The characteristic vestment of the deacon in the Western Church is the dalmatic, a tunic of the pattern worn as everyday dress in Dalmatia (modern Croatia) in the early centuries of the Christian era.  The dalmatic should reach to the knees or below, and should have full sleeves.  Until the tenth century, the deacon's dalmatic was invariably white and usually woolen, and was ornamented with two narrow coloured bands (called "clavi"), from shoulder to hem, both front and back.  Since the tenth century, dalmatics have been made more colourful, and have often been made of silk, to match the vestments of the celebrant.  (During the same period, a similar, but shorter, vestment--the tunic or "tunicle"--was prescribed for the subdeacon.)  At one time, for ease of use, the sides and sleeves of the dalmatic were slit, leaving a kind of sandwich board with vestigial flaps over the arms.  In the latter part of the twentieth century, the vestment was restored to something more nearly resembling its historic form.  In art, deacons may be recognized by their dalmatics, and ministering angels are often also so vested.  The dalmatic is worn over the deacon's alb and stole.

In their routine parochial ministry, deacons are more often seen wearing a stole over their alb or surplice.  The stole is worn over the left shoulder and tied or fastened under the right arm, giving a sash-like effect.  Since the late twentieth century, vestment makers have produced special "diaconal stoles," which are cut and assembled to give the same effect without actually being tied. Unlike the priest's stole, which derived from a badge of authority in the Roman Empire, the deacon's stole evolved from the towel that he once carried over his shoulder, emblematic of his service.  The stole varies according to the season of the Church year and the service at which the deacon is assisting.

For processions and on special occasions, the deacon may wear a cope (a large, semi-circular cape) over his alb or surplice.  The stole is worn with the cope, but the dalmatic is not.

In the Eastern Church, a special diaconal stole called the "orarion"  is worn diagonally, passing under the right arm and crossing over the left shoulder, with both ends hanging free.  The deacon holds one end of the orarion while intoning prayers.  The orarion is ordinarily worn over the deacon's sticharion (alb), which may be more or less ornately decorated.

The choir vestment of the deacon in the Anglican use is the surplice, worn over a cassock.  Over the surplice is worn a scarf (or tippet) of black wool and, if appropriate, the hood pertaining to the deacon's academic degree.  (The choir vestments of the deacon are indistinguishable from those of a priest.)
 

Western Deacon  vested in Dalmatic	Contemporary  "Deacon's Stole"	Eastern Deacon vested in Stichcarion (1) and Orarion (3)

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