Gloom District Order Gala

Despite the lack of real royals, my nobility has a well thought out system for annual gala events, although a tad small scale. Each district (=world) has a District Order, also referred to as the Friendship Orders, administrated by the district's high nobility peer. Membership includes a sash and medal in a set color system, the 1st day of Winter ceremony (if there is a new member to be knighted) and of course the annual gala dinner. The dinner event takes place during the season when the district's signature crop and/or flower can be harvested, and these are often included in the menu as well as decor.

Gloom District Order's annual gala dinner taking place at Umbrage Manor in Spring.

These orders are exclusive with maximum 8 members. Often the first 4 are taken by the peerage's high nobility household; peer with spouse, their main heir and perhaps one more member of the family. The remaining members are good for building both network and status, and there's normally only one member per other districts. When there is an event the member is normally invited to bring a spouse or other company, anyway. In theory there can be up to 16 guests for the annual event, but 8-10 is more typical.

I have lots of logical - AND probably some weird, too - rules when it comes to gala events. Ranking of guests, what to wear (gala is not just gala) and of course sashes, medals and jewelries. I already mentioned colors, didn't I? I'm planning a series of articles to share most of these rules, right now I'll just show you how the attendees were dressed for this Gloom District Order Gala Dinner, hosted by Baron and Baroness of Gloom, Bud and Rose von Kaching. Their heir Edward is busy at University and was the only member not attending this year.

At any gala event guests are ranked by how closely related they are to the host/hostess, or to a guest of honor, if any. Children, parents and siblings are seen as individual guests of importance. The others are regular guests. Everyone is of course just as much welcome, but this sorting helps them to dress appropriate, as no hostess wants to be overshadowed by the least important guest, right? Let's see how they dressed for this particular dinner!

First, the group pf 4 guests of importance, counting hosts (1 and 2), their daughter (3) and the baron's sister (4).

Bud von Kaching, Baron of Gloom, Baron of Gibbs (1) is wearing a tuxedo. It's the common gala attire for males, but because he is the host he would have used a uniform if he was in the Military career - which he is not. So - a bit underwhelming for a "guest of importance". The orange sash is Gloom District Order's, and the rather big medal is "the Baltazar", a general medal to wear on sash to show that you are the peer of a peerage - same version for high and low nobility. There also exists a medal for each District Order, but it's seen as an insult wearing both sash and medal from the same order. You just wouldn't do that!

Rose (Welder) von Kaching, Baroness of Gloom (2) looks lovely in her long blue dress. Being the hostess means you should pimp up your gala. Rose wears the Cordelia Ann set which includes tiara, necklace and earrings. The tiara is rather tall, and suits best when being "guest of importance", rather if being the hostess or main person/guest of honor. Rose wears this set at most of these annual dinners. She naturally wears the order's orange sash, but not being the peer she owns no "Baltazar" and wears her "Golden Lion" medal instead. She chose long gloves with the dress, quite appropriate when a baroness is showing as much skin as she does.

Their daughter Aili (von Kaching) Landgraab, Lady of Gloom (3) is not a member of the Gloom District Order, and she is the only attendee who doesn't own any sash or family order bow. She loves to dress up, but actually she has rather few items to choose from. Quite strange as she is married to the region's wealthiest man, Malcolm Landgraab (5).  They reside in Malcolm's late parents' house in Oasis Springs, but Nancy Landgraab was of no noble house, so she hardly had interest in the gala kind of jewelries. Aili wears the Octagon Chrystal set with pink stones. It is owned by Aili, a personal gift as she married Malcolm, but it's backstory can be traced to royals, via Malcolm's late father. Aili owns only one diadem, which she found too small for being "guest of importance", so she borrowed this tiara from her mother, the Baroness. Normally nobles loan a jewelry item for life time, but most houses has a few items that can also be borrowed short term by close members of the house - when the relation is good.

Paula Ching, Lady Mugger (4) has totally messed up tonight! The elderly woman is the Baron's sister, in my "As Sims Go By" video series she is Aunt Paula who lives unmarried in Sim City, despite having the Mugger title that connects her to Gloomville. They relate on a future heritage from her, as she owns 50% of the family company, Ching, Inc.. Her dress is too short for gala, her jewelry is definitely not overwhelming - and what on earth did she put on her head? A hair band matching the order's sash? It's correct that an unmarried woman can not wear a tiara, but did she really need to wear anything up there at all? She has at least toned down her makeup, which has grown stronger with her age.

And now the 4 "regular guests". They are all toning it down a bit, despite black tuxedo with sash and "the Baltazar" is equaling the host. Males don't have many choices, though, as you can't wear suit and tie when the dress code is gala, as the sash can only be worn with a white bow tie (or a Military uniform). Perhaps these two (5 and 6) could have skipped their "Baltazar" medal.

Malcolm Landgraab, Lord Cacti (5) has dressed quite ordinary. He is the hosts' son-in-law, but that is not enough to make him "guest of importance". In case you wonder why Malcolm is the member of the order, and not Aili, it's because he has the Cacti title (beside his wealth, of course), while Aili has no title or peerage in her own right, at all.

Jarret Emanuel Ross, Duke of Rossie and Baron of Verde (6) is wearing the exact same outfit. Being a duke you should not be asked to drop your "Baltazar"...

Oh, btw - these days Malcolm Landgraab and Jarret Ross are meeting in Region 12 Court House, as Malcolm wants the Barony of Verde. So, at this dinner they were wisely seated several chairs apart.

The beautiful Ribra Lynn (Thebe) Ross, Duchess of Rossie and Lady of Myshuno, (7) is wearing a lovely long dress that sparkles close up, but is quite toned down in this setting. Note the hint of orange that is a flirt with the order's orange color. Ribra Lynn is not a member of Gloom District Order, but attends the dinners about every other year with her husband (6). She wears the Rossie District Order sash, and matching "Luxury set" that includes earrings and necklace, and is property of the Rossie Trust. The set was gifted to the Trust by the first Duke of Rossie nearly 200 years ago. The Honeysuckle tiara might be a bit tall for a general guest, but being a Duchess she is expected to stand out a little. That's also why she wears the House of Ross family bow (the red bow), with her "Golden Lion" medal.

Last but not least, Antonius Dipperwell, Priest of the Church of Similius (8). The Priest has actually got high nobility status (back in year 102 the church demanded duke level, but was admitted baron level). The church, that preaches the belief in green bars, has no order with a sash, and it would conflict with his beliefs to wear the Gloom Order sash, too. But the church has the Similius order bow, that can be carried by the Priest(s), only. Antonius Dipperwell wears the bow on a gala frock. He never brings his wife to events like this.

Well, that's all for now. A short glimpse of this gala dinner will be featured in As Sims Go By episode 5 (season 2), which is currently in production. If you are new to the series, there is time to catch up with season 1 and 2, 10 episodes total. Episode 5 will be closing season 2.