Tiara

[HappyStroller]

Perhaps this should be asked in the Elegant Living section; if so, I apologise.

For a formal white tie function, is the lady supposed to wear a tiara?

Should the tiara be of silver or of gold? Can large coloured gemstones be on the tiara if she is not royalty?

[storeynicholas]

In Daphne Fielding's book The Duchess of Jermyn Street: The Life and Good Times of Rosa Lewis of the Cavendish Hotel, Eyre & Spottiswoode 1964, there is a passage (dealing with the sale of the hall chest, before demolition of the old building) in the Epilogue which reads: "The sight of it brought back a flood of memories, for it was on this chest that the bearskins and tiaras were piled after the Court balls at Buckingham Palace.". However, young unmarried women generally just wore pearls. At presentation of the Debs at Court, they wore two ostrich plumes in their hair (probably with diamond pinning) and their mothers three (in a Prince of Wales formation). There have been recent sales of some very grand tiaras, marking the fact that their usefulness in possession has just about ceased; although brides still sometimes wear them on their wedding day and there are state occasions (not mere balls) when they are worn. They were often made in settings of platinum or white gold with diamonds and pearls. However, there have been examples of the use of coloured stones too. Is Mrs Happy Stroller about to be truly eponymous?
NJS

[HappyStroller]

Sir, I apologise for not answering your question about my better half as it is proving to be too intellectually challenging.

However, thank you very much for kindly helping me with your very informative response and the required effort.

Looks like even white tie functions have diffferent levels of formality!

1. State functions - Ladies must wear long white gloves and white gold tiaras, white diamonds and pearls permitted.

2. Grand state balls - Ladies must wear long white gloves and plain white gold tiaras.

3. Weddings - Lady members of the wedding parties may wear long white gloves and plain white gold tiaras.

4. Least formal social functions - Ladies need not wear gloves and tiara.

[storeynicholas]

Happy Stroller - I just meant that your wife might be about to become 'Happy' with the gift of a tiara! As to the rest, I am sure that there were very specific rules for events that no longer occur. As I suggest, the bride at a wedding might still wear a tiara and those who attend state events (aside from those when crowns and coronets are the thing!). I expect that Mrs Happy Stroller would find more use for a nice parure, without a tiara.
best,
NJS

[NCW]

I had always believed that generally only married women wore tiaras. There are different levels of white tie certainly, and women now will not always even wear proper gowns with petticoats, so for something as out of use as a proper tiara, play it by ear.

The old advice probably applies well to things like coloured tiaras: 'If you need to ask, don't do it'. On the other hand, you seem to be asking quite a few questions about formal wear recently, so if you are planning to host an event (for example a wedding) then you can set the rules, and fetch from the vault whatever headgear of yesteryear you choose.

[chelsea]

Happy Stroller,

If you would like to read up about the history of tiaras, can I suggest you look at the following book: Tiaras- a history of spendour by Geoffrey Munn. Geoffrey is at Warski and is an acknowledged expert . It is an informative read.

As to the rules as to where to wear one, well frankly in this less formal age, few know and still less bother with the rules. In my experience the ladies lucky enough to own one or more tiaras are frustrated at not having any formal occasions to wear them. Paradoxically, they sometimes wear them at intimate, less formal events. I myself gave a black tie party earlier in the summer and two of the ladies arrived wearing tiaras and looked lovely. I should add they were with friends they know well, are very secure socially and just wanted to add to the glamour and party fun.

Chelsea

[HappyStroller]

Thank you, Sir, for your kind clarification.

I doubt Mrs. HS will become pregnant by the mere gift of a tiara. She is a lady of substance in her own right who has her own parure (but no parure).

Happy Stroller - I just meant that your wife might be about to become 'Happy' with the gift of a tiara! As to the rest, I am sure that there were very specific rules for events that no longer occur. As I suggest, the bride at a wedding might still wear a tiara and those who attend state events (aside from those when crowns and coronets are the thing!). I expect that Mrs Happy Stroller would find more use for a nice parure, without a tiara.
best,
NJS

[HappyStroller]

Thank you, Sir, for providing some valuable rules on the use of tiaras.

But let's say a gentleman happens to be along a statuesque young lady (who happens not to be Mrs. HS, who is a kind and understanding spouse) with super-model looks to a white tie function, without telling anybody that his social companion is not his trophy wife, does she wear a tiara or not?

I had always believed that generally only married women wore tiaras. There are different levels of white tie certainly, and women now will not always even wear proper gowns with petticoats, so for something as out of use as a proper tiara, play it by ear.

The old advice probably applies well to things like coloured tiaras: 'If you need to ask, don't do it'. On the other hand, you seem to be asking quite a few questions about formal wear recently, so if you are planning to host an event (for example a wedding) then you can set the rules, and fetch from the vault whatever headgear of yesteryear you choose.

[HappyStroller]

Wearing a tiara for black tie, now that is making a statement!

Thank you, Chelsea, for your book recommendation, which I shall procure. I look forward to learning about the rules that few know in this age before starting to accumulate any of those large-sized 100-carat gemstones fit for tiaras.

Happy Stroller,

If you would like to read up about the history of tiaras, can I suggest you look at the following book: Tiaras- a history of spendour by Geoffrey Munn. Geoffrey is at Warski and is an acknowledged expert . It is an informative read.

As to the rules as to where to wear one, well frankly in this less formal age, few know and still less bother with the rules. In my experience the ladies lucky enough to own one or more tiaras are frustrated at not having any formal occasions to wear them. Paradoxically, they sometimes wear them at intimate, less formal events. I myself gave a black tie party earlier in the summer and two of the ladies arrived wearing tiaras and looked lovely. I should add they were with friends they know well, are very secure socially and just wanted to add to the glamour and party fun.

Chelsea