Ceremonial

Notes on Ceremonial Dress
  • Skirts and pumps shall not be worn on parade
  • Approved gloves may be worn
  • Accoutrements, see Chapter 5, Annex A, Paragraph 4
No. 1 - Ceremonials with Accoutrements
  • ​Occasions when worn: Formal state and military ceremonies/parades, including: inspections, church parades and service funerals, investitures; guards of honour; in attendance on or as escors to Royal and vice-regal personages; exchanging ceremonial visits or offical calls, if considered appropriate; as a representative of the CF at formal civilian functions; formal military weddings.
  • Remarks: Medals/accoutrements, ie: gloves, sword, pistol, bayonet
​No. 1A - Medals Only
  • Occasions when worn: Formal and other significant ceremonies/parades where swords, ceremonial belts, bayonets, etc, are not deemed necessary or appropriate. These include: investitures; levees; ceremonial parades; ceremonial occasions, when attending as a spectator; on Remembrance Days in messes; formal military weddings.
  • Remarks: No accoutrements

Mess Dress

No. 2 - Mess Standard
  • Occasions when worn: Formal evening function (after 1800 hrs): mess dinner, formal mess functions or service/civilian occasions where formal attire would be deemed appropriate
No. 2A - Mess White
  • Occasions when worn: As for No. 2, during hot weather, or as ordered
  • Same as No. 2 except white jacket
No. 2B - Mess Service
  • Occasions when worn: As for No 2, or as ordered
No. 2C - Mess Shipboard
  • Occasions for wear: Aboard ship, evening informal wear, when ordered

Service Dress

No. 3 - Service Dress: Duty
  • Occasions when worn: Daily duty and travel dress, suitable for all occasions, including: divisions, routing parades and inspections; public appearances; off-duty wear; appropriate military social occasions; and other occasions as ordered.
No. 3A - Service Dress: Long Sleeve
  • Occasions when worn: Indoors, when an occasions allows the removal of jackets for a more casual work appearance. May be worn: aboard military vehicles, ships and aircraft; within the confines of DND property, including military buildings, or those areas of public buildings occupied by the military; and with headress when moving between adjacent buildings within the confines of DND property.
  • Remarks: Undress ribbons, flying and specialist skill badges and name tags shall not be worn.
No. 3B - Service Dress: Short Sleeve Shirt
  • Occasions when worn: Worn in lieu of No 3 on more casual occasions
  • Remarks: Name tag, undress ribbons, flying and skills badges worn.
No. 3C - Service Dress: Sweater
  • Occasions when worn: Worn in lieu of No. 3
  • Remarks: Neckties optional at all times. S/S shirt collar worn outside of sweater

Authorized Optional Items

  • Bow tie, black: Hand tied or permanently tied. Shall be worn by men with all mess dress except No. 3C, may be worn by women.
  • Cuff links: Plain gold or approved branch/regimental pattern. Shall be worn with all mess dress except No. 2B and No. 2C.
  • Cummerbunds: Colours and patterns in accordance with Annex B, Appendix 2. Shall be worn with all mess dress orders, less No. 2B, except when a waistcoat forms part of the ensemble.
  • Gloves, white: Unlined, wrist length, with or without fastener. Worn with ceremonial an dmess dress in accordance with branch/regimental direction.
  • Parka (CANEX): Standard environmentally coloured with detachable hood. Shall not be worn by personnel working in vicinity of aircraft.
  • Pearl Earrings: Single white pearl worn in the centre of each earlobe, shall be sperical in shape and shall not exceed 0.6cm in diameter. May be worn by women in all dress orders.
  • Pumps, black: Civilian plain patter, leather or patent leather, oval vamp, closed toe and hell, displaying no decorative features and with a standard (not spiked or wedged) hell approximately 5cm in height. May be worn, as appropriate, with ceremonial, mess and service orders of dress. Shall not be worn with operational orders of dress. shall not be worn on parade.
  • Purse, shoulder bag: Black leather/patent leather. Adjustable shoulder strap, flap over envelope style. Maximum dimensions 28 cm by 18 cm. May be carried with service orders of dress. Purse may not be carried with operational orders of dress.
  • Purse (clutch evening bag): Black leather/patent leather or suede, civilian style. May be carried with mess dress orders.
  • Shirt white (Male): Plain, long-sleeved, standard cuff with turned down collar.  Shall be worn with No. 3B orders of dress.
  • Shirt, white (Male): Pleated front, long-sleeved, French cuffs with turned down collar. May be worn with No. 2 and 2A orders of mess dress.
  • Shirt, white (Female): Shirt, plain, long sleeved with turned down collar. May be worn with all mess dress except No. 2C mess shipboard.
  • Shirt, white (Female): Shirt, long-sleeved, cuffed, plain or pleated front with wing collar. May be worn with all mess dress except No. 2B and No. 2C.
  • Shirt, white (Female): Blouse, long-sleeved, cuffed, gold buttoned front closure, high-buttoned convertible collar, polyester fluffy crepe material. May be worn with all mess dress, except No. 2C Mess Shipboard
  • Shirt Studs: Plain gold or approved branchéregimental pattern. Shall be worn with all mess dress except No. 2B and No. 2C.
  • Tie tacks/clasps: Conservative pattern. May be worn whenever a tie is worn.
  • Umbrella: Plain design. Shall not be worn with ceremonial orders of dress or when on parade.
  • Windbreaker (CANEX): Standard CANEX patterns. May be worn with service dress orders except No. 3 order of dress. Only slip-ons and rank insignia shall be worn on jacket. If worn over sweater, it shall cover sweater entirely. Worn over all shirt collars. Zippers not worn open lower than 15 cm from the fully closed position.
  • Mitts, leather black (plain): Plain, civilian style. Worn with topcoats (gabardines) and parkas during winter dress periods.
  • Hat, winter black, Yukon - pattern: CANEX pattern. Worn with service dress (No. 3 orders) with windbreakers, topcoats (gabardines) and parkas during winter dress periods.
  • Backpack, civilian pattern: Conservative pattern
  • Patent leather oxford shoes: Military pattern. May be worn with all non-ceremonial orders of dress.

Headdress

Wedge Cap: The wedge cap shall be worn on the right side of the head, centred front and back, with the front edged of the cap 2.5 cm above the right eyebrow.
Beret: The beret shall be worn evenly on the head, with the sweatband 2.5 cm above the eyebrows, the badge centred over the left eye, and the crown pulled downward to the right. The break of the sweatband shall be worn centred at the back of the head, with no draw string visible.
Tuque: An environmental tuque with no badges may be worn as an alternative winter headdress with topcoats (gabardines) and parkas during winter dress periods. Tuques shall be worn flush against the top of the head and turned up once to show either a 7.5 cm or a 10 cm fold according to the design of the tuque with the lower edge of the folw 2.5 cm above the eyebrows. According to the severity of the weather, the tuque may be:
  • worn up, square on the head and slightly angled towards the back; or
  • pulled down at the sides and back to cover the ears.
Winter Fur Cap (Yukon Cap):The optional item may be worn with service dress (No. 3 orders), with topcoats (gabardines) and parkas during winter dress periods. The cap is worn square on the head with the lower edge 2.5 cm above the eyebrows. The front fur flap is always fastened up to the body of the cap. According to the severity of the weather, the ear flaps may be worn up, secured with Velcro over the top of the cap, or pulled down to protet he ears and back of neck, with Velcro fastened under the chin. Hat badges are not worn.
Headdress policy:
No. 1 Orders of Dress: Wedge, tuque, Yukon cap or Turban
No. 2 Orders of Dress: Wedge, tuque, Yukon cap or Turban
No. 3 Orders of Dress: Wedge, Beret, Tuque, Yukon cap or Turban
No. 5 Orders of Dress (Flight Suits): Wedge, Beret, Tuque or Turban
No. 5 Orders of Dress (CADPAT): Beret, Tuque, Turban (Wedge not authorized)

Necktie

The necktie shall be knotted neatly using either a windsor or four-in-hand knot, and shall be kept tight. Conservative tie-pins or clips may be worn. When jacket is removed, the tie shall not be tucked into the shirt, except for safely reasons.

Authorized Badges

Poppies

Canadian Forces Dress Instructions
A-DH-265-000/AG-001
CF Dress Instructions
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