Costume Hire
Genuine butler attire, for your shoot or your dressing
About Costume Hire
Costume hire is the lending of the full butler attire actually worn by our butlers (morning coat, grey waistcoat, striped trousers, wing-collar shirt, tie, white gloves and leather shoes) for photography in The Studio or for dressing in the changing room.
The costume is fitted not by height alone, but shoulders, torso, hem and shoes in turn
Fitting the costume means choosing candidates from a guide height, then checking the shoulders, chest, torso, sleeves, trouser length and shoes in turn. With guide sizes of around 160 to 185 cm for men, 150 to 160 cm for women and shoes of 24.0 to 27.5 cm, the butler checks what is in stock.
When booking, please tell us your height, your usual clothing size and your shoe size. If your build differs from the standard, if you are concerned about sleeve or hem length, or if several of you will be dressing, telling us first allows candidates to be set aside separately.
The morning coat is a daytime formal coat whose front falls away diagonally, with long tails behind. Because its line is distinctive from the side and back as well as the front, we check before the mirror that the shoulders do not drop too far, that the collar does not lift, and that the tails fall naturally.
See the size guide
The morning coat is set right from its single button to the view from behind
The morning coat is a daytime formal coat, cut away diagonally at the front with long tails behind. Our butlers fasten it with a single button and serve in a grey waistcoat, striped trousers, a wing-collar shirt with black tie, and white gloves.
It is not a costume for photography alone. The same attire is worn in the Apprentice Butler Experience, and the butler helps you dress.
For our lady guests, smaller women's sizes are also available.
Morning coat (black): sizes with guide height and build
| Size | Build | Guide height | Guide weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| A5 | Standard | Around 170 cm | 60 to 68 kg |
| A6 | Standard | Around 175 cm | 65 to 72 kg |
| AB6 | Broad | Around 175 cm | 72 to 80 kg |
| A7 | Standard | Around 184 cm | 75 to 80 kg |
| Women's | — | Around 160 cm | Around 55 kg |
The coat has a single button and long tails. The trousers are striped in grey and black.
The waistcoat (grey) is fitted one size larger than the coat
| Size | Worn with coat | Colour |
|---|---|---|
| A6 | With the A5 coat | Grey |
| A7 | With the A6 coat | Grey |
| AB7 | With the AB6 coat | Grey |
| A8 | With the A7 coat | Grey |
| Women's | Please consult us | — |
So that it does not pull when seated or bowing, the waistcoat is always one size larger than the coat.
Shoe sizes (black, closed-lace cap-toe Oxford)
| Size | For | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| 24.0 cm | Women's (around 160 cm) | Black, closed-lace cap-toe Oxford |
| 26.5 cm | A6 (175 cm, standard) | As above |
| 27.0 cm | AB6 (175 cm broad, or 180 cm standard) | As above |
| 27.5 cm | A7 (184 cm, standard) | As above |
| 26.0 cm | A5 (170 cm, standard): please consult us. You may also wear your own black leather shoes | — |
You are welcome to bring your own black leather shoes.
Full set combinations by height and build
| Height and build | Coat | Waistcoat | Shoes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women (around 160 cm) | Women's coat | Women's (on consultation) | 24.0 cm |
| Around 170 cm, standard | A5 | A6 | On consultation (26.0 cm) |
| Around 175 cm, standard | A6 | A7 | 26.5 cm |
| Around 175 cm, broad | AB6 | AB7 | 27.0 cm |
| Around 184 cm, standard | A7 | A8 | 27.5 cm |
Up to five full sets (including one women's set) can be provided at the same time. Sizes not shown may also be in stock at the house, so please tell us your height, build and shoe size when booking. Five white formal dress shirts, white gloves and top hats are also provided by the house.
Included in costume hire
- Hire of the full set (coat, waistcoat, trousers, shirt, tie, gloves, shoes): ¥12,800 per person (tax incl.).
- The butler's help with dressing (collar, tie, buttons)
- Dressing at the wardrobe and mirror, and space to change
- Use for photography within the house and in the changing room
Not permitted
- Leaving the house in costume without a butler accompanying you and without prior permission
- Taking the costume away or having it posted
- Wearing or handling that risks damage to the costume
- Altering hems or sewing yourself without the butler's approval.
Outings in costume
- To wear the costume outside the house, a butler must accompany you and prior permission is required. Please tell us the place, time and content of the shoot when booking.
- We check the weather, the travel and any risk to the costume, and advise individually on what can be accommodated.
See the detailed guides in order: wearing, fitting, photographing
Know the form of the morning coat
A single button, grey waistcoat, striped trousers, white gloves. We explain the order in which daytime formal dress is put together.
Read more
Discuss your size in advance
Candidates are confirmed from your height, usual clothing and shoe size. If you fall outside the guide range, consult the butler first.
Read more
Check the etiquette of a costume shoot
Handling white gloves, the tails when seated, holding the top hat, and outings by permission: the essentials before a shoot.
Read moreDressing runs from sizing at booking to the return check
Size consultation
Tell us your height, build and shoe size when booking. The butler checks the stock.
Dressing
At the wardrobe. The butler helps you in order: shirt, trousers, waistcoat, tie, coat, gloves.
Check the shoulders and hem
Front, side and back are checked before the full-length mirror. The butler sets the shoulders, collar, sleeves, trouser length and tails, and asks whether anything feels tight when you move.
Before the mirror
Collar and buttons set, and the top hat. A moment that remains in the photograph.
Try the movements inside the house
Walking, opening a door, sitting: the movements of the shoot are tried first. The butler shows you where to stand so that the long tails and white gloves do not touch the furnishings.
Shoots inside and outside the house protect the costume in different ways
A shoot inside the house means dressing at the wardrobe, then moving through the corridor, the study, the dining room and the fireplace room to capture the line of the morning coat from the front, side and back. As you approach a door, a chair or a desk, the butler checks the position of the long tails and white gloves.
The corridor suits a walking figure or the moment the double doors open; the study, a figure standing beside the desk; the dining room, serving or being seated; the fireplace room, a composed standing pose. With the same attire, a change of posture and hand position creates scenes of different roles.
A shoot outside the house means a butler accompanying you to a place and time agreed in advance, protecting the condition of the costume even while travelling. It is not a hire under which you may leave the house freely in costume.
QCan women wear the butler attire?
Yes. Smaller women's sizes are available, with a guide of around 150 to 160 cm. For heights outside the guide, please consult us with your usual clothing and shoe size.
QMay I bring my own costume?
Yes. You may use the changing space and the wardrobe. If you wish to combine it with part of the house costume, please tell us what you will bring when booking.
QCan I be photographed outside in the costume?
Wearing the costume outside the house is accommodated with a butler accompanying you, within the place, time and content agreed in advance. Depending on the weather and the condition of the costume, we may suggest a shoot inside the house instead.
QCan two or more people hire costumes?
As stock is limited, please tell us the height, usual clothing and shoe size of each person and consult us. Where the same combination cannot be provided for everyone, the butler suggests alternatives.
QIf I am within the guide height, can I definitely hire?
Height is a guide for choosing candidates; the set that fits depends on stock and build. We check shoulders, torso, sleeves, hem and shoes, so please tell us your sizes before booking.
QCan I be photographed in costume on a rainy day?
Inside the house, photography is unaffected by the weather. For shoots outside, we assess the risk to the costume and, in rain or strong wind, suggest moving to the corridor or the double doors inside the house.
About the attire
- Sizes and styles are limited. Before booking, please tell us your height and usual clothing size
- Please ask about sizes other than those listed
You may also wish to read
Please tell us your size.
Tell us your height, build and shoe size, and your preferred date and time, and the butler will check stock and availability and reply.