Manners & etiquette in formal wear Quick guide fore balls and other formal occasions at Norrlands nation

ENGLISH VERSION Manners & etiquette - a guide fore balls and other formal occations at Norrlands nation

Student balls are one of the most traditional and most exciting occasions of the student life in Uppsala and is therefore also a can’t miss! However, customs and traditions, dresscodes and etiquette rules could be a bit confusing.

During the Spring ball and the Fall ball the dresscode is formal wear (”whie tie” or Swedish ”högtidsdräkt”). This means that you can be prohibited to enter the event if your clothings is not fulfilling this criterium. To make sure neither you or our ”marskalkar” will need to experience this we recommend you to go through this quick guide to manners and etiquette at balls and formal occations at Norrlands nation.

Dresscode The dresscode is formal wear with academic orders. Formal wear can include the following:

- Evening dress - White tie/Evening tailcoat (frack) - Folk costume

There are also a number of specific rules of all the listed clothings and the academic orders. The most relevant will be explained in this document.

Evening dress: The difference between an evening dress and a regular maxi dress is often the cut and material. An evening dress is clearly fetooned, at least ancle-lenght and without a slit. No legs should be visible, meaning that the type of dress with shorter underskirt and a thin chiffon fabric over to not is allowed. Slis is becouse of this reason not allowed either. Shoes is becouse of the lenght of the dress not meant to be visible, but when they happen to do so (during dancing, for example) it is important that the shoes covers the toes. It is ok to wear long gloves to an evening dress, yet only if the dress is strapless. The gloves must be removed when sitting at the table.

It is allowed to wear a dress without straps or straps thinner than 5 cm. However, if that is the case the shoulders need to be covered (with e.g a scarf, bolero, shawl or jacket) until 6 PM. After that you can feel free to show a little bit more skin!

Short check list: - Floor-lenght dress - Covered shoulders until at least 6 PM - Shoes with covered toes - No slit or transparent material where legs are shown - Hair updo is recommended, but is not a requirement

In order to clarify we have let Taylor Swift and Angelina Jole illustrate their better and worse dress choi- ces on the next page. If they would like to go to a Spring ball, that is. Celebrety galas tend to have less style and class than Norrlands nation. Taylor’s bright red dress had a slit and bare shoulders and had to go home and change. Angelina’s dress had both slit, open shoes and bare shoulders. But on her second try she made it! They should have read Norrlands nation’s ”Manners & etiquette”-guide beforehand!

Evening tailcoat: A tailcoat costume is easier to wear correct as long as all the pieces are included. And a tailcoat costume includes many of them, that can be confusing to keep track on. These pieces is: tail-coat, full-dress trousers with stripes, white neckband shirt with stiff collar, white bow tie, suspenders, cuff-links, white marcella waistcoat, black le- ather or patent shoes, black silk socks and a white pocket square. There are also several of accessories such as pocket watch, white silk scarf, white gloves, cloak and top hat.

You do not wear a wristwatch to a evening tailcoat. Modern marcella waistcoats does not have a back. When wea- ring those you need to keep the tail-coat jacket on the whole evening.

The most important is that the waistcoat and the bow tie is white. There are black ones, yet they are only used by people in work, e.g standard-bearer (fanbärare) and markalker.

Short check list: - All relevant pieces - White waistcoat and bow tie - If wearing a waistcoat without back the tail-coat jacket is kept on Folk costume All folk costumes have their own rules on how they should look, be worn and what pieces is making it complete.

Academic orders, nation ribbons and medals: When wearing an evening dress or an evening tail-coat you are only allowed to wear three union-, nation- and/or sorority ribbons. How you place them is based on how they are rated against each other and if you are representing one of them or not. Usually the order is union-nation-sorority. For example, as a member of Norrlands nation and one of their sororities the nation ribbon is supposed to be placed on top.

On a tail-coat the ribbons are placed underneath the waistcoat from right to left, diagonally. On a evening dress the ribbons are placed as rossets on the left. They must be placed in a way so that they do not touch the skin (shoulders etc). Tail-coat wearers can wear more than three ribbons if one fold them and places them in the breast-pocket instead of using a pocket square.

Both tail-coat and dress wearers can use several order- and sorority pins. They are placed on the left. Medals are chosen carefully. They are placed under the left pocket when wearing a tail-coat and on the left side of the breast for those who wear a dress, preferably under the ribbons.

No ribbons or medals should be worn if wearing a folk costume. Pins is allowed. Medals aquired during the evening is an exception.

When wearing a so called insignie medals, ribbons and pins are prohibided. This is due to the fact that the insignie is a sign of representation and duty service. In the pictures above you find some ball guests that got straight A’s when comesto ribbons, pins and medals!

Manners during the dinner There are some rules to keep in mind during the dinner when comes to behaviour. If you keep attention to the marskalkar and the song leaders you will probably be fine. The marskalkar will announce two ”conferances” during the dinner. During these two there is possibility to visit the mens and the ladies rooms, strech your legs and leave the table. Note how long the conferance lasts, when it finish the doors will be closed and you are not allowed to re-enter the hall before the marskalks allows it. During all other time duting the dinner you are not allowed to leave the table.

It is prohibited to: - Make a toast at the table, pick up your own songs etc. - Leave your seat other than during the conferances - Place your bag, cell-phone and such at the table - Talk, eat or drink during speeches, songs and performances

The first thing to do when you sit down at the table is to take your napkin (on the left of your plate) and place it on you lap. When you leave your seat you put the napkin on the chair - not on the table. The sitting is lead somewhat after the honor’s table. You do not take seat before the honor’s table done so and you do not start to eat before the honor’s table does. ~

We hope that this guide has been helpful fore your visit at a ball at Norrlands nation and we wish you a fantastic ball evening!

If you have any questions, send an email to [email protected]