An odd thought that came to me whilst washing the floor today..

In JA there are many military men, but we rarely see them in situations where their military garb is strictly necessary. The exception, perhaps , is P&P. Yet in almost all the film productions, most of the military men basically seem to live in their red coats. (Okay, General Tilney and Col. Fitzwilliam do not. However, Col Brandon brings his out for his wedding.)And of course, the Navy men of Persuasion seem to spend an awful lot of time in their blues.

On the other hand, there are quite a few references to clergymen at work in JA's books. Robert Ferrars jokes about seeing his brother in "a white surplice", and Henry Tilney talks about choosing his own neck-cloths (not cravats, or anything by a fancy name) But a clergyman's garb doesn't seem to be popular on film. Henry Hayter turns up in his weeds at the big house, and Mr Collins spends much of his time in black breeches and coat, which might, or might not be clerical. But that's about it.

Thre are a couple of other people around who might be "uniformed"- at least offstage. Presumably John Knightley spends some of his life in a long black gown and horsehair wig. Would the doctor in S&S and Mr Perry in Emma have specialised robes? Would Dr Grant's attire be distinct from that of an ordinary clergyman?

I'm just wondering how much time people spent in 'uniform.' Would Wickham have civvies, or did he live in his red coat? Would Mr Elton have spent most of his week in fashionable dress, or would he have been in black breeches and stockings whilst attending to parish business?