Dress Code and Themes

[Giles2000]

Hello!

 

Thank you for this posting.  I have been calling everywhere to get the schedule.  I find at this late date it is now posted on the calendar when you log onto your calendar on Cunard.  As I explained to them many times it is too late for their website postings for ladies to design, create, purchase, etc. their attire for such a galla evening.

We cruised late spring to get an idea what gala nights might be in 2024.  I was very disappointed.  Dress codes are not enforced or widely complied with.  I love clothes, I love the themes, I will be dressed to the nines for these evenings.  I am wearing my collection of jewelry dating back to the 1950's to current times I inherited from my mother and I collected.  woops, including her furs.

I posted before.....I was taught with a college coarse at SF state.....it is communication through dress.  Your first impression is most important.  As a retired professional working in SF for 40 years I dressed  everyday before retirement to communicate my professionalism.

I am pulling out of the closet former outfits for Cunard cruise themes, Red and gold,  including our Anthony and Cleopatra head dresses from our Dubai Cruise. We have put together a Victorian/Venice ball outfit for next to nothing to celebrate, promote the theme of the evening as an example.

 

Yes, I realize to each his own.  My husband and I are enjoying the formal attire encouraged for years by Cunard including day wear and evening wear.  Ladies, put your make-up on, stand up straight and enjoy the years we have yet to celebrate.

 

Vernie & Al 

[jaypo63]

I just love seeing everyone dressed up too,this is why we stick to Cunard,the majority do make the effort,the red and gold is on the Christmas & New Year cruise,doesn't seem to change much e.g The roaring 20s etc although I can't justify paying a fortune for a dress just for one night but it's lovely to see those who DO, happy cruising everyone x

[Victoria2]

Giles2000, I will be the first to own I can't be bothered with gala 'themes', especially those where folk think fancy dress is in order, other than a token nod to red and gold and the black and white evening, both of which take no additional packing for me at all but, I have yet to see a Victorian or a Venetian evening, unless Venetian refers to the Masquerade night.

[jaypo63]

I agree but if you want to do it,fine but I personally have never in my life been attracted to fancy dress nights in any way shape of form,it takes me about 3 weeks to pack my bags as it is 😂

[Victoria2]

Just now, jaypo63 said:

I agree but if you want to do it,fine but I personally have never in my life been attracted to fancy dress nights in any way shape of form,it takes me about 3 weeks to pack my bags as it is 😂

What folk wear, is down to the individual but Gala for me does not mean fancy dress. I have a long strand of pearls and a feather what-not for my hair but apart from a long evening dress which has slight 20's beading, that does it for me.  Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby evening wear, super but the Peaky Blinders outfits which seem to be creeping in? Pure fancy dress.

 

It's a Gala night, not a fancy dress party!

[jaypo63]

29 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

What folk wear, is down to the individual but Gala for me does not mean fancy dress. I have a long strand of pearls and a feather what-not for my hair but apart from a long evening dress which has slight 20's beading, that does it for me.  Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby evening wear, super but the Peaky Blinders outfits which seem to be creeping in? Pure fancy dress.

 

It's a Gala night, not a fancy dress party!

And I'm sure you look gorgeous,sorry,didn't mean fancy dress as in dressing as postman Pat lol I just meant the flapper dresses etc, I looked online and they were so expensive,so I just sit and admire those who choose to wear them ❣️

[Victoria2]

3 minutes ago, jaypo63 said:

And I'm sure you look gorgeous,sorry,didn't mean fancy dress as in dressing as postman Pat lol I just meant the flapper dresses etc, I looked online and they were so expensive,so I just sit and admire those who choose to wear them ❣️

Flapper evening wear is adhering to the theme but I'm pretty sure a gala evening in the 20s didn't include guests toting blow up guns! 😀

 

[jaypo63]

1 minute ago, Victoria2 said:

Flapper evening wear is adhering to the theme but I'm pretty sure a gala evening in the 20s didn't include guests toting blow up guns! 😀

 

😂🤣

[D&N]

3 hours ago, jaypo63 said:

I looked online and they were so expensive

Everyone's definition of expensive could be different.

I know some folk may not be prepared to buy items from China (including Hong Kong).

 

In recent years one of our sources has been SHEIN. My wife has 20s style dresses, ballgowns and cocktail dresses from them and they've cost between €20 and €45 after discounts.  There are always discount codes, we rarely get less than 15% off.

Zapaka specialise in 20s style and probably made two of those bought from SHEIN. We've not bought a dress from them.

JJ's House are more expensive, but sale and other discounts are available. They're do mainly wedding and prom wear. No 20s style. Other than sale samples or returns, everything is made to order.

 

Regarding delivery; SHEIN average 8 days from China to France.

Zapaka took several weeks with little delivery info, I suspect items are made to order.

JJ's House range from 9 to 27 days, the latter included a custom order.

 

If you want any guidance on using SHEIN or JJ's House, probably best to ask on one of the other dress code threads to keep this clearer for Bluemarble to gather gala night details.

[piratesswoop]

I got my Roaring 20s dress on Amazon for around $40. I actually bought it for a Halloween party in 2021 but it worked perfectly for the theme night for the cruise I took this summer. Its not high quality but it worked just fine!

[Giles2000]

7 hours ago, jaypo63 said:

I just love seeing everyone dressed up too,this is why we stick to Cunard,the majority do make the effort,the red and gold is on the Christmas & New Year cruise,doesn't seem to change much e.g The roaring 20s etc although I can't justify paying a fortune for a dress just for one night but it's lovely to see those who DO, happy cruising everyone x

Just a hint about expensive gowns......For something like this I go to the internet.  Lots of the long formal dresses only cost about $35 advertising as prom dresses.  I purchase basic dresses and colors so that I can change them up time and time again.  Black is the perfect example.  I just purchase a couple of Ruanas and scarves in different colors, so it is a different outfit each time.  Travelers from Chico......Over the years I now have about 5 sets of different colors.  You wear them, wash them out in the bathroom sink with Cunard soap and can wear them the next night without pressing them.  You roll them up in an untidy ball to put them in your luggage.

 

Good luck, see you on the ship.

 

Vernie

[Giles2000]

6 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

Giles2000, I will be the first to own I can't be bothered with gala 'themes', especially those where folk think fancy dress is in order, other than a token nod to red and gold and the black and white evening, both of which take no additional packing for me at all but, I have yet to see a Victorian or a Venetian evening, unless Venetian refers to the Masquerade night.

I can't speak for this cruise but I can speak to the fact that I purchased really cheap Halloween costumes to be worn twice fir Victorian and Venetian.  My husband will be in a steamerpunk outfit.  My dress is long with a wide hoop skirt.  I Uses elastic, I put buckles on his black loafers to look like the old-time shoes.  For Victorian we wear hats and for Venetian we wear black and silver masks we purchased year ago for the first Cunard cruise.

 

On our Alaska cruise in June we were the only ones on the entire ship in costume.  They were a big hit.

 

Vernie

[Giles2000]

5 hours ago, jaypo63 said:

😂🤣

Surely not us.  My husband is leaving home is authentic zoot suit to which he usually carries candy cigarettes.

 

Vernie

[Giles2000]

To rtdiva

 

You guessed correctly......We are in SS!!! on Valmore.  Call us.

 

Vernie

[Giles2000]

Hi Al

 

Just did a search on Amazon......Found a Steampunk 2 piece outfit, the shirt and long tailed coat with built in vest on sale for $11.39 US.  If you shop for bargains,you can find them.  He had regular black slacks on in the picture and the same buckles attached by elastic on his loafers.

 

Vernie

[Victoria2]

Zoot suit? Steamerpunk?

 

You've lost me I'm afraid. We will stick to our usual conservative attire.

8 hours ago, Giles2000 said:

I can't speak for this cruise but I can speak to the fact that I purchased really cheap Halloween costumes to be worn twice fir Victorian and Venetian.  My husband will be in a steamerpunk outfit.  My dress is long with a wide hoop skirt.  I Uses elastic, I put buckles on his black loafers to look like the old-time shoes.  For Victorian we wear hats and for Venetian we wear black and silver masks we purchased year ago for the first Cunard cruise.

 

On our Alaska cruise in June we were the only ones on the entire ship in costume.  They were a big hit.

 

Vernie

If you were the only ones in fancy dress, doesn't that indicate fancy dress isn't what Gala nights are about?

 

Your Zoots and Steamerpunk are both unknown to me but enjoy wearing them.

 

ps, I still don't thin k there will be a Victorian Gala evening.

[jaypo63]

8 hours ago, Giles2000 said:

Surely not us.  My husband is leaving home is authentic zoot suit to which he usually carries candy cigarettes.

 

Vernie

Ha,I wish you were on our cruise from Southampton at Christmas,you sound lots of fun 😃

[MicCanberra]

Wonderful

[Archipelago]

Is a black suit okay for gala/formal evenings or do most men wear a tux ? I have not been on Cunard in a while but I always wore a tux. Am planning to start cruising with Cunard again . I enjoy the ambience and passenger mix !

[Giles2000]

Hello to Archipelago:

I am compelled to respond with a history lesson.  My husband is of Scottish Descent with a family tree traced back to the 1,300's.  My family is Cornish were miners from Redruth and Uni Lelant.  We were born in 1944 and raised in the Anglo tradition.  My husband was born in San Francisco, and I was born in Oakland, across the bay.  In the 50's to go to SF our mother's dressed up in a tailored dress, gloves and especially a hat,, maybe in a mink stole.  Just like the royalty of Great Britain today.  My husband as an early teen had to put on his best suite, tie, etc. to go to San Francisco to see monthly his orthodontist to adjust his braces.  That is how serious the traditions were upheld in the 50"s. 

Cunard, an authentic English cruise line, is struggling to maintain this tradition maintained over the centuries. I would encourage them to stay with our background, with their tradition or encourage others to find a more informal line to cruise with. This is why we continue to cruise with Cunard.

Tux or Suit?  I pack for my husband typically a sincere black suite, a gray suite, if applicable a zoot suit for themed nights and for sure his black tux. I also sew matching vests to go with certain outfits.   As dress becomes more informal on the ship you will see fewer and fewer tuxes.  Depending on my attire, how dressy it is, I insist that my husband be a dressed to coordinate with me.  

It is totally up to your preference.  

I totally get into dressing to the hilt.  I also make costumes to wear even on non-masquerade nights.  For the first red and gold gala night, my husband and I will be themed out in Anthony and Cleopatra head dresses with his black tux and my red formal.

This is my way of getting into the spirit of the cruise leading up to departure.  I also decorate our stateroom door with fun items for the upcoming holiday complete with poems that express our feelings to share with you about the holiday.

 

See you soon!

Vernie & Al

[Giles2000]

Just now, Giles2000 said:

On 12/3/2023 at 11:37 PM, Victoria2 said:

Zoot suit? Steamerpunk?

 

You've lost me I'm afraid. We will stick to our usual conservative attire.

If you were the only ones in fancy dress, doesn't that indicate fancy dress isn't what Gala nights are about?

 

Your Zoots and Steamerpunk are both unknown to me but enjoy wearing them.

 

ps, I still don't thin k there will be a Victorian Gala evening.

I keep saying to each his own.  I really mean that.  Wear what attire meets the dress code of the evening.  You also have the option of expanding the theme.  A gala night is about an evening of great food, dance and merriment mostly in the ball room.  Nobody will care.  Tonight's posting gives further insight to why we dress up. English/Scottish is our heredity.  I will find any time to express through dress the feelings of my experience and heredity.  These terms you do not recognize are a part of the English history.  Please take the time to google them, to look at the fun pictures they embody of the times.  We will wear on one of the black and white gala nights our Victoria attire in honor of Queen Victoria's time, to honor the Cunard Ship that bears her name.

 

[Victoria2]

I keep saying to each his own.  I really mean that.  Wear what attire meets the dress code of the evening.  You also have the option of expanding the theme.  A gala night is about an evening of great food, dance and merriment mostly in the ball room.  Nobody will care.  Tonight's posting gives further insight to why we dress up. English/Scottish is our heredity.  I will find any time to express through dress the feelings of my experience and heredity.  These terms you do not recognize are a part of the English history.  Please take the time to google them, to look at the fun pictures they embody of the times.  We will wear on one of the black and white gala nights our Victoria attire in honor of Queen Victoria's time, to honor the Cunard Ship that bears her name.

 

I don't need to google anything. I am more than acquainted with  the history of my nation, just as I am very familiar with the mode of dress assigned to various centuries past, possibly even  more familiar then yourself.

 

I am aware the various nations of the world are invited to wear their national clothes on Gala nights but national attire is very different from wearing Victorian clothes on a formal occasion on Victoria. 'Dressing up' in Victoriana is, to all intents and purposes, fancy dress.

 

You have said, you are expanding a theme. Looking back, we had a Victorian evening on one of the Worldies. Wearing Victoriana [still fancy dress] on that occasion would be an example of expanding a theme but in my book,  wearing Victoriana fancy dress on a black and white Gala evening isn't expanding any theme, it's 'misreading the room'.

 

If you wish to make a statement and stand out in a crowd, I can't think of any better attire, on a black and white evening than to turn up a la Dickens. You will most definitely be a talking point. We will blend into the background in our black and white attire.

 

You apparently keep saying 'each to his own'. If this became the general mantra for   Cunard passengers, then it would be time up for the Cunard USP of Gala evenings.

 

 

 

[Victoria2]

9 hours ago, Archipelago said:

Is a black suit okay for gala/formal evenings or do most men wear a tux ? I have not been on Cunard in a while but I always wore a tux. Am planning to start cruising with Cunard again . I enjoy the ambience and passenger mix !

If you wore your tux, then you would be in the majority. However, a dark suit is more than acceptable.

[NE John]

5 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

Wearing Victoriana [still fancy dress] on that occasion would be an example of expanding a theme but in my book,  wearing Victoriana fancy dress on a black and white Ga

All this variation of dress happened when Cunard changed the dress code from easy to interpret Formal/Semi-Formal nights to Gala/Smart Attire nights with wordy descriptions marketing those evenings. Gala nights can turn into fantasy costume nights with Al Capone look-a-likes for the ‘20’s theme, the addition of the odd red and gold accessories, and the stated above Victoriana nights. 
I like the uniformity of the previous system and agree that I don’t feel I need to stand out as a 1920’s mobster or someone escorting Miss Havisham into the Queens Room. I won’t feel bad if others disagree. I am looking forward however to the Ice White theme for Alaska. I can blend into that well. 

[exlondoner]

10 minutes ago, NE John said:

All this variation of dress happened when Cunard changed the dress code from easy to interpret Formal/Semi-Formal nights to Gala/Smart Attire nights with wordy descriptions marketing those evenings. Gala nights can turn into fantasy costume nights with Al Capone look-a-likes for the ‘20’s theme, the addition of the odd red and gold accessories, and the stated above Victoriana nights. 
I like the uniformity of the previous system and agree that I don’t feel I need to stand out as a 1920’s mobster or someone escorting Miss Havisham into the Queens Room. I won’t feel bad if others disagree. I am looking forward however to the Ice White theme for Alaska. I can blend into that well. 

Luckily, I haven’t yet seen anyone dressed as a Pierrot on black and white night, but it may yet come. If I were on board for a Victorian night (which I never have been) and owned Victorian jewellery (which, alas, I don’t, but donations gratefully accepted), that is when I would wear it.