Full dress uniform
Full dress uniform, also known as a ceremonial dress uniform or parade dress uniform, is among the most formal type of uniform used by military, police, fire and other public uniformed services for official parades, ceremonies, and receptions, including private ones such as marriages and funerals. Full dress uniforms typically include full-size orders and medals insignia. Styles tend to originate from 19th-century uniforms, although the 20th century saw the adoption of mess dress-styled full-dress uniforms. Designs may depend on regiment or service branch. In Western dress codes, full dress uniform is a permitted supplementary alternative equivalent to the civilian white tie for evening wear or morning dress for day wear – sometimes collectively called full dress – although military uniforms are the same for day and evening wear. As such, full dress uniform is the most formal uniform, followed by the mess dress uniform.
Although full dress uniforms are often brightly coloured and ornamented with gold epaulettes, braids, lanyards, lampasses, etc., many originated in the 18th and early 19th centuries as normal styles of military dress that, with the adoption of more practical uniforms, were eventually relegated to ceremonial functions. Before World War I, most armed forces of the world retained uniforms of this type that were usually more colourful and elaborate than the ordinary duty, or the active service dress uniform.
While full dress uniform is predominantly worn at occasions by commissioned officers and senior non-commissioned officers, it may also be worn as optional wear at personal expense by enlisted personnel on occasions such as weddings. It is also sometimes worn by members of royal courts, orders of chivalry or certain civilian uniformed services, although some of the latter may resemble court uniforms.
Name
The phrase "full dress uniform" is often applied in order to distinguish from semi-formal mess dress uniforms, as well as informal service dress uniforms.Yet, a full dress uniform is sometimes simply called a dress uniform. Although many services use the term dress generically for uniforms, allowing it to refer to more modern service dress uniforms with suitable modifiers. Therefore, the term dress uniform without prefix typically refers to full dress uniform as described in this article.
History
During the 19th century a division developed in most armies between the uniform worn for parade and ceremony, active service and daily working. For off-duty wear outside barracks, full dress was usually worn in a slightly modified form.The British and United States armies were dependent upon voluntary recruiting and found that a smart uniform served to attract recruits and improve morale amongst those already serving. The British regimental system fostered numerous distinctions amongst different units.
However, this was not limited to volunteer armies, with conscript armies of continental Europe retaining many of the colourful features that had evolved during the nineteenth century, for reasons of national and unit pride. Thus, in 1913 most French soldiers wore red trousers and kepis as part of their full dress, the majority of British foot regiments retained the scarlet tunics for parade and off duty, the German Army was characterised by Prussian blue, the Russian by dark green, and the Austro-Hungary Army by a wide range of differing facing colours dating back to the 18th century.
There were usually exceptions to each of these rules, often distinguishing unique units. This included the German cuirassiers, who wore white full dress; British rifle regiments, who wore rifle green; and French mountain troops who wore large berets and light blue trousers. The U.S. Army with its "dress blues" was an exception, with cavalry, artillery and infantry being distinguished only by the different branch colours.
After World War I most full dress uniforms disappeared. Many of the royal or imperial regimes that had taken a particular pride in the retention of colourful traditional uniforms had been overthrown and their republican, fascist, or communist successors had little incentive to retain old glories. Elsewhere cost and disillusion with the "peacock" aspects of old-fashioned soldiering had a similar effect, except for ceremonial guard units and such limited exceptions as officers' evening or off-duty uniforms.
Modern armies are characterised by simple and drably coloured dress even for ceremonial occasion, with the exceptions noted above. However a general trend towards replacing conscript armies with long-serving professionals has had, as a side effect, a reversion to dress uniforms that combine smartness with some traditional features. Thus the U.S. Army announced in 2006 that uniforms of modern cut but in the traditional dark and light blue colours would become universal issue, replacing the previous grey/green service dress. This measure however proved a short lived one, being phased out after 2019. The French Army has, with the abolition of conscription, reintroduced kepis, fringed epaulettes and sashes in traditional colours to wear with camouflage "trellis" or light beige parade dress. The British Army with its strong regimental traditions has retained a wide range of special features and dress items to distinguish individual units, in spite of recent amalgamations. Although there are still official patterns for full dress uniforms for each regiment or corps within the British Army, this uniform is seldom issued at public expense, except for units which are often on public duties, such as the Guards Division, Regimental Bands and Corps of Drums, which are bought from the regiment's allowance. Details of allowances, and allowable tax relief for items which must be purchased are listed in the Army Dress Regulations.
Full dress uniform by country
Argentina
In the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, the Argentine Federal Police, Argentine National Gendarmerie and Naval Prefecture, dress uniforms are worn during military and civil occasions, especially for the military bands and colour guards. They are a reminder of the military and law enforcement history of Argentina, especially during the early years of nationhood and the wars of independence that the country took part in.The Argentine Army's modern dress uniform consists of a high-collar dark blue coat with a white peaked cap, epaulettes, sabre, trousers of the same colour, a golden belt, black shoes, and medals. A white coat, with open collar, white shirt and black tie is used in summer. A simpler version, without sabre and with ribbons instead of medals, is worn for some formal, mostly indoors, occasions, such as dinners.
However, several regiments within the Argentine Army are authorized ceremonial full dress uniforms which date from the 19th century, including the Regiment of Patricios, the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers, and the 1st Artillery Regiment in the Buenos Aires Garrison.
The Argentine Navy dress uniform is a navy blue rig with a visor cap for officers and senior ratings and sailor caps for junior ratings, epaulettes and sleeve rank marks, a sword and scabbard for officers, blue trousers for men and skirts for women, a belt, and black leather shoes or boots. Marines wear peaked caps with the dress uniform. Epaulettes are only worn with the dress uniform.
The Argentine Air Force uses a uniform similar to one used by the Royal Air Force, in brighter colour.
Regardless of service branch military police personnel wear helmets with their dress uniforms, plus armbands to identify service branch.
Australia
The Australian Army has several orders of ceremonial uniforms. The Royal Australian Navy also have a few different ceremonial dress uniforms for its commissioned officers, senior sailors, and junior sailors. Members of the Australian armed forces wear these uniforms for ceremonial occasions, commemorative events and special occasions.Canada
Canadian Armed Forces
The Canadian Army's universal full dress uniforms includes a scarlet tunic, midnight blue trousers with a scarlet trouser stripe, and a Wolseley helmet. However, most regiments in the Canadian Army maintain authorized regimental differences from the Army's universal full dress, including several armoured units, Canadian-Scottish regiments, foot guards, and voltigeur/rifle regiments. Full dress is authorized only for the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Infantry Corps. Other army members have no authorized full dress uniform.Full dress uniforms for the Royal Canadian Air Force consists of a blue plume, where the headdress allows, an air force light blue tunic, trousers and facings. The RCAF pipe band's full dress uniform is modelled after the uniforms used by Scottish Highland regiments. It includes a feather bonnet; air force blue doublet, facings, and pipings; RCAF tartan kilt; and blue garters. Air force full dress is authorized only for pipers and drummers. The full dress uniform for the Royal Canadian Navy includes a dark navy blue tunic, trousers, and white facings. However, full dress in the Royal Canadian Navy is no longer issued.
Regulations for the wear of full dress are contained in the Canadian Forces publication Canadian Forces Dress Instructions, under No. 1B Ceremonial Dress. Amendments to dress regulations are issued through the office of the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, initially in the form of a CANFORGEN message, which is placed in the dress manual until an official publication amendment can be promulgated.
Dress regulations may also be amplified, interpreted, or amended by the commanders of formations and units through the issuing of Standing Orders, Ship's Standing Orders, Routine Orders, and Standard Operating Procedures. This may include amplification where the regulations are unclear or are not mandatory; amendments or reversal of some existing regulations for special occasions or events; or the promulgation of regulations regarding the wear of traditional regimental articles.