The Dress Mess Uniform. Does anyone else hate it?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 14:22:40 -0500

I for one do not like the look of the dress mess even a little.  Does anyone like it?

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 20 at 2014 2:28 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 14:28:35 -0500

I LOVE that uniform. I think it looks great!

Response by CMC Robert Young made Jan 20 at 2014 2:46 PM

CMC Robert Young — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 14:46:45 -0500

Sir, I love it. Many of my best memories of my dad are of him in his Dress Mess. The Army's version looks very similar to the Coast Guard's, and I never miss an opportunity to wear mine.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2014 2:49 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 14:49:36 -0500

I have worn full sized medals in the Blues and I think that looks way better than the Dress Mess with it's tiny medals and odd jacket.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2014 2:50 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 14:50:48 -0500

Sir, the male officer dress mess is a little garish, but I find the female enlisted dress mess quite attractive and smart.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2014 3:03 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 15:03:53 -0500

I've actually been debating on purchasing it or not. We rarely have dinning in or outs and question if I really do need it more than want it. One of things I loved about wearing greens was the opportunity to wear my blues. Now that everyone can wear ASUs it's just not the same thing.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2014 3:18 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 15:18:51 -0500

The lawn jockey jacket? It's a nightmare for the poor Specialist detailed out as an usher. All they see is a lot of rank, awards, and no name plate. Then the wearer of the jacket is offended when you don't recognize them from sight and your BN CSM gets his head ripped off. I feel sorry for every Specialist in the Army whenever I see the jacket.

That aside: I've seen worse dress uniforms. I want olive drab, shoulder patches, and a black leadership stripe, damnit.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2014 3:20 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 15:20:38 -0500

Sir,

As you can see from my picture I like it. But I didn't buy it myself it was a gift from my brother who is a CPT. He told me " The Mess distinguishes the best" I don't know if it does but I like it all the same.

Now my wife despises the Mess and wishes I didn't wear it.

V/R

1SG Haro

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 20 at 2014 3:28 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 15:28:48 -0500

Got mine custom made in Korea in 1998. It makes a huge difference in fit and comfort. Like it for the two times a year I wear it. Debating on going with the overlapping minis or keep the standard mini mount

Response by Lt Col Luis A. Rojas made Jan 20 at 2014 3:35 PM

Lt Col Luis A. Rojas — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 15:35:19 -0500

I like the Air Force Mess Dress for those formal and special events, it looks real sharp.  I will admit though, it would get old having to wear it a lot.  I'm glad it is only a couple or so times a year.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Apr 15 at 2014 2:07 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 14:07:56 -0400

Honestly I think it's beautiful. My only gripe is "where is everyone's NCO and Officer swords?"!

Response by SFC Arthur Barker made May 12 at 2014 6:43 PM

SFC Arthur Barker — Mon, 12 May 2014 18:43:24 -0400

I like both Mess Dress uniforms, and I even liked the Army White Uniform when we still had it. Problem is, in today's society, there is no call for a lot of those uniforms. I guess it's a matter of how often one would wear a tuxedo in civilian life. The average American would probably say once or twice a year, or maybe only when it was rented to attend a friends wedding. 70 years ago it made sense to have all these uniforms, because if you were going out on the town it was in uniform more often than not. There was a uniform to correspond to every civilian equivalent, and men dressed much more formally when going to clubs and the like back then. Well, even going to bars most Soldiers would have worn service dress.

I never had a good reason to fork over the money for mess dress, but I always figured if I got a job in an embassy it would be worth it for all the parties.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made May 12 at 2014 6:48 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Mon, 12 May 2014 18:48:14 -0400

I don't know about that uniform, but I love the Mess Dress.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2014 8:23 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 May 2014 08:23:21 -0400

I love the mess dress as well... even got married in it! I do agree with a few of the other comments in the fact that there is rarely an appropriate time to wear it. It's still in my closet with CPL rank sewn on.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made May 13 at 2014 8:55 AM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Tue, 13 May 2014 08:55:00 -0400

Okay, true story here, garaunteed to make you spit your coffee out...

The Mess Dress for the Navy is a tux with a short coat with small medals, chevrons and hash marks. There's a white coat for the Summer, and a black coat for Winter.

I was in a cousin's wedding, wearing the Summer Mess Dress. I was standing in front of the restaraunt that the reception was at, when a lady came up to me and handed me her valet parking ticket. I'll never wear the Summer coat again

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2014 7:17 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 19:17:25 -0400

I'll put it this way Sir, my old BN commander recently went to a Mil Ball and while walking through a hotel lobby he was stopped and asked if he were a "bullfighter"...I'll just leave it at that. 100% true story.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made Sep 14 at 2014 2:04 PM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:04:33 -0400

Okay...story time. I was attending a cousin's wedding while wearing the Navy summer Mess Dress (white short coat, tux). I was out front smoking when a lady walked up to me and handed me her valet parking ticket.

I was in Vegas wearing the winter version (black coat), with a friend that was renewing his vows. He's a Marine in his Dress Blues, I'm in the Navy Mess Dress...a man walked up and thanked him for his service, turned to me and asked me where the bathroom was...

Nope, I really don't like wearing the Mess Dress

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 14 at 2014 2:16 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:16:38 -0400

I never wore it. Looks very uncomfortable.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 7:51 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 07:51:03 -0500

I would assume that most of the components are the same, I do not care for the Navy's Mess Dress pants. I remember when I was being fitted for mine in Norfolk, I was complaining and the lady said, "Sailor if they are not giving you a wedgie they are not fitting right"..... Grumble, grumble, bitch, deep sigh.... "yes Ma'am".

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 21 at 2014 3:42 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 15:42:05 -0500

LTC Private RallyPoint Member, I like the blue and white mess and evening mess uniforms. Since the Army "dumbed" down dress blues and made them ASUs, there must be something to wear to an evening event other than what you wear to work. Also, the Army must have uniforms comparable to the sister services.
By the way, there was a time when the mess jackets were tailcoats! My Officer's Guide (published 1973) shows the tailcoat with a final wear out date of JUL75!
Although I never had the opportunity to wear either, I thought the Army blue and/or white evening mess uniforms were very sharp. It is essentially the same uniform, but the black tie, black cummerbund and straight collar tuxedo shirt combination is replaced with the white tie, white waistcoat and white winged collar shirt combination. It's the Army equivalent of "white tie and tails".
The service cap is now an optional item of wear with mess and evening mess uniforms, but I would want to wear it anyway. The only problem would be finding a white service cap as I don't think they can even be purchased any longer! I know Marlow White doesn't offer them for sale.

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made Dec 21 at 2014 4:49 PM

Capt Gregory Prickett — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 16:49:08 -0500

It only looks good with Infantry blue lapels... LOL

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 27 at 2015 9:24 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 21:24:10 -0400

I like it more than being shrink wrapped in polyester wool blends and mall security shirt of the ASU. I had mine tailor made in Korea for almost nothing as a Captain over ten years ago. When they are custom made they fit much better. Plus I always run into this very pretty girl when I wear them.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2015 10:47 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 22:47:19 -0400

Nope.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2015 10:02 AM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 10:02:42 -0400

I think that they look sharp, but I always feel like a "sausage casing" when wearing it.

Pic is Dad and me at the AF Ball, c. Sept 2014. :)

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 2 at 2015 1:15 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 13:15:40 -0500

Considered it a waste of money when I was on active duty. We seem to create events to which the Mess Dress must be worn and then require service members to show up. The uniform is expensive and you're expected to have one if you are of a certain grade/rank. I owned three versions of the AF mess dress and wore each version two or three times in a 22 year career.

Response by SrA David Steyer made Dec 2 at 2015 1:26 PM

SrA David Steyer — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 13:26:21 -0500

The USAF gets REAL bent up about SNCOs - E7's and E8's owning the Mess Dress, when the semi-formal uniform is acceptable per regulation. Officers are required to own it.

If you go to a lot of events where such a uniform is required then it is worthwhile.

Response by MSgt Michelle Mondia made Dec 3 at 2015 1:22 AM

MSgt Michelle Mondia — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 01:22:18 -0500

The fact that women have to per regulation ware the skirt, pumps and subsequently are required to shave their legs seems rediculous to me. I think in 2016 we should have the option to ware trousers.

Response by MAJ Steven Szymurski made Dec 3 at 2015 4:55 PM

MAJ Steven Szymurski — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:55:00 -0500

I loved the Dress mess uniform. I got my Mess Blues and Mess White uniform back in the early 70's before the change in officer rank insignia was changed. In those days the officers rank was denoted by the number of braids in cuff scroll and branch insignia under the scroll. None for 2Lt, 1 braid for 1Lt, 2 braids for Cpt, 3 braids for major, 4 braids for LTC and 5 braids for COL.

I have to say the that change over to a wider single braid with rank insignia replacing branch insignia is allows better recognition of one's rank.

That reminds me of an incident back when I was a LT at Ft Bragg. A college buddy of mine, who was also a LT assigned to a battalion of the 504th Airborne Infantry, went to a Dining-In at the main Officers Club wearing his Dress Blues. Another battalion from the 325th Airborne Infantry was also having a Dining-in in another private room at the club. Afterwards a few members from both units retired to the Club's basement bar for a nightcap. My friend got into a heated debate with someone from the other battalion who was wearing Mess Blues. They were arguing over whose unit had the best heritage from WW II. After an exchange of unit insults some punches were briefly exchanged. The two were restrained by their friends. The two quickly made up and all was forgiven. The next afternoon my friend told me about the encounter the night before and asked me what all the curly braid on "that guy's" Mess Blues uniform meant. I told him that the four braided scroll on "that guy's" Mess Blues meant he was a LTC - the Battalion Commander.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2015 11:55 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 11:55:09 -0500

It's about as horrible as AIDS, IMO.

Response by LTC Martin Metz made Dec 10 at 2015 12:45 PM

LTC Martin Metz — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 12:45:44 -0500

It's expensive. I bit the bullet and bought it at least a decade ago. I look at it as being good for life at this point. I wore it for my daughter's wedding and have used it in many unit events while serving and even for several events in Canada.

Response by COL George Antochy made Dec 17 at 2015 6:33 PM

COL George Antochy — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 18:33:21 -0500

Military's throughout history have always been about Pomp and Circumstance. Officers are not required to own a set of Mess Uniforms unless assigned to certain functions that typically have a large civilian presence. The Dress Blue is usually acceptable at all formal functions, and after six should be worn with bow tie. When we wore the Class A green uniform, enlisted could make it formal with white shirt and bow tie. In 30 years of service, 7 1/2 active, I was never required to where or own a Mess Blue or White, I choose to. This is the profession you choose, learn to accept it's values and traditions.

Response by Lt Col George Roll made Jun 3 at 2018 9:08 PM

Lt Col George Roll — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 21:08:28 -0400

The AF Mess Dress used to have a summer white coat and a winter black coat. During my time in service we changed to a all blue uniform, wit wbite shirt and black bow tie. It was a good uniform and when in the summer jacket we no longer were mistaken for waiters at the party. Our service blue uniform still looked too much like a bus drivers outfit, especially if you were without stripes or were a 2 lt.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Sep 21 at 2018 11:01 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 11:01:10 -0400

I much preferred it.