For the 1894 fancy-dress ball at Count Sheremetev's, the Tsarevich Nicholas came as a falconer

In his diary the heir wrote: "In the evening I put on the kaftan of a 'falconer' from the time of Alexei Mikhailovich; Xenia dressed as a boyar's daughter, and Sandro as a captain of the streltsy. Went with him to the fancy-dress ball at Count Sheremetev's. At first it was said that everyone must wear masks, but when the ball began the masks were taken off – and, indeed, they suit many costumes not at all. Papa and Mama arrived at 10½ and were greeted by a trumpet's blare… Sat on until 4¼, catching a chill over several glasses of champagne. I was myself pleased with my costume; Xenia gave me this good idea, and it is embroidered impeccably, and at the same time extremely comfortable!"

The magazine Vsemirnaya illyustratsiya [Universal Illustration] delicately praised the heir's choice: "…among the elegant costumes there stood out in relief the magnificent costumes of scarlet velvet, the falconer's and the strelets's… …delightful was the falconer's costume, embroidered with golden eagles on scarlet velvet. …how picturesquely it hugged his slender figure."