Red Sea rig
Encyclopedia
Red Sea rig, sometimes known as gulf rig or schooner rig, is a dress code for semi-formal
evening events, which in general consists of black tie
attire with the jacket removed, a red bow tie
and red cummerbund
, although there are local variations.
concept appearing circa 1800. Historically, it was felt that Royal Navy officers, being gentlemen, should wear the full appropriate uniform for all formal events, whatever the temperature. The sole exception was in the Red Sea
, where the heat and humidity often made this physically impossible. Here, officers were permitted to remove their jackets in the wardroom
, provided they added a cummerbund to temper the somewhat informal look. Royal Air Force officers serving on Navy ships follow the naval tradition wearing a Red Sea rig version of their own mess dress.
In his reminiscences For King and Country, Nelson Albert Tomalin describes a rather home-made version of Red Sea rig worn onboard the whaler Southern Sea in 1943 as "...white shirt with epaulettes and long blue trousers with a black scarf as a cummerbund..." .
Because of its obvious practicality, Red Sea rig was adopted into civilian life, first by British diplomats in the Red Sea
town of Jeddah
, and later by the local British Business Group
. It is now widely worn by many military and civilian organisations and is often the dress code of choice for dinner parties in British expatriate communities in the Middle East
and Far East
.
Red Sea rig originated prior to air conditioning
as a purely practical measure, but has now become a dress-style in its own right, even if the party or function is held in an air conditioned venue.
Decorations, even in miniature, are not normally worn with Red Sea rig, although medal
miniature ribbons are.
Although coloured bow ties are often (incorrectly) worn with black tie
attire, this is never the case with proper Red Sea rig. The tie is always black or red, whichever the local standard mandates, and the cummerbund is always of like colour.
Semi-formal
In Western clothing semi-formal is a grouping of dress codes, indicating the sort of clothes worn to events with a level of protocol between informal and formal...
evening events, which in general consists of black tie
Black tie
Black tie is a dress code for evening events and social functions. For a man, the main component is a usually black jacket, known as a dinner jacket or tuxedo...
attire with the jacket removed, a red bow tie
Bow tie
The bow tie is a type of men's necktie. It consists of a ribbon of fabric tied around the collar in a symmetrical manner such that the two opposite ends form loops. Ready-tied bow ties are available, in which the distinctive bow is sewn into shape and the band around the neck incorporates a clip....
and red cummerbund
Cummerbund
A cummerbund is a broad waist sash, usually pleated, which is often worn with single-breasted dinner jackets . The cummerbund was first adopted by British military officers in colonial India as an alternative to a waistcoat, and later spread to civilian use...
, although there are local variations.
History
Red Sea rig was originally a Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
concept appearing circa 1800. Historically, it was felt that Royal Navy officers, being gentlemen, should wear the full appropriate uniform for all formal events, whatever the temperature. The sole exception was in the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
, where the heat and humidity often made this physically impossible. Here, officers were permitted to remove their jackets in the wardroom
Wardroom
The wardroom is the mess-cabin of naval commissioned officers above the rank of Midshipman. The term the wardroom is also used to refer to those individuals with the right to occupy that wardroom, meaning "the officers of the wardroom"....
, provided they added a cummerbund to temper the somewhat informal look. Royal Air Force officers serving on Navy ships follow the naval tradition wearing a Red Sea rig version of their own mess dress.
In his reminiscences For King and Country, Nelson Albert Tomalin describes a rather home-made version of Red Sea rig worn onboard the whaler Southern Sea in 1943 as "...white shirt with epaulettes and long blue trousers with a black scarf as a cummerbund..." .
Because of its obvious practicality, Red Sea rig was adopted into civilian life, first by British diplomats in the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
town of Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
, and later by the local British Business Group
British business group
A British Business Group is an association or club of expatriate British business people. The aims of the group are typically to encourage trade with the host country and to provide a social environment for business networking. Typically a BBG will organize trade missions, lectures and social...
. It is now widely worn by many military and civilian organisations and is often the dress code of choice for dinner parties in British expatriate communities in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
.
Red Sea rig originated prior to air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
as a purely practical measure, but has now become a dress-style in its own right, even if the party or function is held in an air conditioned venue.
Decorations, even in miniature, are not normally worn with Red Sea rig, although medal
Medal
A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...
miniature ribbons are.
Although coloured bow ties are often (incorrectly) worn with black tie
Black tie
Black tie is a dress code for evening events and social functions. For a man, the main component is a usually black jacket, known as a dinner jacket or tuxedo...
attire, this is never the case with proper Red Sea rig. The tie is always black or red, whichever the local standard mandates, and the cummerbund is always of like colour.
Variants
There are many military and civilian variations of Red Sea rig:- Original Navy: Short-sleeved white shirt (open neck), formal dress trousers and black cummerbund
- P&O Cruises & Princess Cruises officers: Short-sleeved white shirt (open neck) with shoulder boards, formal dress trousers and black cummerbund; however a black belt is being substituted the cummerbund more often than not.
- BBGBritish business groupA British Business Group is an association or club of expatriate British business people. The aims of the group are typically to encourage trade with the host country and to provide a social environment for business networking. Typically a BBG will organize trade missions, lectures and social...
/ British Diplomatic: Long-sleeved white dress shirt, red bow tie, formal dress trousers and red cummerbund.
- American diplomatic (also known as Gulf Rig): Simply black-tie attire, minus the jacket, although cummerbunds are often worn.
- Royal MarinesRoyal MarinesThe Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
band: White long-sleeved dress shirt, black bowtie, normal uniform trousers with red side stripes, red cummerbund.
- Scottish Highland: The military version consists of a long sleeved white dress shirt, black bow tie, tartanTartanTartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns...
trewsTrewsTrews are men's clothing for the legs and lower abdomen, a traditional form of tartan trousers from Scottish apparel...
and a silk cummerbund in the regimental tartan (unless this is the very dark CampbellCampbell-Places:In Australia:* Campbell, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra, AustraliaIn Canada:* Campbell, Nova Scotia, on Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia* Campbell Road, Edmonton, AlbertaIn New Zealand:...
tartan, in which case a red, green or blue cummerbund may be substituted). The civilian version is usually a long sleeved white dress shirt, black or red bow tie and kiltKiltThe kilt is a knee-length garment with pleats at the rear, originating in the traditional dress of men and boys in the Scottish Highlands of the 16th century. Since the 19th century it has become associated with the wider culture of Scotland in general, or with Celtic heritage even more broadly...
.