Dress Codes in the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection

Dress codes define what we wear, and how the rest of the world sees us, both historically and today. They can be written, defined through laws, regulations, or the instructions on an invitation. They can be unwritten, shaped by society and cultural trends or conventions.

People who work in royal households often have uniforms to show their role. They may be practical and hard-wearing for everyday work or more magnificent for state and ceremonial occasions.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries many countries developed uniforms for their ambassadors and diplomats to wear for their official duties abroad which are often similar to court uniforms. While not worn often, some countries and courts still use diplomatic dress today.

For the most important state occasions, special clothes are worn. These can be traditional, based on models that haven't changed for centuries like heralds tabards. They can also be designed especially for an occasion, like coronation dresses.

While often seeming fun, fancy dress has been used by royalty to promote national industries or to support charities. Queen Victoria’s three fancy dress balls promoted the Spitalfields silk industry because everyone would have to buy new clothes for the costume theme.

Formal or evening wear is often elaborate or conforming to traditional dress codes. Royalty will wear evening wear for official duties including state dinners or overseas visits. For women this will often be a full-length evening or ballgown.

Daywear is worn for formal royal duties and visits during the day. Daywear for official visits needs to be carefully thought about to be suitable for the planned activities, and if worn overseas, for the culture and climate of the host country.

Historically children's clothes have either been miniature versions of what adults have worn or have had their own style to recognise childhood as a distinct stage of life. Children's clothes will sometimes be made from finer fabrics for special occasions.

From the 18th century, women coming to court wore specific styles of clothing, such as wide mantuas. By the early 20th century, women's court dress had to conform to the rules specified by the Lord Chamberlain in the book Dress Worn at Court.

In the 18th century, men wore fine and expensive clothes in a court style. In the 19th century the clothes men wore at court become regulated, with people holding official positions wearing uniforms to show their role and status.

Underwear has a practical purpose as a barrier between the  body and outer clothes. It follows dress codes to create the shape and style for the clothes that go over it. Royal underwear was often marked with the initials of the owner.

Today, thousands of people attend the Royal Household each year for garden parties and investiture ceremonies. The dress code specifies formal wear, national dress, or uniform. People dress their best and express their values, culture or own sense of style.

Browse the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection and see if you can identify which dress codes each garment follows.