Lord Chief Justice and his funky new gown

For 300 years the wig and gown have symbolised the authority of the court. All that will change in October, when judges in civil and family cases will ditch their horsehair wigs and instead be dressed by a designer whose trademark is “funky British clothes for aspiring funky British girls”.

The new look – a simple gown fastened with poppers – was modelled yesterday by Britain’s most senior judge, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers.