Hi Jock that would be very useful!

All conventions have a history of starting somewhere and also modifications and alterations occur from time to time - I found some interesting examples when I was surfing upon the topic of formal dress in its different manifestations.

Your military/naval lineage and background sounds a fascinating one. As you say, in those circumstances you had military regulations and dress codes to fall back on whereas I suspect civilian conventions do not have such a "bible" though there should be resources that people have written as "good form" at various points.

I look forward to the results of your research.

Trefor