USMC Dress Blue Jacket To Sherrifmuir Doublet

**davidg** · 30th October 11, 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by CMcG

I believe the OP is talking about the Dress Blue jacket, which looks somewhat similar to a Kenmore doublet:

Quite apart from all the other comments that have been made re the suitability or unsuitability of this jacket for conversion I would add that it has a stiffened military collar. Highland jackets may have collars that superficially look similar but they are not stiffened military collars, being more akin to a mandarin collar which is far less rigid and does not close at the neck

Trying to replace the collar would, in my opinion, make the project liable to failure

**Mickey** · 30th October 11, 08:23 AM

Here are a couple of plates to help show the differences between Marine dress uniforms.

Enlisted dress

Officer dress

Enlisted and officer mess dress blue. Enlisted far left, officer center and far right

**madmacs** · 30th October 11, 08:25 AM

I believe there was a post not long ago aboit turning one into a doublet... Im guessimg it cant be too far down in the diy forum... Looked promising then stalled due to time issues i think...

As far as mickeys post,, i dont think he was saying it was. The same jacket, merely that it was a marines mess dress... as for it being neither fish nor fowl, I think there are a number if regiments that wear mess dress with a kilt rather than a doublet

**Chas** · 30th October 11, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by CMcG

Chas, you are correct that neither of the Marine jackets mentioned here look like a Sherriffmuir. There still appears to be some confusion and I hope someone more knowledgeable will correct me if I'm wrong...

I believe the OP is talking about the Dress Blue jacket, which looks somewhat similar to a Kenmore doublet:

The image you quoted from Mickey is a Mess Dress jacket, which he clearly stated in his post.

This is why a picture is worth a thousand words and people should use more of them to help clear up confusion!

Thanks CMcG, all is clear now.

I think this jacket has potential, but there are some IFs.

Firstly, If all the patch pockets can be removed,
Secondly, If the collar can be opened at the front to allow for a jabot,
Thirdly, If the below the waist area can be modified into the Inverness tashes,
And finally, If something can be done with the piping.

I don't think that any of those are insurmountable. All it will take is planning and forethought. The first two, I know that I could do, so should not be that hard. For the third, some time spent with a sheet of graph paper would be useful to make a template for the tashes.

The big IF is the piping. It gives a nice finished edge to the garment and would be a shame to loose. If it were me I would look at having the jacket dyed all one colour. Then you would have the best of both worlds.

Regards

Chas

**MacLowlife** · 30th October 11, 08:37 AM

I do not know how much a (USMC) jacket like that costs, but you might consider this one as an alternative. I am not sure whether it would work better as a Sheriffmuir or as a Kenmore, but I suspect one or the other could easily emerge from it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEHRU-COLLAR...item7b68a42b7b

It looks like it would set you back about $85 or so.

If you are not excited about velvet, you might try searching for Nehru on eBay. There are various coats, jackets, and tuxedos in a more or less Nehru style. You can spend what you will. It might be worth considering adding more buttons and buttonholes and there might be pockets to deal with, but it would be a sight easier than removing piping...

**madmacs** · 30th October 11, 08:44 AM

This one...

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...version-66917/

**davidlpope** · 30th October 11, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Chas

Sorry if this sounds negative, but I do not like this.

"Tis neither fish, nor fowl, nor good red meat!"

If this is, more or less, a Dress Blue Jacket, I do nor see how it can be modified into a Sheriffmuir. It looks like a PC at first glance.

A Sheriffmuir is a totally different style. It has a high collar and the jacket meets at the neck. It comes straight down from the collar with no lapels to the waist, which is straight round the body. From the waist hang the four Inverness taches.

Sorry, but this looks nothing like a Sheriffmuir.

Regards

Chas

Chas,

The jacket you are referencing is is an Enlisted Marine Evening/Mess Dress Jacket. I believe what the OP is asking about is an Enlisted Marine Dress Blue Blouse, like this:

There are several companies offering kilt doublets which are designed with LEOs in mind. Perhaps that's an option for the OP:

**Chas** · 30th October 11, 10:09 AM

Just a quick question to anyone who knows - What fabric are the Dress Blue jackets made from?

Regards

Chas

**JWLC** · 30th October 11, 10:21 AM

The Dress Blue jacket are made of midnight blue gaberdine wool material, if I'm not wrong. Same as the USMC mess dress.

Wouldn't it be kind of defeating the purpose if you were to go all the way to de-militarise the blouse by removing the piping, pockets and buttons etc. It would make it indistinguishable from any generic military-cut tunic, even a civilian one.

**Chas** · 30th October 11, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by JWLC

The Dress Blue jacket are made of midnight blue gaberdine wool material, if I'm not wrong. Same as the USMC mess dress.

Wouldn't it be kind of defeating the purpose if you were to go all the way to de-militarise the blouse by removing the piping, pockets and buttons etc. It would make it indistinguishable from any generic military-cut tunic, even a civilian one.

But I thought that was the purpose of the exercise!

Regards

Chas