Full dress Full dress is a category of dress code s that refers to most formal clothing available in Western society . Civilian . For a civilian , during the Victorian and Edwardian period , this corresponded to a frock coat in the day , and white tie at night . When morning dress ( in the modern sense , using a morning tailcoat rather than a frock coat ) became common , it was less formal than a frock coat , and even when this was phased out , morning dress never achieved full dress status . In the twenty - first century , " full dress " therefore unambiguously refers to white tie . Military . Full dress uniform is a special military uniform reserved for parade or other ceremonial occasions . Prior to World War I ( 1914 – 18 ) most armies of the world retained uniforms of this type that were usually more colorful and elaborate than the ordinary duty ( " undress " ) or the increasingly drab active service ( " field " ) uniforms . The British and United States armies were dependent upon voluntary recruiting and found that a smart dress served to attract recruits and improve morale amongst those already serving . The British regimental system fostered numerous distinctions amongst different units . Even the mainly conscript armies of continental Europe retained many of the colourful features that had evolved during the nineteenth century , for reasons of national and unit pride . Thus , in 1913 most French soldiers wore red trousers and kepi s as part of their full dress , the majority of British foot regiments retained scarlet tunics for parade and off duty ( " walking out " ) , the German Army was characterised by Prussian blue , the Russian by dark green , " et cetera " . There were usually exceptions to each of these rules , often distinguishing elite units . Thus German cuirassier s wore white full dress , British rifle regiments a very dark green known as rifle green , French mountain troops large berets and light blue trousers and so on . The U . S . Army with its smart but relatively sober " dress blues " was an exception , with cavalry , artillery and infantry being distinguished only by the different branch colors . After World War I most full dress uniforms disappeared . Many of the Imperial or Royal regimes that had taken a particular pride in the retention of colorful traditional uniforms had been overthrown and their republican , fascist , or communist successors had little incentive to retain old glories . Elsewhere cost and disillusion with the " peacock " aspects of old fashioned soldiering had a similar effect , except for ceremonial guard units and such limited exceptions as officers ' evening or off - duty uniforms . Modern armies are characterised by simple and drab coloured dress even for ceremonial occasion , with the exceptions noted above . However a general trend towards replacing conscript armies with long serving professionals has had , as a side effect , a reversion to dress uniforms that combine smartness with some traditional features . Thus the U . S . Army has recently ( 2006 ) announced that uniforms of modern cut but in the traditional dark and light blue colours will become universal issue , replacing the previous grey / green service dress . The French Army has , with the abolition of conscription , reintroduced kepis , fringed epaulettes and sashes in traditional colours to wear with camouflage " trellis " or light beige parade dress . The British Army with its strong regimental system has retained a wide range of special features and dress items to distinguish individual units , in spite of recent amalgamations . Although there still exist official patterns for full dress uniforms for each unit within the British Army , the uniform is rarely if ever issued , and is usually only worn by regiments which are often on public duties , such as the Guards Division , or Regimental Bands and Corps of Drums , which are bought from the Regiment ' s allowance .