Full dress

Full dress is a category of dress codes that refers to most formal clothing available in Western society.

Civilian

For a civilian, during the Victorian and Edwardian period, this corresponded to a frock coat in the day, and white tie at night. When morning dress (in the modern sense, using a morning tailcoat rather than a frock coat) became common, it was less formal than a frock coat, and even when this was phased out, morning dress never achieved full dress status. In the twenty-first century, full dress therefore unambiguously refers to white tie.

Military

Full dress uniform is a special military uniform reserved for parade or other ceremonial occasions. Prior to World War I (1914–18) most armies of the world retained uniforms of this type that were usually more colorful and elaborate than the ordinary duty ("undress") or the increasingly drab active service ("field") uniforms.

The British and United States armies were dependent upon voluntary recruiting and found that a smart dress served to attract recruits and improve morale amongst those already serving. The British regimental system fostered numerous distinctions amongst different units.

Full Dress

Full Dress (foaled 1966) was a French-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the classic 1000 Guineas in 1969. Full Dress was beaten on her first two starts as a two-year-old but then won the Crookham Stakes at Newbury Racecourse. In the following spring she won the 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Ascot before surviving and objection to win the Guineas. She was beaten in her two subsequent races and was retired to stud where she had some success as a broodmare.

Background

Full Dress was a "neat and compact" bay mare with a narrow white blaze and one white foot bred in France by her owner R. B. "Budgie" Moller. She was sired by Shantung a French horse who finished third in the 1959 Epsom Derby and also sired the Epsom Oaks winner Ginevra. Full Dress was the first foal of her dam Fusil, a winner of one minor race. Fusil was a granddaughter of the influential broodmare Mitrailleuse, whose other descendants included Commanche Run, One in a Million (1000 Guineas) and Swiftfoot (Irish Oaks). The filly was sent into training with Harry Wragg at his Abington Place stable at Newmarket.