I was raised by my grandmother to believe that there are appropriate clothes for each part of the day and for every type of event. If one wore the wrong clothes, it was a sign of ignorance, mental illness or rebellion and, in social situations, also an insult to one’s guests or hosts.
To offer a single example, if one was invited to a traditional Himba wedding ceremony in Namibia, where, as part of the preparations, the women strip more or less naked and perform ondjongo – settle down, it’s a special dance – and the daytime temperature is often 40˚C, one would still wear one’s morning dress, complete with gloves and top hat.
The wonderful thing about morning dress is that, whether you’re tall or short, thin or stout, it’s incredibly flattering. This is largely thanks to the unique shape of the morning or dress coat, which is waist-length in the front and sides, but curves away gradually to form a knee-length, or below-the knee-length, tail with a single vent (although there are many variations, including the delightfully named weaselbelly).
Read all Country Life's wedding advice from our special coverage – including tips on picking bridesmaids, planning a country wedding, and why keeping it simple is often the best policy.fe weddings
It should be worn, incidentally, with a waistcoat, a limited range of trouser options (grey, black, striped or, if one fancies oneself as something of a Beau Brummell, houndstooth) and braces. Belts with morning dress spell sartorial death.
Such a costume is not only elegant, but gives the wearer an air of authority. It’s no coincidence that morning dress used frequently to be worn as a matter of course by really powerful men, such as kings, dictators, conductors, military commanders and head waiters.
"Remember what Oscar Wilde said: ‘You can never be overdressed or overeducated.’"
Its history, incidentally, can be traced back to 18th-century riding coats and it has been de rigueur at British weddings for more than 200 years.
Debrett’s, the recognised authority on etiquette since 1769, is blunt on the subject: ‘Morning dress is traditional dress for British weddings.’ However, its authors do recognise that, in certain (regrettable) circumstances, this is unrealistic: ‘A middle ground may be for the principal wedding party to wear morning dress and for the guests to wear lounge suits.’
The secret to a good wedding? More sincerity, less triviality
The secret of the classic country wedding is quality over quantity, says Giles Kime
Credit: Alamy
Wedding myths debunked, and mysteries explained
Weddings are as chock full of myth and superstition as they are canapés and crazy relatives.
What if the principal wedding party goes, as it were, fashion feral? For example, what if, as happened to me on one occasion, the marriage is to take place in a tepee in the grounds of the bride’s family home and the principal wedding party intend to wear clothes that look as if they have been gathered together from dressing-up boxes and charity shops?
On such an occasion, my advice is to hold firm to one’s principles and remember what Oscar Wilde said: ‘You can never be overdressed or overeducated.’
Jonathan Self
-
'For here is pure noodle nirvana': How to make Tom Parker Bowles's favourite Thai soupThe best bit about south-eat Asian-inspired soups is the fact that you can make them entirely your own, from mellow and comforting to blow-your-head-off hot.
-
How sport achieved global domination — and the luxury brands that followed in pursuit of goldSport is now a prime target for luxury brands and if they play it right there’s a multi-billion dollar prize waiting for them at the finish line.
-
How sport achieved global domination — and the luxury brands that followed in pursuit of goldSport is now a prime target for luxury brands and if they play it right there’s a multi-billion dollar prize waiting for them at the finish line.
-
Victor Hugo, France's greatest novelist, was also a talented artist — and now his 'rarely seen' illustrations are on display at the RAVictor Hugo dismissed his drawings as mere things made in the margins of his manuscripts Now, a Royal Academy exhibition reveals how powerfully they engage the imagination.
-
Philip Treacy, Gucci and Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, take centre stage at Chatsworth's latest floral-inspired exhibition'The Gorgeous Nothings: Flowers at Chatsworth’ traverses eras and art forms, raising questions about the environment.
-
Let's get physical: The best home gym products to get you movingA new coffee table book celebrating the rise of Technogym and a collaboration with Dior should be all the motivation you need.
-
Under the hammer: A 30-carat aquamarine pendant smuggled out of Russia and recently attributed to FabergéThe ribbon-bow surmount is synonymous with the Russian jewellery houses.
-
Honey, I shrunk the Ferrari: How to get your hands on (most) of a 250 Testa Rossa for less than £200,000One of the latest offerings from Hedley Studios is a 75%-scale model of Ferrari's three-time Le Mans winning icon. It's turning heads.
-
Lady Jane Grey: How the Nine Day Queen lost her head, but found her face -
Michaelangelo: The good, the bad and the disturbingly ugly of one of art's greatest geniusesWith a passion for arguing and a sharp tongue to match his extraordinary genius, Michelangelo was both the enfant prodige and the enfant ‘terribile’ of the Renaissance, as Michael Hall reveals.
