Headed to the Navy Ball again

[macwilkin]

*****

[Drac]

While medals aren't required for civilian cloths I do like to bring them out for special events. Normally only about once a year and since it cost a fortune to have them mounted I need to get my money's worth occasionally.

Navy regs (been several threads on uniform regs) require, in civilian cloths, that medals can be worn if:

Black tie event
Mini medals
Worn on the same place on the jacket as if in Navy Mess Dress

The PC is very much like the Mess Dress Jacket -

5315.1 Male officers and CPO's, and E6 and below: on formal and dinner dress jackets, place the holding bar of the lowest row of miniature medals 3 inches below the notch, centered on the lapel, parallel to the deck.

Jim

[EHCAlum]

Drac: Cumberbun (crumb catcher) pleats are always up. Learned to remember it because of that word.

The more gentlemanly explanation for the pleats facing up is to hold the Opera or Theatre tickets for the gent and his lady.

[Drac]

A quick note on above, I would never wear any medals to something like a Burns dinner.

I will be leaving the fly at home and going with the Lamont. Am running into a problem, the new hose seem to be giving Mom-in-law problems. Looks like I may have to put in an emergency order into Matt tomorrow.


I should be getting a new book in tomorrow. Granted it probably not have anything on kilts but it should help above the waist -

A Gentleman Gets Dressed Up: What to Wear, When to Wear it, How to Wear it

I'm getting several books on "being a gentleman" for fun in not information.

Jim

[Detroitpete]

Drac--you're going to look great and have a grand time! Here's to ya!

[macwilkin]

A quick note on above, I would never wear any medals to something like a Burns dinner.

Depends on the Burns Supper -- some are full formal affairs, others are more casual. Remember Burns himself was a soldier -- a member of the Dumfries Volunteers -- and spoke of soldiers regularly in his poems.

Since my g-g-grandfather carried a copy of Burns with him when he served with the 11th Iowa Infantry in the Civil War, I have no issue with wearing my SUV and MOLLUS minis -- some may think that garish, but horses for courses.

T.

[Drac]

Since I have to order some new hose I know better than white (even if it hadn't been the number 1 comment on last years outfit ) how would black sound? I've been wanting a set with some black garters for a tone on tone modern outfit.

Jim

[JSFMACLJR]

Since I have to order some new hose I know better than white (even if it hadn't been the number 1 comment on last years outfit ) how would black sound? I've been wanting a set with some black garters for a tone on tone modern outfit.

Jim

I find black just a step above white, especially when there are so many colours you could wear with a Lamont tartan kilt. Black is so boring and dull, and really quite unheard of in traditional Highland dress. Give them a pass.

Try blues, greens, reds. If you can find a pair that fits on short notice, red and white diced hose would certainly be sharp.

[Geoff Withnell]

My 2 cents worth: just my opinion>>>

I wouldn't pay a bit of attention to an invitation that either suggested or authorized me to wear my medals--full, ribbons or minis while in civilian attire. Since I no longer serve in active or reserve status, then there is no reason for me to ever be in uniform again. For me, my medals sit in their cases. The minis I own were worn for designated functions while in uniform.

I do not now, nor will I ever truly understand why anyone would wear any version of military medal post-service and especially on civilian attire.

Sure I'm proud to have served my country. I'm proud of the men I was with when we earned our medals. I'm proud of staying alive. To me--again ONLY one guy's opinion--wearing medals on civilian attire is just not something I feel the need to do.

If it's a matter of having others know you served---well, they can just ask me. Besides, it is usually fairly easy in such company to tell who has served and who hasn't.

Well, the USMC regs say medals "may" be worn with civilian attire, so if you choose not to, I can certainly respect that. And I thank you for your service. I guess it's a matter of attitude. I was active duty from 1968-1972, and have been fairly active in various veteran's organizations ever since. Those who know me know that I almost always have an Eagle, Globe and Anchor somewhere about my clothing. I'm still a Marine. And I would no more go to the Marine Ball, or the Navy Ball, or other military occasion, without my medals, than with my shoes unshined. It just would not seem "right" to me. Of course, I don't wear them at the corporate Christmas party, even though that's formal, and I'll have on the the same jacket. It's not a military or patriotic occasion.

Geoff Withnell

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The more gentlemanly explanation for the pleats facing up is to hold the Opera or Theatre tickets for the gent and his lady.

Early on in the colonization of India British officers took to wearing cummerbunds as part of their uniform. Long worn by the native Indians, the cummerbund was useful for holding an extra brace of pistols back in the day when an officer carried two single shot pistols in holsters hung from the pommel of his saddle. To prevent the pistols from becoming snagged in the cummerbund the pleats faced up, allowing for a smooth and rapid draw.

As the Indian Army was the the first to adopt mess dress uniforms (with abbreviated coats in deference to the heat) it was only natural that the cummerbund-- a distinctive item of Indian army dress-- would replace the waistcoat. Officers returning home from India on leave would wear their mess dress uniforms on board ship, and the cummerbund soon caught on with civilians who had been "out East".

Interestingly, U.S. Army regulations stipulate that the pleats of the cummerbund face down.