How can I describe the robes worn at the ICC?
June 4, 2011 2:10 PM   Subscribe

What are the technical terms for the various parts of the robes worn by judges and lawyers at the International Criminal Court?

My lexicon is failing me. Here you can see the robe worn by judges and here you can see the robe worn by lawyers.

While I imagine that 'robe' is a specific enough term for the main part of each of these garments, I am curious to know a) what term is used to refer to the white frilly part coming from the collar, and in the case of the judges robes b) whether the more vividly blue field on the judges' robes has its own name, and c) whether the buttons that are visible along the shoulder line have a specific term associated with them.

And indeed, if you happen to be an expert with this sort of thing, I would love to know if there are any parts of the robe I haven't noted that are worth mentioning. Further, as a coda, I've been told by some that the first judges at the court actually spent a great deal of time designing the judge's robe - if anyone happens to know a good print or online source that describes this event and process I would love to see it.
posted by jrb223 to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (8 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: There are some good comparison photos here: the white frilly collar takes inspiration from equivalents in France and the Low Countries, as opposed to the cross-bands of English legal dress.
posted by holgate at 2:34 PM on June 4, 2011 [2 favorites]


Best answer: a) what term is used to refer to the white frilly part coming from the collar: Here is a photo where you can more clearly see what it looks like. It is some kind of cravat, I'd think. If it tucked in and was supposed to appear as a shirt, I'd call it a dickie, but since it's supposed to look scarf-like, it's a cravat, tie, or scarf. It kind of depends on how it fastens, which I can't see.

b) whether the more vividly blue field on the judges' robes has its own name: It's a style choice. It would be an inset or a yoke.

c) whether the buttons that are visible along the shoulder line have a specific term associated with them: probably derived from epaulets.
posted by Medieval Maven at 2:50 PM on June 4, 2011


Best answer: The frilly thing is called a jabot.
posted by donajo at 4:37 PM on June 4, 2011


Best answer: Yes, a jabot.

My jabot, unused for many years now, is still somewhere in my underwear drawer. In addition to the bands coming from the collar, mine also has a front panel so it would look as if I was wearing a high-collared white linen shirt under my black gown. These ones with the false front are also called collarettes.

The robe is called, well, a robe or a gown.
posted by essexjan at 11:36 PM on June 4, 2011 [1 favorite]


As far as colours are concerned, I remember being told at law school that in England & Wales lawyers appearing in court must not wear anything purple or red, as those are colours worn by the judiciary. I do recall a particularly irascible Master at the High Court throwing someone out of his Chambers because he was wearing a purple tie. He had to borrow a dark tie from someone else before he was allowed back in. He was not, of course, allowed in without a tie.

I expect the colours worn in the ICC have no legal significance other than to indicate to everyone that the people wearing them are the judges.
posted by essexjan at 11:46 PM on June 4, 2011


As a slight derail, this article describes the horror with which new designs were greeted by English judges (although it is from the DM, so a grain of salt is necessary). I, for one, think judges dressed as Star Wars characters would be awesome.
posted by essexjan at 11:57 PM on June 4, 2011


I realise I just committed the ultimate sin on a forum with such a high nerd quotient as Metafilter by confusing Star Wars with Star Trek. To me they are the same thing.

I'll show myself out.

posted by essexjan at 12:44 AM on June 5, 2011


Essexjan, a JABOT. Arugh. I knew there was a term for it (I made a fake one for a play a costumed once), but I couldn't manage to re-google the proper term.
posted by Medieval Maven at 9:35 AM on June 5, 2011


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