Legal ‘Fashion’ Exhibition

Did you know that English barristers still wear a black mourning gown which was adopted after the death of King Charles II? Were you aware that women barristers when they first entered into the profession had to withstand a critical debate on what they should wear, whether a wig worn by men at the time was appropriate for them, or whether they should rather wear biretta, a turban, or a toque? Did you know that a coif proved to be one of the most enduring elements in the history of legal costume and the place where it once sat is still visible on the wigs worn nowadays? Were you aware that new robes designed in 2008 were compared to Star Trek uniforms? Did you know that Middle Templars were watched closely for their dress code adherence and four were even threatened with expulsion for such a ‘crime’ as wearing hats in the Hall?

All these topics and much more are covered in our latest library exhibition on legal ‘fashion’ which was organised in cooperation with the Middle Temple Archive. To compile this unique presentation, we used and displayed materials from the Middle Temple Library, Middle Temple Archive as well as artefacts loaned from the Royal Courts of Justice, where you will find the largest collection of legal and judicial robes in the United Kingdom. The exhibition focuses on the history of legal costume from 14^th century up to the most recent times, looks in detail on the selected parts of the legal costume and uncovers the strict rules of the Inn’s dress code policies.

As a taster, we have created a timeline of legal ‘fashion’, and we have also suggested a few articles and books which may be of interest to anyone who wants to know more about this topic. In the coming months, you can look forward to several articles about selected aspects of legal ‘fashion’.

 

Selected Bibliography

J. H. Baker, ‘History of the Gowns Worn at the English Bar’ (1975) 9 Costume 15–21

J. H. Baker, ‘A History of English Judges’ Robes’ (1978) 12 Costume 27–39

William Dugdale, Origines juridiciales (London 1666)

Dominique Enright (ed.), Legal habits (London 2003)

W. N. Hargreaves-Mawdsley, A history of legal dress in Europe (Oxford 1962)

Alexander Pulling, The Order of the Coif (London 1884)