UK Navy's new dress code allows women to wear saris
What's the story
The British Royal Navy has updated its dress code, allowing female officers to wear saris as part of their uniforms during formal mess functions.
Lance Corporal Jack Kanani, Chairman of the Royal Navy Race Diversity Network (RDN), announced the change on LinkedIn, sharing a photo of Honourable Captain Durdana Ansari wearing a sari under her uniform jacket.
Inclusivity goal
Dress code update aims for cultural inclusivity
Kanani elaborated that the dress code change is part of a wider trend of including cultural clothing in uniforms.
He said, "Existing policy (BR3) already allowed for Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Cornish and Manx heritage to be represented through the wearing of kilts and tartan dresses."
"The update in policy now widens that to be inclusive of other British cultures that serve within the Royal Navy," he added.
Policy consultation
Ethnic minority personnel's opinions considered in policy change
Kanani said the RDN spoke to ethnic minority service personnel to assess how they felt about the broadened cultural mess dress policy.
He tressed that this was done to ensure they felt comfortable celebrating both their Royal Navy and cultural heritage.
However, a source confirmed to The Telegraph that despite the new rule, officers still have to wear a mess jacket, shirt, and bow tie above the waist—even when wearing cultural attire like kilts or saris.
Policy criticism
Conservative backlash against Royal Navy's dress code update
The policy change has drawn flak from conservative quarters.
Rear Admiral (Retired) Philip Mathias voiced his disapproval, arguing the move exposes the Navy to ridicule.
The former nuclear submarine commander said that the focus should be on maintaining war-fighting capability and fostering a sense of common identity through uniformity.
"If members of the Armed Forces want to wear civilian clothing that represents their cultural identity, they should of course be encouraged...But it should not be mixed with uniform," Mathias argued.