Reaching adult status

Some Christian churches welcome children reaching "the age of reason" into the congregation as adults in the ceremony of confirmation. Girls being confirmed typically wear pristine but modest white dresses; boys may wear suits or other formal attire.

In 19th century England, coming of age was also marked by a boy's wearing long pants instead of short ones, and girl putting up her hair, in a bun or chignon, rather than wearing it loose down her back or in schoolgirl braids.

In 18th and 19th century England, a well-brought-up girl was either "out" -- admitted to adult social occasions -- or "not out". Starting in the 18th century, it became customary to mark a girl's "coming out" with a special festivity, such as a ball in her honor. Wealthy families spent great sums of money on elaborate clothing, decorations, food and drink, etc. Late in the 19th century, it became more common for wealthy families to club together to sponsor a ball or cotillion at which many girls "came out" together, or made their debut. They were called debutantes.

Debutantes wear ball gowns, of course, but usually ones of restrained cut and coloring that suggest a modest girl being introduced to society for the first time.

Graduation

Western universities took shape during the Middle Ages and still retain many vestiges of medieval custom. One of those vestiges is scholarly attire: gowns, caps, and hoods, as worn hundreds of years ago. Once worn for all lectures and other public occasions, the cap and gown is now usually reserved for college graduation ceremonies.

Ordinary bachelors, or holders of B.A, B.S, etc. degrees, wear a black gown over their ordinary clothes and a cap called a mortarboard, consisting of a stiff square panel sewn onto a skull-cap. Higher degrees call for gowns of different colors and hoods rather than caps.

In the 19th century, the bachelor's gown and mortarboard were annexed by the new institution of the high school. High school graduates proudly wore caps and gowns to their ceremonies. The custom further diffused, to the point that some kindergartens send their graduates out into the big world to the accompaniment of tiny caps and gowns.

Marriage

The man marrying is the groom; he typically wears a suit or a tuxedo. The woman marrying is the bride and wears a wedding dress or wedding gown.

For a first-time bride, the dress is white, denoting virginity. Women marrying for the second (or third, or fourth) time are supposed to forgo the elaborate white gown and wear a colored dress or ensemble.

The archetypal wedding gown is cut like a ball gown, with a wide skirt, tight waist, and decolletage. If the skirt is cut closer to the body, it may still have a trailing train, often carried by a child trainbearer. The dress is accessorized with a lace veil, often anchored by a tiara and a bouquet of flowers, often encased in an elaborate bouquet-holder.

Brides are supposed to be wearing, in the words of an old jingle:

Something old and something new,

Something borrowed and something blue.

Because wedding apparel is often quite expensive, most brides find no difficulty in mixing old and new. A new dress will be crowned with a family heirloom veil, an old dress with new earrings, etc. The borrowed item is often a handkerchief; the blue item is often a garter. The garter is a decorated band of elastic once used to hold up long stockings. Garters are no longer used, but survive in the wedding paraphernalia as an item that the bride removes and throws to the crowd at the reception following the actual marriage ceremony.

Suits Definition

Clothing Definitions