# Is it actually required to dress like a cartoon character to practice before English courts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 18, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771 "2017-12-18T16:41:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/81 "2017-12-23T05:36:35Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > …Knee **breaches** could be the workaday wear of labourers and middle class folk, but more durable, made with wool (like tweed). “Breeches,” perchance? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/82 "2017-12-23T05:37:18Z")
> [@Noel Prosequi](#): > > When I got my full bottomed wig (about a dozen years ago) it was nearly $10,000. My late father paid for it as a present; no way could I then afford it otherwise without drastic steps like selling the kids for medical experiments. I always assumed you were learned in the law, **Noel**. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/83 "2017-12-23T05:39:10Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > “Breeches,” perchance? Picky, picky, picky! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/84 "2017-12-23T08:43:35Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Most of these gents are wearing pantaloons. > > [Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scene_at_the_Signing_of_the_Constitution_of_the_United_States) TMI, I realise, but my mother would have called those “dysentery britches”. ---
**Author:** ![Noel\_Prosequi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Noel\_Prosequi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noel_Prosequi)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/85 "2017-12-23T15:46:20Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I always assumed you were learned in the law, **Noel**. 😉 Kind of you to say. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/86 "2017-12-23T23:43:01Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > I am suitably impressed that a world-spanning empire was assembed by people who minded stuff like this. How else does one keep the riff-raff in its place? ---
**Author:** ![legion60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@legion60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion60)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/87 "2017-12-24T02:00:06Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Or can you just wear a suit like a normal person? > > Also, do they wear foppish powdered wigs in Scotland too? Seems like they would have less affinity for that kind of idiocy. Fucking ignorent asshole. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/88 "2017-12-24T02:13:00Z")
\ ***ignorant**. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/89 "2017-12-24T02:33:38Z")
**Moderator Warning** > [@legion60](#): > > Fucking ignorent asshole. This is an official warning. Personal insults are not permitted outside of the BBQ Pit forum. Please do not do this again. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/90 "2018-01-02T10:39:06Z")
> [@Noel\_Prosequi](#): > > When wigs were in general use, they typically needed to be sent out to be re-curled regularly, by hot irons. A firm called Ede and Ravenscroft in London developed a technique of manufacture that made recurling unnecessary, and now they are still the best formal (as opposed to theatrical) wig makers in existence. Simply the best people on the planet for legal dress I must say. I get all my Court dress [shirts from there still](https://legal.edeandravenscroft.co.uk/Home.aspx). Plus they deliever world over. Ok, you have to sometimes fight with customs, but man their stuff is awesome. (Our American learned friends can buy shirts and Barrister Bags, so they don’t get left out). ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/91 "2018-01-02T11:42:20Z")
E&R more or less have the market for academic robes cornered as well, not to mention having the ultimate database on various sorts of institutional regalia, down to regimental and school ties. There’s quite a[variety of robes, hats, ruffles and tassles around the world](http://www.jjmccullough.com/judges.htm). In the western world, a lot must go back to mediaeval church influence, and through them back to Roman times (I notice that French references to legal robes refer to them as a toga). ---
**Author:** ![MarcusF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@MarcusF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcusF)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/92 "2018-01-02T13:41:23Z")
> [@j666](#): > > … > > If you’re wearing a kilt, is should be ceremonial, and therefore white tie and watch-less. As the thread is still going I just wanted to pick up on this. Kilts are not necessarily ceremonial - just a general purpose garment. It’s the other bits that decide how formal the get up is, jacket, sweater, shirt etc., how fancy the sporran is, what sort of shoes and socks, and so on. For the range check out the pictures [here](https://www.your-kilt.com/kilt-outfits.html). The full range from formal to casual. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/93 "2018-01-02T15:37:22Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Simply the best people on the planet for legal dress I must say. I get all my Court dress [shirts from there still](https://legal.edeandravenscroft.co.uk/Home.aspx)… Thanks. That site includes a short overview of the evolution of English legal dress: [https://legal.edeandravenscroft.co.uk/EvolutionOfLegalDress.aspx](https://legal.edeandravenscroft.co.uk/EvolutionOfLegalDress.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/94 "2018-01-04T01:06:09Z")
> [@MarcusF](#): > > As the thread is still going I just wanted to pick up on this. Kilts are not necessarily ceremonial - just a general purpose garment. It’s the other bits that decide how formal the get up is, jacket, sweater, shirt etc., how fancy the sporran is, what sort of shoes and socks, and so on. > > For the range check out the pictures [here](https://www.your-kilt.com/kilt-outfits.html). The full range from formal to casual. Oh, I have no doubt there is a an range of options, but why wear such an impractical garment other than in an impractical situation? They make great formal wear, but what can you do besides show off your legs without worrying about a wardrobe malfunction? They are a perfect match for tight bodiced gowns with trains. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/95 "2018-01-04T14:09:33Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > “Breeches,” perchance? I had an assistant who constantly mixed those two words up - most embarrassing when dictating memos dealing with contract cases! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/96 "2018-01-04T14:19:35Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > I am suitably impressed that a world-spanning empire was assembled by people who minded stuff like this. [This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l_3-23zAWM) might illustrate the reason. ---
**Author:** ![MarcusF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@MarcusF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcusF)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/97 "2018-01-04T14:54:51Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > [This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l_3-23zAWM) might illustrate the reason. 🙂 I love that clip but for the real use of the kilt in battle you need to [see the next scene](https://youtu.be/i8atKXFZefA?t=5m13s)! ---
**Author:** ![MarcusF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@MarcusF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcusF)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/98 "2018-01-04T15:01:32Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Oh, I have no doubt there is a an range of options, but why wear such an impractical garment other than in an impractical situation? They make great formal wear, but what can you do besides show off your legs without worrying about a wardrobe malfunction? They are a perfect match for tight bodiced gowns with trains. Why not? They’re not really more impractical than many other types of clothing. Women seem to manage in skirts well enough! (Actually, these days I suspect even in the Highlands they are mostly confined to “showing off” situations: weddings, balls, Highland Games, military events, etc) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/99 "2018-01-04T16:44:37Z")
Here’s Snopes on a notorious military kilt incident: [Does Photo Show Queen Elizabeth II and a Colonel's 'Crown Jewels'? | Snopes.com](https://www.snopes.com/photos/risque/queen.asp) ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/100 "2018-01-05T01:06:38Z")
> [@MarcusF](#): > > Why not? They’re not really more impractical than many other types of clothing. Women seem to manage in skirts well enough! (Actually, these days I suspect even in the Highlands they are mostly confined to “showing off” situations: weddings, balls, Highland Games, military events, etc) Actually, skirts are damned impractical in a lot of situations, walking up stairs, picking up things, being outside in the wind, running, dancing, fighting, pole vaulting, painting, gardening, skiing, laboratory analyses, clean room manufacturing, table service, retail sales, taking public transportation, cooking, cleaning, fixing the car, climbing a ladder … Though, to be sure, I don’t believe men are expect to shave their legs when wearing kilts, so there’s that. Judge’s robes in the US are a very practical length usually, long enough for modesty but not long enough for a trip hazard. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771.md?page=6)