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  • Home
  • Who we are
    • Our Story of City Consorts - 2020
    • Our Story of City Consorts - 2017
    • Our Objectives
    • Our Patrons
    • Our Founders and Management Committee
    • Our Committees
  • Events
    • C2 Upcoming City Consorts Events
    • C2 Save the Date
    • C2 Past Events
    • C2 Members' Experiences
    • Upcoming Members' Events and COVID-19 Specials
    • Upcoming Civic Events 2021 and Specials
    • City Livery Company Diary
  • Testimonials
  • Membership
    • Why join?
    • Membership Brooches
    • City Consorts AGM Reports
    • City Consorts Questionnaire
  • Members Only
    • Being a Consort in a pandemic
    • ZOOM and Facebook help!
    • Did you know? >
      • Facts about the City of London
      • More about London
      • Our City of London
      • Historical Facts re Our expressions
      • Livery Halls/Companies
      • Traditions and Ceremonies
      • Yesterdays Jobs in London
      • London Pubs
      • Victorian Scandals
      • London's Mystical Origins
      • Medieval Times
      • Explanations behind Sayings
    • Useful things to know in the role of Consort >
      • The City >
        • City of London Corporation
        • Two Courts
        • The Wards
        • The Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs
        • Election of The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs
        • A Tour of the City
      • The Livery >
        • The Livery Companies
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      • Really Useful Resources >
        • Books
        • Helpful Summaries or Documents
        • Really Useful Websites
        • Web Links to Livery Companies
        • Photos of all Masters and Consorts
        • YOUTUBE Videos
        • Web Links to Livery Company Halls
        • Web Links to Livery Calendars and Events
      • Being a Consort - Some Basics >
        • The Role
        • What you can expect
        • Having a great time
        • Where to get help or advice
      • Dress >
        • Dress - The Basics
        • Mansion House Banquets
        • Dress Tips for Women Consorts
        • Hats, Bags and Jewellery
      • FAQ
      • Request A Print
    • TIPS for Consorts from Consorts
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    • Official Documents
    • Key Contacts
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DRESS - THE BASICS

On one level the dress code for women is straightforward because it takes the lead from the men’s. The men’s dress code is fixed and constant and stated on the invitation. There are four dress codes- Lounge Suit, Black Tie (Dinner Jacket), Evening Dress (White Tie) or Morning Suit. These reflect the level of formality of the event and women’s dress follows that formality.

However, when one looks in detail about women’s dress within these categories, it is not always quite so obvious for women. There are fewer well-defined hard- and- fast rules.  Instead there is a ‘general understanding’ about what is appropriate dress within these four codes, so you will sometimes have to use a bit of judgement in the code categories dependent on the nature of the event and the time of day, and especially ‘black tie’.

The guidance is summarised below: 
Men
Lounge suit.
Fundamentally smart and applicable to a number of ‘business’ and day events such as: livery lunches; church services
Details
  • Smart dark suit
  • Any shirt
  • Must wear a tie
Ties can be coloured and patterned. Many wear a livery company tie.
Women equivalent dress
  • Smart business daywear – dress, jacket, skirt, trousers, and jacket/top
  • Simple cocktail dress for an evening function
  • Evening trousers for an evening function
Notes for women
​Use your judgement here in relation to the type of event you are attending e.g. wearing a cocktail dress would not be right when visiting a factory.

A Cocktail dress is a fitted dress, around knee length. The fabric should be suited to evening such as silk, crepe or chiffon.

Black Tie/ Dinner Jacket
Dress code of formal wear for evening events and social functions, traditionally worn only for events after 6 p.m.  
  • Black Dinner Jacket never cream in the City!
  • Matching black trousers
  • Black bow tie (never coloured or spotted!)
  • White dress shirt
  • Do not wear a coloured cummerbund or coloured tie.
  • Long evening dress
  • Long skirt and jacket
  • Mid-calf length dress
  • Cocktail dress - short
  • Evening trousers might be acceptable but not tight fitting.
There is wider scope in women’s dress for a ‘black tie’ event. There’s lots of opportunity for personal touches and dressing up a bit.

Some sources suggest it should always be ‘ long’ for a black tie. This is the default position for dinners.
​
Some ‘black tie’ events are not formal dinners, and this is where you check or use your judgement about what to wear.

Evening dress (White Tie)
The most formal of all dress codes associated with prestigious livery dinners, royal affairs, state dinners and formal balls
  • White bow tie
  • Winged collar
  •  Stiff white shirt
  •  Low cut white linen waistcoat
  • Black tail coat
  • Matching black trousers
  • Patent or polished shoes
  • For serving members of the military, Mess Kit is an alternative to White Tie.  
  • Formal Long evening dress
  • Long skirt and jacket
  • Shoulders covered i.e. dress has a bodice
  • Long gloves can be worn but take them off before eating.
  • Tiaras can be worn
  • For serving members of the military, Mess Kit is an alternative 
Always wear ‘long’ at a Mansion House dinner and cover the shoulders i.e. the dress should have a bodice which extends to at least the beginning of the upper arm.

Trousers must NOT be worn.

The top of the arms are generally covered so take a bolero/ shrug, scarf or stole to be on the safe side, if your dress does not have any sleeve.
​
Wear your ‘poshest’ jewelry

Morning suit
Usually worn at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party or a Ward Club lunch at which the Lord Mayor is guest of honour
  • Single breasted black coat with tails
  • Matching black waistcoat
  • Formal striped trousers
  • Tie rather than cravat
  • Grey or black top hat is optional
  • Smart formal day wear – suit, dress and jacket around knee length or below the knee.
  • Trousers not acceptable
  • Hat is usual
Daytime jewellery; pearls are often a good choice, and flattering.
​Hats are usually worn

​A couple of things to note….

Military and national dress is acceptable at formal functions and most others.

As a woman, wear things that suit you. Do enjoy having your own personal style within these broad guidelines and feel free to wear colour and accessorise interestingly, and reflect the ‘fashions.’ When it comes down to it, whether your hem is mid- knee or below the knee is not a big deal, neither is wearing traditional pearls or modern jewellery, but wearing day trousers instead of a long dress at the Mansion House is.

Do be careful not to wear anything over-revealing especially as consort. Showing too much flesh is generally regarded as bad manners in The City so don’t wear strapless and avoid thin straps unless you cover your shoulders with a scarf, stole or have a bolero or shrug to wear, and let your guests know too.

Sometimes in your own Livery Company functions there is more flexibility about dress so that thin strapped dresses may be OK especially for the younger attendees, but if your aim is to fit in then avoid them or wear a cover up which can of course be floaty, see-through and elegant.

 And most of all……….. dress to feel good and confident.

Main sources of Information :
​
    Livery Committee (http://www.liverycompanies.info/fellowship-of-clerks/dinners/dress-codes.pdf, 
   
    ‘Guide for Consorts’ by Sonya Zuckerman and Pauline Stewart,       
    http://www.liverycompanies.info/fellowship-of-clerks/masters--past-masters/consorts-guide-for-livery.pdf

    and various guidance from Livery Companies.
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