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"Everyone wears them, Ron! They're all like that! Your father's got some for smart parties!"
— Molly Weasley comments on dress robes[src]

Dress robes are a formal variety of robes worn by witches and wizards for special occasions, and can vary in style and colour as much as everyday robes. For the purposes of this page, "dress robes" also includes wizarding garments not necessarily robe-like in fashion, but worn at the same or similar events.

History[]

GOF HQ still Ron Harry looking at their dress robes

Harry Potter and Ron Weasley in their Yule Ball dress robes

During the 1994–1995 school year, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry hosted the Triwizard Tournament, which included the traditional Yule Ball in December.[3] For this occasion, students in the fourth year and above were required to bring dress robes in addition to their normal uniforms and equipment.[4]

Harry Potter's dress robes for the Ball — and the first set he ever owned — were cut in the same style as his school robes, but coloured green instead of black. By contrast, Ron Weasley's dress robes were cut more like a dress and accessorised with a lace collar.[4]

Members of the Slug Club apparently wore dress robes when they attended Horace Slughorn's Christmas party in December 1996. Luna Lovegood's robes for this occasion were "spangled silver" and apparently somewhat unconventional, as they attracted giggles from onlookers.[5]

The students and teachers of Hogwarts wore dress robes at the Funeral of Albus Dumbledore[6] and attendees of the Wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour donned them as well,[7] as they would have for any comparable party or special event.

Styling[]

Celestial Ball[]

Individidual(s) Notes
Penny Haywood Two piece; white sleeveless top, trimmed with silver and yellow layered tulle,[8] with a black beaded necklace[9]
Ben Copper Suit with red bow-tie, and a yellow and white striped button up shirt[9][10]
Rowan Khanna Male: Blue with floral patterns under a black robe
Female: Blue dress with floral patterns[9]
Jacob's sibling Unknown[9][10]
Nymphadora Tonks Dress with black and purple frills, reflecting 1980s goth fashion[9][10][8]
Tulip Karasu Royal blue dress robe with a star necklace[9]
Barnaby Lee A black suit and bowtie under a maroon dress jacket, with a boutonniere pinned to his jacket[9]
Andre Egwu Dressed robes with a button up vest, purple turtle neck with chain[9][10]
Merula Snyde Black dress with a emerald green bow in the middle[9][10]
Ismelda Murk Black dress[9]

1994 Yule Ball[]

Individual(s) Notes
Ron Weasley Maroon velvet, trimmed with "mouldy-looking" lace at the neck and sleeves. Cut of the garment resembled a dress[4]
Harry Potter Bottle green, cut in the same style as Hogwarts school robes[4]
Parvati Patil Shocking pink, accessorised with gold hair ornaments and bracelets[3]
Padma Patil Bright turquoise[3]
Fleur Delacour Silver-grey satin[3]
Draco Malfoy Black velvet with a high collar. Harry thought they made him look like a vicar[3]
Pansy Parkinson Pale pink and "very frilly"[3]
Vincent Crabbe Green[3]
Gregory Goyle
Prof. McGonagall Red tartan, accessorised with a "rather ugly" wreath of thistles around her hat[3]
Hermione Granger Periwinkle blue and made of a "floaty" material[3]
Ludo Bagman Bright purple with large, yellow stars[3]
Mme. Maxime Gown of lavender silk[3]
Percy Weasley Navy blue[3]

1996 Slug Club Christmas party[]

Individidual(s) Notes
Luna Lovegood Spangled silver robes that attracted giggles from others, but that Harry thought looked "quite nice"[5]

Albus Dumbledore's funeral[]

Individidual(s) Notes
Horace Slughorn Emerald green, trimmed with silver[6]
Madam Pince Thick black veil that feel to her knees[6]
Argus Filch Black suit reeking of mothballs[6]
Fred Weasley Jackets of black dragon skin[6]
George Weasley
Grawp Jacket and trousers the size of a "small marquee"[6]

Wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour[]

Individual(s) Notes
Various Witches The witches wore hats decorated with flowers and enchanted birds, and the cravats of the wizards' outfits were decorated with precious gems[7]
Various wizards
Xenophilus Lovegood Egg yolk yellow, with matching hat and golden necklace shaped like the sign of the Deathly Hallows[7]
Luna Lovegood Bright yellow, accessorised with a large sunflower in her hair[7]
Muriel Hat decorated with pink feathers[7]
Hermione Granger Lilac dress made of a "floaty" material, with matching high heels[7]
Molly Weasley Amethyst[7]
Ginny Weasley Pale gold dresses[7]
Gabrielle Delacour
Fleur Delacour "Very simple white dress", accessorised with Muriel's goblin-made tiara of moonstones and diamonds[7]

Behind the scenes[]

  • In the films, the design of wizards' dress robes is based primarily on tuxedos and fancy suits, as they are worn at similarly formal events. Dress shirts, waistcoats, and neckties/bow ties are all components of these outfits. Witches' dress robes are for all intents and purposes equivalent to Muggle dresses or gowns. These can be full length – falling to the ankles – or only extend as far as the knees.
  • The dress robes portrayed in the films tend to have a lot more added decoration, including beading, embroidery, frills, and intricate patterns in the fabric. The robes may also possess features that reflect something about the person wearing them:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)[]

  • Dumstrang students wear red, military-style tunics with brown trousers and tall black boots. Their outfits also have short, fur-lined capes, reflecting the heavy furs normally worn as part of their school uniforms.
  • Parvati and Padma Patil wear robes inspired by the sari,[11] a traditional Indian woman's dress.
  • Similarly, Cho Chang's dress robes suggest influence from the cheongsam, a type of Chinese dress fashionable in Shanghai.
Yule Ball attire

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)[]

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1[]

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)[]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

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