid.jpg
Hamide Ayşe Sultan (1887–1960) with her husband in morning coat and formal trousers

The formal ('spongebag') trousers worn with it are either 'cashmere' striped, or black and white checked. [1] Formal trousers should not have turn-ups (cuffs in American English), [32] and have either flat-fronts or one to two forward pleats to each leg. [33] Braces (suspenders in American English) may be worn [33] to prevent the waistband from appearing beneath the waistcoat if required. Belts should not be worn with morning dress. [34] Less common (and less formal) alternatives to striped trousers are houndstooth check, [35] [26] Prince of Wales check, [25] and grey flannel trousers, [17] amongst others.

Shirt

Since the Second World War, in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Realms, the traditional shirt for morning dress has been a white or light-coloured shirt with double cuffs (fastened with cufflinks) and a plain white stiff turn-down collar (often of the cutaway variety [36] ) worn with a long tie. [1] A detachable collar is no longer considered to be necessary and is very formal by modern standards. [26]

Alternatively, a wing collar may be worn; the combination of long tie and wing collar is very dated, so these are instead paired with an ascot. [12] [37] Unfortunately, this combination has acquired negative connotations because most dress hire companies have used pre-tied or incorrect patterns for many years, which has caused the configuration to be seen as an inferior or hired look. Consequently, Debrett's (and the late Hardy Amies) consider the wing collar and ascot to be inappropriate for weddings or morning dress, [38] reserving wing collars for white tie. [39] [40] [41] [1]

If a wing collar is worn, the collar should be of the starched, detachable, variety and also include starched single cuffs (secured with cufflinks) all in white. This is because, in the past, a starched stiff-fronted shirt was worn with starched cuffs and a starched detachable wing collar, worn with cufflinks and shirt studs; it is essentially the same as a plain-fronted (rather than Marcella) full evening dress shirt. [36] Contemporary shirts often do not have a detachable collar at all which, provided they have the same height and stiffness as the detachable type, are considered to be an acceptable alternative. [26]

The most formal colour for a shirt is white. Alternatively, a coloured or striped shirt with a contrasting white ("Winchester") collar and (optionally) white cuffs may be worn. Traditional formal shirtings are usually light-coloured [1] and may include cream, blue (such as Wedgwood blue), pink, [26] lavender, peach, salmon, yellow, or pastel green. [42] Morning dress shirts (other than the collar) are usually solid in colour [26] or have thin vertical stripes [37] but may have a slightly bolder pattern such as a houndstooth or glencheck. [43]

Neck wear

Previously, a grey or (if at a funeral) a black necktie was obligatory. Now all colours are worn; in many clubs and societies the club tie is acceptable to distinguish members from guests at formal lunches and breakfasts. The original silver Macclesfield design (a small check) is still used particularly with cravats, and is often called a wedding tie. Wearing a silver-grey silk tie is the usual practice at royal [5] and other formal events. [27] [25] Although there is no longer a strict rule governing the colour and pattern of ties that are worn to weddings these days, garish options are inadvisable. [26] The English etiquette authority, Debrett's, dictate that smart woven silk ties are preferred to cravats [1] although stocks and cravats may be worn as an alternative. [26] The American etiquette authority, The Emily Post Institute, states that either a tie or a dress ascot may be worn with a morning coat. [13] If a tie is worn, Debrett's advise men to tie it with either a four-in-hand or half-Windsor rather than a Windsor knot. [44]

If worn, cravats may be tied in either a formal dress knot (Ascot knot) which is secured with a cravat pin [12] or a slightly less formal ruched knot which resembles a four-in-hand tie. A wing collar and cravat may be worn with a black coat but not with a grey one. [11] Cravats have been proscribed in the Royal Enclosure at Royal Ascot since 2012 [45] and should therefore be treated with caution in any context in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms.

Bow ties may be worn as an alternative to the necktie. Although there are photographs of the Duke of Windsor and Sir Winston Churchill wearing bow ties with morning dress, and Debrett's does not advise against the wearing of one, it is not expressly provided as an option by Debrett's. [1] [26] Bow ties have been proscribed in the Royal Enclosure at Royal Ascot since 2019 and should therefore be treated with caution in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms. [46] Some style authorities, including Bernhard Roetzel and Nicholas Antongiavanni, advise against the wearing of bow ties with morning dress. [25] [11] Others, such as Nicholas Storey, provide that bow ties may be worn so long as they are obviously not an evening bow tie. [16]

Footwear

Shoes should be of the traditional, highly polished black plain cap-toe Oxford type [1] [10] without brogueing [47] but may include a single line of tooling across the toe cap. [48] [49] The shoes should not be patent leather, [1] which is now reserved for evening formal wear. [40] [41] Although it may be acceptable to wear 'smart-slip on shoes' [1] and monkstraps, [25] it is not ideal to wear either loafers [10] or open-laced shoes, such as derby shoes (or bluchers in American English). [47] In the Victorian and Edwardian era button boots [50] and Oxford boots [48] [51] were worn and these can be correctly worn with morning dress today. When worn at equestrian events, boots of equestrian origin such as jodhpur boots, George boots and Chelsea boots are also acceptable. Socks should be black or grey. [26] Spats were once frequently seen with morning dress, [5] but are now rarely worn and, by 1939, the practise of wearing them was considered to be almost extinct. [52]

Accessories

Headgear

A. Carnegie and Lord Weardale. While the top hat would be considered the standard, alternatives occur; here a bowler hat. Lord (John) Boyd Orr of Brechin (3121126254).jpg
A. Carnegie and Lord Weardale. While the top hat would be considered the standard, alternatives occur; here a bowler hat.

In the Commonwealth of Nations, traditional black, or grey (less formal, but becoming more widely accepted), top hats are considered an optional accessory for weddings. [1] [53] However, hats remain compulsory in the Royal Enclosure at Royal Ascot. [54] [45]

Pocket square

A pocket square should always be worn with morning dress[ citation needed ]. They may be made from linen, cotton, or silk. Whilst a simple white linen square with rolled edges is classic, they may instead be a solid colour or patterned and should always complement the neckwear. However, although it is very common practice in wedding parties, many style authorities do not recommend wearing a matching (i.e., identical) pocket square and tie, as it tends to look contrived, draws attention away from the wearer's face, and displays sartorial uncertainty. Pocket squares with a solid colour should generally be paired with a patterned tie (and vice versa) and should not share the same base colour. In other words, the solid color item should be in a color that is not the dominant color of the other.

It may be puffed or folded into a square, single-point, or multi-pointed style folds. Puffed pocket squares work well with softer materials such as silk; other folds tend to hold their shape better when more structured materials such as linen are used.

Decorations

The wearing of decorations, orders, and medals is uncommon with morning dress. An invitation will generally indicate whether or not they should be worn and, in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms, are more common for religious services or public functions of official significance. Up to four stars, one neck badge, and full-size medals should be worn with morning dress (mirroring the practices observed on day military uniforms); when a neck badge and star are worn together, they must be of different orders. [55]

Etiquette: "morning dress"

Men in morning dress for a wedding (1929) 1929wedding.jpg
Men in morning dress for a wedding (1929)

Men wear morning dress when members of a wedding party. In common with court dress, mess dress, and white tie, morning dress is for prestigious and important social occasions. Despite its name, morning dress may be worn to afternoon social events before five o'clock, but not to events beginning after six o'clock in the evening; the term "morning" is best understood as "daylight".

In Europe, the groom sets the sartorial tone: the guests may wear morning dress if he does.

Equivalents for men

Following the etiquette of formal wear, morning dress being its civilian day wear, there are several equivalents.

White tie is the correct, equivalent formal dress for evening social events. The cutaway front of the morning tail coat differs from the evening tail coat (dress coat) in that the waist of the former is cut obliquely while the waist of the latter is cut horizontally, and the tail is cut differently from the swallow tailcoat used for evening dress. The skirt waist construction of the coats is equestrian in origin, to ease the wearer's riding his horse.

Equivalents for women

Women should wear 'smart daywear', such as a smart day dress or a skirt worn with a jacket. [1] The straps of tops and dresses should be at least one inch wide even if worn with a jacket or other covering. [56] Strapless, off-the-shoulder, one shoulder, halter neck, sheer, bardot, and spaghetti straps are not permitted in the Royal Enclosure at the Royal Ascot [56] and may be inadvisable at other occasions that require morning dress. Dresses and skirts should be neither too short nor too revealing. [1] At their shortest, they should fall just above the knee. [56]

Trouser suits and smart jumpsuits are permissible at the Royal Ascot but must be ankle length. With trouser suits, the coat and trousers should match in both material and colour. Jumpsuits must also comply with the regulations that apply to skirts and dresses. [56]

At the most formal of occasions and the races, dresses and skirts should be worn with a tailored jacket. [1] A bolero, shrug, or pashmina may otherwise be worn. [1] Daytime shoes, such as wedges, should be worn rather than very high heels or evening-style shoes [1] and ought to be comfortable enough to wear for several hours. [57] Tights should always be worn. [1]

Hats should be worn in the Royal Enclosure at the Royal Ascot [56] but are optional at weddings. [1] They should be a style that is securely fitted and may be worn throughout the day. [1] Hats should neither be so large or cumbersome that they hamper kissing [57] nor too small. The Royal Ascot does not permit fascinators within the Royal Enclosure. [56] Headpieces may be worn instead of a hat but must have a solid base of at least 10 cm. [56]

Daytime jewellery, such as pearls, add an extra flourish of style. [1]

A shoulder bag is often preferable to a clutch purse, especially for mothers at weddings. [57]

Contemporary use

Morning dress worn at a Catholic Procession of the Holy Blood in Bruges, Belgium (2009) Procession SANGUIS Brugensis Moenaert 2009.jpg
Morning dress worn at a Catholic Procession of the Holy Blood in Bruges, Belgium (2009)

Commonwealth of Nations

Morning dress remains somewhat common at weddings in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth of Nations countries (such as Australia, and New Zealand), usually worn only by male members of a wedding party but sometimes by guests as well. Men at upper and upper-middle class weddings usually wear their own morning coats and their own ties. On these occasions they may wear their old public school ties (known as private schools in the US). For the British working class (constituting the majority of the population), a wedding party tends to wear hired morning suits that are co-ordinated, the men usually dressed in outfits of identical ties, handkerchiefs and waistcoats. [58]

Additionally, morning dress may be seen at some royal or governmental audiences and social season events (e.g. horse races such as the Royal Enclosure of Royal Ascot, the Queen's Stand of Epsom Derby, or the Victoria Derby in Australia). It may also be seen sometimes worn at church services in St Paul's Cathedral, London, and St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. Other occasions include certain City of London institutions including fraternal orders, gentlemen's clubs, livery companies and guilds. It also exists as school uniforms at some of United Kingdom's most traditional schools, such as Harrow (on Sundays) [59] and Eton. [60]

United States

Joseph Douglass in morning dress with grandfather Frederick Douglass in frock coat (circa 1890s) Frederick Douglass & grandson Joseph, c1890s.jpg
Joseph Douglass in morning dress with grandfather Frederick Douglass in frock coat (circa 1890s)

In the U.S., the morning coat is sometimes referred to as a cutaway coat. [28]

In the U.S., morning dress is rare. Harvard Commencement is one of the few occasions in the United States where morning dress is consistently worn (see Academic regalia of Harvard University). It was formerly worn in traditional weddings and political formal events, the Kennedy inauguration of 1961 being the last use for that ceremony. In Virginia, morning dress is worn by a governor-elect when sworn to office. [61]

By tradition, the Solicitor General of the United States (SG) wears striped pants and a morning coats when delivering oral argument before the Supreme Court of the United States. [62] [63] The deputy U.S. solicitors general also wear morning dress when attending the Supreme Court, [64] [65] as do other Justice Department attorneys. [65] [66] This contrasts with the attire of other attorneys, who usually wear ordinary business suits when arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court. [63] It is rare for the SG to argue before state courts and lower federal courts, but when this occurs the SG does not wear morning dress. [62] The morning-dress Supreme Court tradition applies only to male SGs; for female SGs and deputies, use of the morning coat is optional. Elena Kagan, upon her appointment as SG in 2009, decided to wear a dark pantsuit instead for her arguments. [67] Elizabeth Prelogar followed Kagan's precedent upon becoming SG in 2021. [68]

Morning dress has recurred in the traditional Easter parade associated with Fifth Avenue in New York City.

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Wyse, Elizabeth (2015). Debrett's Handbook. Mayfair, London: Debrett's Limited. p. 190. ISBN   978-0-9929348-1-1.
  2. "Morning Suits – Cad & the Dandy". Archived from the original on 2012-10-19.
  3. Donald, Elsie, ed. (1981). Debrett's Etiquette and Modern Manners. London: Debrett's Peerage Limited. pp. 385–386. ISBN   0-905649-43-5.
  4. 1 2 Antongiavanni, Nicholas (2006). The Suit. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. p. 169. ISBN   978-0-06-089186-2.
  5. 1 2 3 Keers, Paul (1987). A Gentleman's Wardrobe: Classic Clothes and the Modern Man. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p. 105. ISBN   0-297-79191-5.
  6. Wyse, Elizabeth (2015). Debrett's Handbook. Mayfair, London: Debrett's Limited. pp. 185–187. ISBN   978-0-9929348-1-1.
  7. Tuckerman, Nancy; Dunnan, Nancy (1995). The Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette: 50th Anniversary Edition (1 ed.). New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc. p.  284. ISBN   978-0-385413428.
  8. Post, Anna; Post, Lizzie (2014). Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette (6 ed.). New York: The Emily Post Institute, Inc. p. 260. ISBN   978-0-06-232610-2.
  9. "Wedding Suits – A Suit That Fits".
  10. 1 2 3 4 Hume, Lucy (2017). Debrett's Wedding Handbook. Mayfair, London: Debrett's Limited. p. 116. ISBN   978-0-9929348-4-2.
  11. 1 2 3 Antongiavanni, Nicholas (2006). The Suit. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. p. 177. ISBN   978-0-06-089186-2.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Keers, Paul (1987). A Gentleman's Wardrobe: Classic Clothes and the Modern Man. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p. 104. ISBN   0-297-79191-5.
  13. 1 2 3 Post, Peggy; Post, Anna; Post, Lizzie; Post Senning, Daniel (2011). Emily Post's Etiquette (18 ed.). New York: The Emily Post Institute, Inc. p.  619. ISBN   978-0-06-174023-7.
  14. 1 2 Amies, Hardy (2013). The Englishman's Suit. London: Quartet Books Ltd. p. 82. ISBN   978-0-7043-7169-9.
  15. Storey, Nicholas (2008). History of Men's Fashion: What the Well-Dressed Man is Wearing. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. pp. 73–74. ISBN   978-1-84468-037-5.
  16. 1 2 Storey, Nicholas (2008). History of Men's Fashion: What the Well-Dressed Man is Wearing. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. p. 74. ISBN   978-1-84468-037-5.
  17. 1 2 Schneider, Sven (2017). Morning Dress Guide (1 ed.). Saint Paul, Minnesota: Gentleman's Gazette LLC. p. 94.
  18. 1 2 Storey, Nicholas (2008). History of Men's Fashion: What the Well-Dressed Man is Wearing. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. pp. 74 & 79. ISBN   978-1-84468-037-5.
  19. Storey, Nicholas (2008). History of Men's Fashion: What the Well-Dressed Man is Wearing. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. p. 79. ISBN   978-1-84468-037-5.
  20. 1 2 Keers, Paul (1987). A Gentleman's Wardrobe: Classic Clothes and the Modern Man. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. pp. 104–105. ISBN   0-297-79191-5.
  21. Wyse, Elizabeth (2015). Debrett's Handbook. Mayfair, London: Debrett's Limited. p. 297. ISBN   978-0-9929348-1-1.
  22. Wyse, Elizabeth (2015). Debrett's Handbook. Mayfair, London: Debrett's Limited. p. 302. ISBN   978-0-9929348-1-1.
  23. Pullman, Nigel. "Dress codes" (PDF). Livery Companies of the City of London. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  24. Schneider, Sven (2017). Morning Dress Guide (1 ed.). Saint Paul, Minnesota: Gentleman's Gazette LLC. p. 128.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Roetzel, Bernhard (2009). Gentleman: A Timeless Guide to Fashion. Cambridge: Tandem Verlag GmbH. p. 331. ISBN   978-3-8331-5270-2.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Hume, Lucy (2017). Debrett's Wedding Handbook. Mayfair, London: Debrett's Limited. p. 117. ISBN   978-0-9929348-4-2.
  27. 1 2 3 Storey, Nicholas (2008). History of Men's Fashion: What the Well-Dressed Man is Wearing. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. p. 77. ISBN   978-1-84468-037-5.
  28. 1 2 Flusser, Alan (2002). Dressing The Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc. p. 284. ISBN   978-0-06-019144-3.
  29. Bryant, Jo; Wyse, Liz, eds. (2012). Debrett's Men's Style. Richmond, Surrey: Debrett's Limited. p. 22. ISBN   978-1-870520-00-3.
  30. Schneider, Sven (2017). Morning Dress Guide (1 ed.). Saint Paul, Minnesota: Gentleman's Gazette LLC. p. 129.
  31. Schneider, Sven (2017). Morning Dress Guide (1 ed.). Saint Paul, Minnesota: Gentleman's Gazette LLC. pp. 136–138.
  32. Storey, Nicholas (2008). History of Men's Fashion: What the Well-Dressed Man is Wearing. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. pp. 77–78. ISBN   978-1-84468-037-5.
  33. 1 2 Hume, Lucy (2017). Debrett's Wedding Handbook. Mayfair, London: Debrett's Limited. pp. 116–117. ISBN   978-0-9929348-4-2.
  34. Schneider, Sven (2017). Morning Dress Guide (1 ed.). Saint Paul, Minnesota: Gentleman's Gazette LLC. p. 233.
  35. Storey, Nicholas (2008). History of Men's Fashion: What the Well-Dressed Man is Wearing. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. p. 78. ISBN   978-1-84468-037-5.
  36. 1 2 Storey, Nicholas (2008). History of Men's Fashion: What the Well-Dressed Man is Wearing. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. pp. 75–76. ISBN   978-1-84468-037-5.
  37. 1 2 Antongiavanni, Nicholas (2006). The Suit. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 169–170. ISBN   978-0-06-089186-2.
  38. Amies, Hardy (2013). The Englishman's Suit. London: Quartet Books Ltd. pp. 82–83. ISBN   978-0-7043-7169-9.
  39. Amies, Hardy (2013). The Englishman's Suit. London: Quartet Books Ltd. pp. 77–78. ISBN   978-0-7043-7169-9.
  40. 1 2 Wyse, Elizabeth (2015). Debrett's Handbook. Mayfair, London: Debrett's Limited. p. 185. ISBN   978-0-9929348-1-1.
  41. 1 2 Wyse, Elizabeth (2015). Debrett's Handbook. Mayfair, London: Debrett's Limited. p. 188. ISBN   978-0-9929348-1-1.
  42. Schneider, Sven (2017). Morning Dress Guide (1 ed.). Saint Paul, Minnesota: Gentleman's Gazette LLC. pp. 147–150.
  43. Schneider, Sven (2017). Morning Dress Guide (1 ed.). Saint Paul, Minnesota: Gentleman's Gazette LLC. p. 151.
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  47. 1 2 Schneider, Sven (2017). Morning Dress Guide (1 ed.). Saint Paul, Minnesota: Gentleman's Gazette LLC. p. 195.
  48. 1 2 Storey, Nicholas (2008). History of Men's Fashion: What the Well-Dressed Man is Wearing. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. p. 78. ISBN   978-1-84468-037-5.
  49. Antongiavanni, Nicholas (2006). The Suit. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. p. 171. ISBN   978-0-06-089186-2.
  50. Schneider, Sven (2017). Morning Dress Guide (1 ed.). Saint Paul, Minnesota: Gentleman's Gazette LLC. pp. 196–200.
  51. Schneider, Sven (2017). Morning Dress Guide (1 ed.). Saint Paul, Minnesota: Gentleman's Gazette LLC. p. 201.
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  54. Hanson, William (2014). The Bluffer's guide to etiquette (First ed.). p. 72. ISBN   978-1-909937-00-0.
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  61. Oliver, Ned (12 January 2018). "Trumpets, morning coats and ham: What to expect at Ralph Northam's inauguration Saturday". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  62. 1 2 Drew S. Days, No Striped Pants and Morning Coat: The Solicitor General in the State and Lower Federal Courts, 11 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. (1995).
  63. 1 2 Morning Coat, Striped Pants, New York Times (July 18, 1986).
  64. Joan Biskupic, Deputy Solicitor Heads for New Bench Mark, Washington Post (October 31, 1994).
  65. 1 2 Dahlia Lithwick, Law Suit: Time to do away with morning wedding attire at the high court., Slate (January 8, 2009).
  66. The Court and Its Traditions, Supreme Court of the United States (last accessed September 17, 2022).
  67. September 11, 2009. "SG Dumped Traditional Morning Coat, Wore Pantsuit of Unknown Design". ABA Journal. American Bar Association.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  68. Mark Walsh, Two cases. Three hours of arguments. Four sets of lawyers. Fifty mentions of abortion. One pair of red socks., SCOTUSblog (November 1, 2021).

Bibliography

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Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black tie</span> Semi-formal western dress code; dinner suit, tuxedo

Black tie is a semi-formal Western dress code for evening events, originating in British and North American conventions for attire in the 19th century. In British English, the dress code is often referred to synecdochically by its principal element for men, the dinner suit or dinner jacket. In American English, the equivalent term tuxedo is common. The dinner suit is a black, midnight blue or white two- or three-piece suit, distinguished by satin or grosgrain jacket lapels and similar stripes along the outseam of the trousers. It is worn with a white dress shirt with standing or turndown collar and link cuffs, a black bow tie, typically an evening waistcoat or a cummerbund, and black patent leather dress shoes or court pumps. Accessories may include a semi-formal homburg, bowler, or boater hat. For women, an evening gown or other fashionable evening attire may be worn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waistcoat</span> Sleeveless upper-body garment

A waistcoat or vest is a sleeveless upper-body garment. It is usually worn over a dress shirt and necktie and below a coat as a part of most men's formal wear. It is also sported as the third piece in the traditional three-piece male suit. Any given waistcoat can be simple or ornate, or for leisure or luxury. Historically, the waistcoat can be worn either in the place of, or underneath, a larger coat, dependent upon the weather, wearer, and setting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White tie</span> Style of formal dressing

White tie, also called full evening dress or a dress suit, is the most formal evening Western dress code. For men, it consists of a black tail coat worn over a white dress shirt with a starched or pique bib, white piqué waistcoat and the white bow tie worn around a standing wing collar. Mid or high-waisted black trousers with galon, a braid of trim consisting of two silk stripes to conceal the outer seams of the trousers, along with court shoes complete the outfit. Orders, decorations and medals may be worn. Acceptable accessories include a black top hat, white gloves, a white scarf, a pocket watch, a white pocket square, and a boutonnière. Women wear full-length ball or evening gowns with evening gloves and, optionally, tiaras, jewellery, and a small handbag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Court dress</span> Style of clothes prescribed for courts of law

Court dress comprises the style of clothes and other attire prescribed for members of courts of law. Depending on the country and jurisdiction's traditions, members of the court may wear formal robes, gowns, collars, or wigs. Within a certain country and court setting, there may be many times when the full formal dress is not used. Examples in the UK include many courts and tribunals including the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, and sometimes trials involving children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suit</span> Western business attire of matching jacket and trousers

A suit, also called a lounge suit, business suit, dress suit, or formal suit is a set of clothes comprising a suit jacket and trousers of identical textiles generally worn with a collared dress shirt, necktie, and dress shoes. A skirt suit is similar, but with a matching skirt instead of trousers. It is currently considered semi-formal wear or business wear in contemporary Western dress codes, however when the suit was originally developed it was considered an informal or more casual option compared to the prevailing clothing standards of aristocrats and businessmen. The lounge suit originated in 19th-century Britain as sportswear and British country clothing, which is why it was seen as more casual than citywear at that time, with the roots of the suit coming from early modern Western Europe formal court or military clothes. After replacing the black frock coat in the early 20th century as regular daywear, a sober one-coloured suit became known as a lounge suit.

A tailcoat is a knee-length coat characterised by a rear section of the skirt, with the front of the skirt cut away.

Formal wear or full dress is the Western dress code category applicable for the most formal occasions, such as weddings, christenings, confirmations, funerals, Easter and Christmas traditions, in addition to certain state dinners, audiences, balls, and horse racing events. Generally permitted other alternatives, though, are the most formal versions of ceremonial dresses, full dress uniforms, religious clothing, national costumes, and most rarely frock coats. In addition, formal wear is often instructed to be worn with official full size orders and medals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mess dress uniform</span> Formal evening dress worn by military personnel

Mess dress uniform is the most formal type of evening-wear uniform used by military personnel, police personnel, and other uniformed services members. It frequently consists of a mess jacket, trousers, white dress shirt and a black bow tie, along with orders and medals insignia. Design may depend on regiment or service branch, e.g. army, navy, air force, marines, etc. In modern Western dress codes, mess dress uniform is the supplementary alternative equivalent to the civilian black tie for evening wear. Mess dress uniforms are typically less formal than full dress uniform, but more formal than service dress uniform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1860s in Western fashion</span> Costume and fashion of the 1860s

1860s fashion in European and European-influenced countries is characterized by extremely full-skirted women's fashions relying on crinolines and hoops and the emergence of "alternative fashions" under the influence of the Artistic Dress movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1870s in Western fashion</span> Costume and fashion of the 1870s

1870s fashion in European and European-influenced clothing is characterized by a gradual return to a narrow silhouette after the full-skirted fashions of the 1850s and 1860s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frock coat</span> Mens formal knee-length coat

A frock coat is a formal men's coat characterised by a knee-length skirt cut all around the base just above the knee, popular during the Victorian and Edwardian periods (1830s–1910s). It is a fitted, long-sleeved coat with a centre vent at the back and some features unusual in post-Victorian dress. These include the reverse collar and lapels, where the outer edge of the lapel is often cut from a separate piece of cloth from the main body and also a high degree of waist suppression around the waistcoat, where the coat's diameter round the waist is less than round the chest. This is achieved by a high horizontal waist seam with side bodies, which are extra panels of fabric above the waist used to pull in the naturally cylindrical drape. As was usual with all coats in the 19th century, shoulder padding was rare or minimal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ascot tie</span> Neckband with wide pointed wings

An ascot tie or ascot is a neckband with wide pointed wings, traditionally made of pale grey patterned silk. This wide tie is usually patterned, folded over, and fastened with a tie pin or tie clip. It is usually reserved for formal wear with morning dress for daytime weddings and worn with a cutaway morning coat and striped grey formal trousers. This type of dress cravat is made of a thicker, woven type of silk similar to a modern tie and is traditionally either grey or black. A more casual form of ascot is in British English called a cravat, or sometimes as a day cravat to distinguish it from the formal ascot or dress cravat. The casual form is made from a thinner woven silk that is more comfortable when worn against the skin, often with ornate and colourful printed patterns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1850s in Western fashion</span> Costume and fashion of the 1850s

1850s fashion in Western and Western-influenced clothing is characterized by an increase in the width of women's skirts supported by crinolines or hoops, the mass production of sewing machines, and the beginnings of dress reform. Masculine styles began to originate more in London, while female fashions originated almost exclusively in Paris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1880s in Western fashion</span> Costume and fashion of the 1880s

1880s fashion in Western and Western-influenced countries is characterized by the return of the bustle. The long, lean line of the late 1870s was replaced by a full, curvy silhouette with gradually widening shoulders. Fashionable waists were low and tiny below a full, low bust supported by a corset. The Rational Dress Society was founded in 1881 in reaction to the extremes of fashionable corsetry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boutonnière</span> Small floral arrangement worn on the lapel

A boutonnière or buttonhole is a floral decoration, typically a single flower or bud, worn on the lapel of a tuxedo or suit jacket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black lounge suit</span> Mens semi-formal daytime attire

The black lounge suit (UK), stroller (U.S.), or Stresemann, is a men's day attire semi-formal intermediate of a formal morning dress and an informal lounge suit; comprising grey striped or checked formal trousers, but distinguished by a conventional-length lounge jacket, single- or double-breasted in black, midnight blue or grey. This makes it largely identical to the formal morning dress from which it is derived, only having exchanged the morning coat with a suit jacket, yet with equivalent options otherwise, such as necktie or bowtie for neckwear, a waistcoat, French cuffs dress shirt of optional collar type, and black dress shoes or dress boots. The correct hat would be a semi-formal homburg, bowler, or boater hat. Just as morning dress is considered the formal daytime equivalent of formal evening attire dress coat i e. white tie, so the stroller is considered the semi-formal daytime equivalent of the semi-formal evening attire dinner jacket, i.e. black tie. Unlike other dress codes, there is no clear equivalent for women, though typical morning dress and cocktail dress have both been identified as alternatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Over-frock coat</span> Formal overcoat

An over-frock coat is a formal overcoat designed to be worn over a frock coat if needed in cold weather. A top-frock coat may also be worn over a frock coat in milder weather. Shaped like the body coats popular in the Victorian and Edwardian periods, the over-frock coat was cut in essentially the same way as the frock coat that was worn under it, although it would be larger overall to accommodate the frock-coat worn underneath. Like the frock coat, the over-frock would typically be single-breasted, with step lapels for informal occasions like business, and double-breasted with pointed lapels for formal occasions – weddings, funerals, balls, etc. The top-frock was usually double breasted. The formal variety was sometimes called a Prince Albert overcoat. The Prince Albert top frock, from the later half of the 19th century, originally had a three-inch-wide velvet collar, and flap pockets at the hip, until 1893, when it became even more fitted, longer, and double-breasted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1910s in Western fashion</span> Costume and fashion in the 1910s

The 1910s in Western fashion encompasses styles from 1910 to 1919. Western fashion in this period carries influences from oriental and neoclassical inspirations as well as the subsequent effects of World War I. Over the decade, Women's fashion experienced a shift towards shorter hemlines and dropped waistlines in addition to the more practical garments necessitated by the war. In men's fashion, evening wear largely continued to adhere to previous conventions while trends in informal outerwear continued to evolve. During the period, shifts in fashion made way for styles associated with the Jazz Age of the 1920s.

A man's suit of clothes, in the sense of a lounge, office, business, dinner or dress suit, is a set of garments which are crafted from the same cloth. This article discusses the history of the lounge suit, often called a business suit when featuring dark colors and a conservative cut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formal trousers</span> Trousers for formal day attire

Formal trousers, also known as formal striped trousers or colloquially spongebag trousers, are grey striped or patterned formal trousers for day attire in traditional Western dress code, primarily associated with formal morning dress or secondly its semi-formal equivalent black lounge suit. Traditionally made from heavy wool ranging from worsted, melton to partial twill weave, the pattern is most often of a muted design in stripes of black, silver, white and charcoal grey in various combinations. In addition, formal trousers may also come in check patterns, such as houndstooth check, or plaids, although these variants are widely considered as not the most formal.