Ceremonial dress is the clothing worn for very special occasions, such as coronations, graduations, parades, religious rites, and trials. In the hierarchy of dress codes (e.g., Dress code (Western)), ceremonial dress is the most formal and offers almost no room for personal expression. Examples of ceremonial dress include:
- the ermine lined cloak, crown and scepter of a king or queen
- tribal or other dress reserved for the most formal occasions
- the full dress uniforms of military officers
- ceremonial suit of armour, often highly decorated
- the traditional white dress worn once by brides and then never worn after the wedding
- the liturgical robes of many religions
- academic dress
- court dress, such as the robe and wig worn by British judges
Famous quotes containing the words ceremonial and/or dress:
“Jargon is part ceremonial robe, part false beard.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“The swimming hole is still in use. It has the same mudbank. It is still impossible to dress without carrying mud home in one’s inner garments. As an engineer I could devise improvements for that swimming hole. But I doubt if the decrease in mother’s grief at the homecoming of muddy boys would compensate the inherent joys of getting muddy.”
—Herbert Hoover (1874–1964)