ress, is the attire for weddings--for the bridegroom, best
man, ushers, and male guests; at afternoon teas, afternoon receptions,
afternoon calls, afternoon walks on the fashionable avenue, garden
parties (but not picnics), luncheons, and, in fact, at all formal or
semiformal functions taking place between midday and candlelight, as
well as at church on Sundays, at funerals, and in the park in London
after midday.

Gray frock-coat suits are recent introductions from London, and have
been worn at all the functions at which the black is required, but the
latter is more conservative and in better taste. The afternoon dress is
seldom worn in midsummer, morning suits being allowable at seaside and
mountain-resort day functions.

_Evening dress_ is the proper attire, winter or summer, on all occasions
after candlelight. There are two kinds of evening dress, formal and
informal.

Formal or "full" evening dress, as it is sometimes vulgarly called,
consists of the evening or "swallowtail" coat of black dress worsted or
soft-faced vicuna, with or without silk or satin facing, with waistcoat
and trousers of the same material, the latter plain or with a braid down
the sides. The "dress" waistcoat can also be of white duck or pique, in
which case it is double-breasted. The shape of the dress waistcoat shows
the shirt bosom in the form of a "U."

The evening shirt is of plain white linen, with two shirt buttons and
link cuffs, straight standing collar, white lawn or linen tie. The
gloves are white with white stitching, the hose of black silk, and the
handkerchief, which must be present but not seen, of plain white linen.
The shoes are patent-leather pumps or "low quarters," tied, not
buttoned.

The overcoat is an Inverness of black cheviot, lined with satin and
without sleeves, and the hat a crush opera. These two latter adjuncts
are not indispensable, but most convenient. An ordinary black overcoat
and top hat can be worn with evening dress. No visible jewelry--not even
a watch chain--is allowed. The shirt buttons are either of white enamel,
dull-finished gold, or pearls, and the sleeve links white-enameled or
lozenge-shaped disks of gold, with a monogram thereon engraved.

Evening dress is _de rigueur_ at balls, dances, evening receptions,
evening weddings, dinners, suppers, the opera, and the theater, when
calling after candlelight, and in fact at any formal evening function
and generally when ladies are present.

Informa