What is your opinion on tailoring duty uniforms?

1LT Sebastian Coates Sir, I would disagree with those who feel tailoring is a waste of time and money. Before I enlisted in the Navy, I worked at a men's store for six years and in my (formerly) professional opinion, tailoring is essential for some people to achieve a proper fit.

Especially if the person is broad shouldered and has a narrow waist, or if they have a bigger rear end, tailoring their uniforms may be the only way to achieve an appropriate appearance in uniform. Additionally, those who have broader shoulders will likely need to have uniform tops (shirts, coats, blouses, etc) taken in because excess material under the arms will actually hinder movement and need to be removed. There are also some people who end up needing a longer uniform in order to address having a longer torso, but then end up with sleeve that hang past their fingertips and need them to be shortened.

Long story short, tailoring is very helpful (and sometimes a necessity) to have an appropriately fitting, professional looking uniform.

For Marines our service and dress uniforms are tailored. Having those tailored uniforms does mean that we have to maintain a standard of appearance and fitness. As well, I believe that they create a sharper image which perpetuates in the way Marines feel about themselves and their corps. And it just looks really cool.

The man makes the clothes, not the clothes make the man. Tailoring uniforms is a waste of time and money that can be better spent on military necessities. Besides, having a well fitting uniform does not necessarily make the soldier any better