Alternative to a PC Jacket

[davedove]

Since you are not wearing a waistcoat - possibly they do not come with these jackets - your appearance could just be completed if you were to wear a Dress Belt with a rectangular 'plate' buckle. A belt would not, of course, be worn with a waistcoat.

To the knowledge, these mess dress jackets are always worn with a cumberbund in the US military, so no waistcoat is available. Someone with more recent experience could answer better than me. As a civilian kilt jacket (without all the military decorations), a nice kilt belt and buckle would look best.

[Riverkilt]

Thanks for the Marlow White link Dave,

They have Ike jackets under the police section too, they look good with kilts for less formal occasions.

Ron

[davedove]

I like the military mess dress jackets, but I plan to get a Brian Boru jacket for formal wear. It has similar styling, but comes in black, instead of just blue and white like the military jackets. Now, if I ever decide to get a white jacket for tropical evening wear (you know, cruises and such) then I may look at the white mess jacket.

Oh my, so many things on the wish list!

[Mike n NC]

Just a quick word to my prior military brothers. Don't forget that having once served, unlike our civilian brothers, to wear a current military uniform, or any part thereof, of the U.S. we must conform to grooming regulations. Not a big thing for most but living near a very large Marine Corps base I must mind my p's and q's.

Mike

[davedove]

Just a quick word to my prior military brothers. Don't forget that having once served, unlike our civilian brothers, to wear a current military uniform, or any part thereof, of the U.S. we must conform to grooming regulations. Not a big thing for most but living near a very large Marine Corps base I must mind my p's and q's.

Mike

I'm sure you do have a problem with that next to a Marine Corps base. All of the services are touchy about this.

The trick is to turn the garment civilian by stripping (or not adding if it's new) it of ALL military decorations, including such things as stripes down the leg and all that. Of course, some items will still be recognizable as military clothes. I don't know how one could make the Marine dress blue jacket look civilian!

I think the mess dress jackets would be okay as long as you keep them strictly civilian. No braids on the shoulders, no sleeve decoration, etc. Then it would simply be a "military styled" jacket. Of course, there are still the little eagles on the buttons.:confused: And of course there will ALWAYS be someone who will recognize it.

These are the primary things to consider (from AR 670-1 3 February 2005):

1–12. Distinctive uniforms and uniform items

a.

The following uniform items are distinctive and will not be sold to or worn by unauthorized personnel:

(1) All Army headgear, when worn with insignia.

(2) Badges and tabs (identification, marksmanship, combat, and special skill).

(3) Uniform buttons (U.S. Army or Corps of Engineers).

(4) Decorations, service medals, service and training ribbons, and other awards and their appurtenances.

(5) Insignia of any design or color that the Army has adopted.

b.

Individuals will remove all distinctive items before disposing of unserviceable uniform items.

[Alan H]

I *JUST* bought and brand-new, unused one of these off of ebay for a fantastic price. I hear that it's home, and i"m leaving shortly, weill get to try it on!

*HUZZAH*

[Iolaus]

In case anyone's interested ...


http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-ROYAL-NA...QQcmdZViewItem

Current bid - GBP 4.99, with 2½ days left.

Long sleeved Royal Navy cropped & fitted evening jacket, extremely well made & manufactured out of a very high quality 100% wool fabric, lined with a black satinised cotton. Mens size medium fitting a 41" chest very well, measuring 22" or 560mm from pit to pit, with a pit to cuff length of 18" or 460mm & a collar to waist measurement of 23"or 580mm long.

[Alan]

For the most part these dinner dress jackets are not worn or purchased very often except by the people on embasy duty. The only way that I found out about them is by searching the Navy uniform web site for a different uniform. I just stumbled across it.

[Luke MacGillie]

Just a quick word to my prior military brothers. Don't forget that having once served, unlike our civilian brothers, to wear a current military uniform, or any part thereof, of the U.S. we must conform to grooming regulations. Not a big thing for most but living near a very large Marine Corps base I must mind my p's and q's.

Mike

Last time I checked 670-1 I did not see any grooming regulations for wear of the uniform by retired or wartime service former soldiers. Ive seen plenty of retired folks wearing dress uniforms with pigtails, beards and even earrings and nothing was said to them.

[Riverkilt]

Ive seen plenty of retired folks wearing dress uniforms with pigtails, beards and even earrings and nothing was said to them.


That would be me :-D ....okay, no ear rings....

Ron