Favorite Uniforms

[StetsonHomburg]

Ah, good to hear from you Stetson! And I would have to agree that the Redcoat looked nice, although not the best choice if you are conducting guerrilla warfare lol.

Nope probably not the best idea: Walk out in the middle of a field,
wearing bright red uniforms and drumming.... lol

 

[kampkatz]

Speaking of "Hogan's Heroes", the uniforms were not always correct.
One example: Col. Crittenden actually wore a Group Captain's uniform.

 

[filfoster]

Hogan's Heroes

Speaking of "Hogan's Heroes", the uniforms were not always correct.
One example: Col. Crittenden actually wore a Group Captain's uniform.

The German uniforms in most TV shows and movies are wrong, only in varying degrees. No SS officers were capering about in black Allegemeine uniforms during the war years, certainly not after 1942. No one wanted to advertise his 'in the rear with the gear' status. (No, I don't believe the usual exception for dress occasions either unless shown a dated photo-yet to appear.). Yet, Major Hochstetter has clung to his sinister schwarz duds. This seems to be a Hollywood costumer's affectation and one I would endorse for its theatrical effect. Who cares?
("Downfall" has about the most accurate uniforms but even here, there are flaws.Film companies seem to avoid uniform cranks as consultants, and in fairness, no one can 'know it all' even though I pretend to.)

 

[1961MJS]

Speaking of "Hogan's Heroes", the uniforms were not always correct.
One example: Col. Crittenden actually wore a Group Captain's uniform.

From Wikipedia, and probably correct. Colonel Crittenden was an RAF officer and the RAF doesn't have Colonels, they have Group Captains. This would make the uniform correct, but the title wrong.

Obviously the use of Major Hochstetter's black SS duds was to make him more sinister. It worked to a certain extent. I still laugh when he showed up.

Later

 

[Guttersnipe]

I always thought the LAPD of the 50's and 60's had a pretty smart uniform...

...that looks especially good when custom tailored by the wardrobe department to fit TV cops lol

 

[PADDY]

Always...

...if you are issued with a service shirt (Police or Military) take it to a good tailor and get it custom fitted, and if you can get away with it (some services won't allow this), get the creases stitched in. It pays to look sharp Gents, really it does!
I still (even on my civvie shirts and pants) use starch to get a crease to cut yourself on. The right people 'do notice!'

 

[filfoster]

Sharp Dressed Man

...if you are issued with a service shirt (Police or Military) take it to a good tailor and get it custom fitted, and if you can get away with it (some services won't allow this), get the creases stitched in. It pays to look sharp Gents, really it does!
I still (even on my civvie shirts and pants) use starch to get a crease to cut yourself on. The right people 'do notice!'

This is absolutely true. I work at a bank in the headquarters and such small things (like a good spit shine too) do not go unnoticed. The rainy days that take the crease out of trousers from the knee down are H.ll! (I have posted before without satisfactory response on the wonder of how men kept their trouser creases at work before 'sta-pressed', which still doesn't work very well.)

 

[Widebrim]

...if you are issued with a service shirt (Police or Military) take it to a good tailor and get it custom fitted, and if you can get away with it (some services won't allow this), get the creases stitched in. It pays to look sharp Gents, really it does!
I still (even on my civvie shirts and pants) use starch to get a crease to cut yourself on. The right people 'do notice!'

Well said, although I never got my creases stiched in. American servicemen used to also press (with starch) the old Utilities and BDUs (although you weren't supposed to). Do you still have your Army uniforms, Paddy? I recall you telling me that you were in the service when a younger lad...

 

[Phantomfixer]

I had creases stitched in to my USAF dress blue shirt while in recruiting. My commander loved the look but was against regs so in the trash went the shirts. Army and USMC did it and looked great....

 

[Widebrim]

I had creases stitched in to my USAF dress blue shirt while in recruiting. My commander loved the look but was against regs so in the trash went the shirts. Army and USMC did it and looked great....

You actually admit that you were a recruiter?! What do you think of the new USAF class A's, with the cloth belt?

 

[Cobden]

Nope probably not the best idea: Walk out in the middle of a field,
wearing bright red uniforms and drumming.... lol

Ah, but in the era before smokeless powder, telephones, radio, and modern ammunition, very practical indeed. The fear wasn't being spotted by the enemy - one had to stand up to load and fire a musket in any case, and massed bodies of infantry was the only practical way of fighting during the period, camouflage would have been a waste of time (excluding for those in specialist skirmishing/hit and run/guerilla roles, such as as rifleman). A far greater fear would be the commander not knowing what was going on on the battlefield and losing control of his troops. The red coat was obvious amongst the white smoke, the drums were an effective communications devise that could be heard of a battlefield, the colours and facings marked out which unit was which...in many respects, the British were ahead of other countries regular forces in this regard - having the most easily-spottable infantry (some countries wore white uniforms...rather impractical in the gunsmoke of a battlefield considering the above). And we did adopt khaki in the tropics and drab in temperate climes before anyone else.

 

[Phantomfixer]

You actually admit that you were a recruiter?! What do you think of the new USAF class A's, with the cloth belt?

Haven't seen the cloth belt but I am sure it looks sharp on the young airmen. Recruiting wasn't bad. But I did go back to my airplanes after my 4 year stint in recruiting.

 

[Mr Vim]

I don't know if someone said this before, and I don't care because it needs to be reiterated.

I love the old Army (and at one point Coast Guard) uniforms from WWII, the khaki slacks with those Ike Jackets... man, and while I was in, the Army voted on their new dress uniform, I voted like mad for the the Khaki and we got the Army blues instead. About a year later I was in the Coast Guard.

There's two opinions for you!

 

[KilroyCD]

I think hands down you have to give it to the Italian State Polizia. Not only are their uniforms designed by Armani, but they have a few Lamborghini Gallardos! Makes you almost want to be a traffic Cop!

Apparently one of the Polizia was better at wearing the uniform than driving the Gallardo.

Getting back on topic though, I tend to agree with Soren. The RAF Battle Dress uniform is a definite favourite, and perhaps the tropical is my very favourite.

 

[kwitie]

RAF Full Dress upto WW2...
http://www.britairforce.com/imagepages/raf_uniform_raf_full_dress.htm

 

[Teabag1927]

I have to go along with General Patton. I think the German uniforms of WWII are the best. My favorites are Luthwaffa and one that I don't want to get any flack over.

If you mean Waffen-SS uniforms, i'll speak up and take the flak for you, they're pretty good looking!

 

[Widebrim]

I don't know if someone said this before, and I don't care because it needs to be reiterated.

I love the old Army (and at one point Coast Guard) uniforms from WWII, the khaki slacks with those Ike Jackets... man, and while I was in, the Army voted on their new dress uniform, I voted like mad for the the Khaki and we got the Army blues instead. About a year later I was in the Coast Guard.

There's two opinions for you!

I also "voted" for the khakis, but I suppose that the Army brass didn't want us looking like Naval officers...I was happy about the Dress Blues becoming our Class As again after so many decades, but realize that they are a bit too dressy for "casual" wear. I think that in a few years someone will re-think this...

 

[Widebrim]

If you give points for flair, I think the Italian Carabineri, may have to take the lead.

However, the Spanish Guardia Civil may have that beat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guardia_Civil_a_caballo_Dos_de_Mayo_2008_n1.jpg

The bicorne gets extra flair points, but the Carabineri are still carrying swords. So, it may be a tie.

Molto bene! And the swords do it for me...

 

[1961MJS]

I also "voted" for the khakis, but I suppose that the Army brass didn't want us looking like Naval officers...I was happy about the Dress Blues becoming our Class As again after so many decades, but realize that they are a bit too dressy for "casual" wear. I think that in a few years someone will re-think this...

Hi

It's been YEARS since I actually saw someone in anything buy fatigues, either BDU's or ACU's, or whatever the USAF calls theirs now. I think that the blue looks better than the old green ones, but not as well as the pinks and greens. I work in aerospace, and see a lot of military types, but none are in anything resembling a dress uniform.

Later

 

[StetsonHomburg]

Ah, but in the era before smokeless powder, telephones, radio, and modern ammunition, very practical indeed. The fear wasn't being spotted by the enemy - one had to stand up to load and fire a musket in any case, and massed bodies of infantry was the only practical way of fighting during the period, camouflage would have been a waste of time (excluding for those in specialist skirmishing/hit and run/guerilla roles, such as as rifleman). A far greater fear would be the commander not knowing what was going on on the battlefield and losing control of his troops. The red coat was obvious amongst the white smoke, the drums were an effective communications devise that could be heard of a battlefield, the colours and facings marked out which unit was which...in many respects, the British were ahead of other countries regular forces in this regard - having the most easily-spottable infantry (some countries wore white uniforms...rather impractical in the gunsmoke of a battlefield considering the above). And we did adopt khaki in the tropics and drab in temperate climes before anyone else.

I am fully aware of that but when I said that I was addressing vintage lover when he said they aren't the best for modern guerilla warfare. Plus we were talking in a more joking manner.