Dress Codes

[JSFMACLJR]

according to a brochure produced by my tailor this is the highland dress required for Court Levees -



which I had assumed would be equivalent to 'white tie'. I have to bow to his advice as it is not the type of occasion that I have attended, nor am ever likely to. Of course every occasion will have its own dress requirements, dictated by the organisers, just as some golf clubs do and which were the subject of another lengthy and impassioned thread not so long ago. To paraphrase you, if you don't like the rules then politely decline the invitation.

Phil
What a marvalous print! Thank you for sharing it and your comments.

I must admitt to admiring this chaps style, and it certainly looks like Highland No.1C Levée Order of dress (to be worn when carrying out duties as an Equerry to Royalty or attending to Court Investitures and Regimental weddings.)
Your comments have got me thinking and I've just spent an interesting 45mins on google looking at some amazing descriptions of court dress from a bygone era. It would be interesting to know if anyone has seen this being worn at a Royal garden party or investiture, or simular function. Of course this has to make me retract my comment about there being no equivilent highland dress to White Tie. Phil, I bow to you and your tailor's greater knowledge, and offer my apologies.

Here's a description from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_u...United_Kingdom which I think describes what your two chaps are wearing.

In 1898, a special dress with sword and dirk was allowed for Chiefs and petty Chiefs as a military uniform at court. By 1908, this was extended to Highland gentlemen, and comprised-
· kilt
· sporran
· doublet of cloth or velvet,
· Highland belts
· claymore
· dirk
· long plaid.
By 1912, the qualification was absent, and it was to comprise-
· black silk velvet full dress doublet
· set of silver celtic or crested buttons
· superfine tartan full dress kilt,
· short trews (if desired)
· full dress tartan hose
· full dress-length shoulder plaid
· full dress white hair sporran - silver mounted and tassels
· dirk with knife and fork
· sgian dubh (sock knife)
· patent leather shoulder belt, silver mounted,
· waist belt with silver clasp
· silver mounted shoulder brooch
· silver kilt pin
· lace jabot
· one pair buckles for instep of shoes
· one pair small ankle buckles for shoes
· full dress brogues
· Highland claymore.
· Glengarry or Balmoral, crest or ornament
· Cross belt of leather (or metal mounted) for carrying the sword worn over the right shoulder.
By 1937, the shoulder plaid became shoulder plaid or belted plaid. Dress sporran could be hair, fur, or skin, any pattern. Footwear was dress shoes and brogues. Highland Bonnet, feather or feathers if entitled. Highland pistols and powder horn may be worn.
Dress Doublet- of velvet, cloth or tartan. Waistcoat [if doublet is intended to be worn unbuttoned]- velvet, cloth, tartan; dress kilt; dress hose; plaid either shoulder or belted; shoulder brooch for plaid; dress sporran and strap or chain (sealskin, silver furnished top)- can be hair, fur, skin; Highland basket-hilt sword, black leather or metal mounted scabbard; sgian dubh (sock knife); dirk; kilt pin; jabot, lace (lace, silk, satin or lawn stock); cuffs, lace; Ghillie Brogue shoes (leather uppers, soles and tassels) or Dress shoes (with buckle); Highland Bonnet; belt and buckle (leather and lined); flashes; Highland pistols and powder horn may be worn; gloves are not worn.

I couldn't find an up to date version of this, but I suspect that in this day and age of high security, the thought of sporting a pair of highland pistols would be a talking point! A military collegue of mine from my regiment recently attended a reception for a Scottish charity in the Great Hall at the Houses of Parilment, Westminster, and although the invitation was full Mess Kit, he was asked not to wear his dirk or sgian dubh.[/QUOTE]

The Lord Chamberlain's Dress Regulations from 1937 still are in effect--IN THEORY. Highland dress as per i937 was worn by quite a number of gentlemen at the Coronation in 1953. My late father attended a number of vice-regal levees in Canada in the 1950s and '60s in levee dress. Court dress was not worn at garden parties, but was worn at investitures. I'm not sure when dress was "relaxed" for investitures. When my great-great grandfather was knighted in 1897 he wore the required velvet court suit, new style. We still own it. Court dress was worn to state balls and banquets. It still is.

PS. Wouldn't equerries be in uniform?