Bands are a form of formal neckwear, worn by some
clergy and
lawyers, and with some forms of
academic dress. They take the form of two oblong pieces of cloth, usually though not invariably white, which are tied to the neck. Bands is usually
plural because they require two similar parts and did not come as one piece of cloth. Those worn by clergy are often called
preaching bands,
tabs or
Geneva bands; those worn by lawyers are called
barrister's bands or, more usually in
Canada,
tabs.