Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia

. The Army blue evening mess uniform comprises the Army blue jacket, dark- or light-blue high-waisted trousers,
white formal dress shirt with a wing collar, white vest, and white bow tie (see fig 24–2).
24–3. Occasions for wear
The blue mess uniform is worn for black tie functions and corresponds to a civilian tuxedo. The blue evening mess
uniform is the most formal uniform worn by Army personnel and corresponds to the civilian “white tie and tails.” The
following are appropriate occasions for personnel to wear the Army blue mess and blue evening mess uniforms:
a. Social functions of a general or official nature, held after retreat.
b. All private, formal social functions held after retreat.
24–4. Materials
a. Jacket.
(1) Wool barathea, dark blue, 14–ounce weight, Army shade 150.
(2) Wool gabardine, dark blue, 11– or 14.5–ounce weight Army shade 150.
(3) Wool elastique, dark blue, 15–ounce weight, Army shade 150.
(4) Wool tropical, dark blue, 9–ounce weight, Army shade 150.
(5) Polyester and wool blend gabardine, dark blue, 9.5–ounce weight, Army shade 450.
(6) Polyester and wool blend fabric in plain weave, dark blue, 9.5–ounce tropical weight, Army shade 450.
b. Trousers.
(1) General officers. The trousers will be made in the same material and shade (dark blue) as the jacket.
(2) Other officers and enlisted personnel. The trousers will be made in the same material as the jacket, except the
color will be light blue, Army shade 151 or 451.
(3) Braid. Nylon gold-colored braid or synthetic metallic gold braid is more suitable than gold bullion when attached
to lightweight fabrics (11 ounces or less).
24–5. Jacket, Army blue mess
a. Design. The jacket will be made from an approved specification or pattern.
b. General description. The jacket, which is cut on the lines of an evening dress coat, descends to the point of the
hips and is slightly curved to a peak in back and in front. Two 25-ligne buttons, joined by a small gold or gold-colored
chain about 1 1 ⁄2 inches long, are worn in the upper buttonholes. The shoulders have a device for the attachment of
shoulder knots on officer uniforms.
c. Lapels. The lapels of the Army blue jacket are rayon, acetate, or other synthetic fabric with a satin face in the
following colors:
(1) General officers, except chaplains: dark blue.
(2) All chaplains: black.
(3) All other officers: the first-named color of their basic branch of service. (See para 28–19.)
(4) Enlisted personnel: dark blue.
d. Shoulder knots (officers only). (See fig 24–11.)
Figure 24–11. Shoulder knot
AR 670–1 3 February 2005
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