The two heralds from South Africa (wearing tabards made for the occasion) attending the XXVII International Congress of Genealogical & Heraldic Sciences which was held in 2006 in St. Andrews, Scotland. Marcel van Rossum, the Assistant National Herald of South Africa is on the left and the National Herald of South Africa, Themba Mabaso, is on the right.
Now that is silly even by modern standards.
I don’t think they would see it as such. I’m afraid I don’t agree with you either. I don’t see what’s silly about them at all.
Wouldn’t they technically be surcoats rather than tabards, as they lack side panels.