Dress robes

Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. Spoilers will be present within the article.

"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	^[9]^[10]
Rowan Khanna	Male: Blue with floral patterns under a black robe Female: Blue dress with floral patterns^[9]
Jacob's sibling	^[9]^[10]
Nymphadora Tonks	Dress with 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	^[9]^[10]
Merula Snyde	Black dress with a emerald green bow in the middle^[9]^[10]
Ismelda Murk	^[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	Green^[3]
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	Jackets of black dragon skin^[6]
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	Pale gold dresses^[7]
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.
Harry Potter dressed for the Yule Ball.
Ron Weasley in old, raggedy, old fashioned dress robes for the Yule Ball.
Hermione Granger dressed for the Yule Ball.
Ginny Weasley dressed for the Yule Ball.
Cho Chang dressed for the Yule Ball.
Cedric Diggory dressed for the Yule Ball.
Padma Patil dressed for the Yule Ball.
Parvati Patil dressed for the Yule Ball.
Viktor Krum dressed for the Yule Ball.
Fleur Delacour dressed for the Yule Ball.
Gregory Goyle, Draco Malfoy & Vincent Crabbe dressed for the Yule Ball.
Olympe Maxime & Hagrid dressed for the Yule Ball
Bartemius Crouch Junior, disguised as Alastor Moody dressed for the Yule Ball.
Igor Karkaroff, Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall & Albus Dumbledore dressed for the Yule Ball