Art by  CoracleBoat

This is the official reference for the Formal Uniform of The Bulconian Academy of Gonerra. The Academy is an important setting in several of my stories.

Center: The complete Formal Uniform as it appears when being worn. The overdress is made from a lightweight velvet-like material, with long sleeves and a nearly floor-length skirt, and trimmed with lace. The lace pattern can be seen on the border between the panels on this reference; hexagons are a recurring decorative motif at the Academy.

Upper left: A unique feature of the Formal Uniform is this snood to keep the tail modestly covered. Putting on the tailsnood is a multistep process. (1) The snood slips onto the tail from above (2) The underside is buttoned (3) The collar is fastened to the dress around the base of the tail; a cuff of velvet and lace folds down to conceal the buttons once fastened so that it all appears as one seamless piece (4) The end of the snood is buttoned on the underside to the dress to discourage the indecorous instinct of wagging. Novice devotees may even tuck small weights into the tip of their snood to train themselves out of the instinct. (In the original reference, and in some stories, the tail is described as being worn under the dress; on reflection, I decided that was needlessly impractical, and I couldn’t envision how it might work in all situations. When they're kneeling or sitting it would be awkward to have it bent in between their legs or pinched there. This solution I think works much better. -KM)

Upper right: The underdress and stockings are, with the overdress, the two other main components of the Formal Uniform. All three components are in the devotee’s Noble Hue. The stockings and underdress are made from sentrile, a plant-derived textile. Sentrile is thick, heavy, and form-fitting. The underdress is long-sleeved like the overdress, but the skirt is slightly shorter – ankle-length rather than floor-length.

Bottom: The Formal Uniform as it appears in all twelve of the Noble Hues: Pink, Maroon, Yellow, Light Green, Dark Green, Light Blue, Dark Blue, Lilac, Violet, White, Gray, Black. Every devotee is assigned one Noble Hue when they enroll at the Academy, and keeps that Hue for life.

The Formal Uniform is the only one of the three uniforms that is custom tailored for each devotee; the other two uniforms (Informal and Sleepwear) are produced in standard sizes. The Rules state that the Formal uniform is to be worn to classes, official ceremonies at the Temple or Amphitheatre, and any other events deemed “Formal.” The Formal Uniform is also to be worn whenever a devotee leaves Academy property. The Formal Uniform is not to be worn when performing chores or physical work, when sleeping, or when at play.

The Formal Uniform is not designed with comfort nor ease of use as top priorities. Properly putting it on requires conscious effort and full concentration. Choosing to wear it is an act of Noble sacrifice in and of itself. ( http://www.furaffinity.net/view/14523939/ )

The Formal Uniform is modeled here by a vixen, but the same basic pattern applies to all races at the Academy.

This reference supersedes the one I uploaded 5 years ago.

In CoracleBoat’s gallery: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/20652692/

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Coracle really went above and beyond for this.

The very first preliminary sketch she showed me hit it out of the park, and it just kept getting better. We went back and forth on the design and mechanics of the tailsnood (a tricky thing because no such apparel exists in real life of which I am aware) (heh heh snood), and I kept saying things like ‘can you change X?’ and ‘maybe it would be better if Y…’ and I was worried that I was being too demanding but she was never anything less than accommodating, patient, and eager. Getting this right was important to me and I cannot stress enough that I could not be happier with the result.

All the details, the lace, the Peter Pan collar, that sash with the bow in the back, the thickness of the sleeves. It just that balance of modest and pretty that I was looking for. Not completely ascetic, but not gaudy or showy, yet thoroughly beautiful.

Even the vixen devotee being so kind as to model her garments for us. The expression is superb. She looks so demure, secure, and serene in her Noble vestment.

It is PERFECT.

This is beyond anything I was expecting. Go shower her with praise and watches and commissions! Go go go. She is a real peach to work with – wait, scratch that, she likes pumpkins, she is a real pumpkin to work with. In fact, I think that’s what I’ll name our gracious model here. Pumpkin of Light Blue, the vixen devotee.