Messy dress is a formal military uniform worn for white or black tie events. It originated in the British Army in 1845 as an alternative to full dress uniforms. Different nations and branches of service have their own regulations and variations, with color schemes and accessories used to designate regiments or units. Women’s uniforms resemble men’s, with long skirts instead of pants. Some military forces reserve the outfit for officers, while others allow all personnel to wear it.
A messy dress is a formal military uniform. It is usually worn for white tie or black tie events where civilian men would normally dress in a tuxedo. The tradition of a messy dress begins with the British Army, whose members began wearing them to balls and formal events in 1845 as an alternative to the full dress uniforms worn by officers at the time. By the early 20th century, the tradition was adopted by all branches of the British Army, the United States Army, and all Commonwealth nations. However, most other nations in the world have not adopted this custom, wearing standard uniforms or dress uniforms when attending formal events.
Regulations regarding a particular outfit vary with each nation and branch of service. Different units within that military branch might have their own variations on the standard dress. For example, depending on the regiment, British Army officers could wear the jacket with only the top button fastened, referred to as “cavalry style”, or it could be worn with a black bow tie. Many services also allow a warm-weather variation on the standard mess dress.
The color schemes of a uniform’s jacket, collars, cuffs, lapels, and vests may vary to designate a regiment or unit. British jackets can be red, blue, or green, depending on the branch and unit. Scottish regiments could include tartan on the uniform and could also have messy dress including kilts. The American mess dress, on the other hand, offers much less variety, and the uniforms are most often blue.
Modern dress for male staff tends to resemble tuxedo designs with military trimmings. Waist-length mess jackets may include epaulettes, embroidered cuffs, or lacing to show rank. Flaps may not be present. Sashes or vests are commonly worn, and black or white ties are often incorporated, depending on the event. Dress shoes are generally worn, although some uniforms require cavalry boots. For some uniforms, capes or capes are included as outerwear.
Women’s uniforms tend to closely resemble the men’s mess dress, with jackets being the standard. However, instead of pants, female service members often wear long skirts. Gloves and bags may also be used, depending on the branch of service.
In some military forces, an outfit is reserved for officers. Other military organizations allow all personnel to wear the formal uniform. In the US Marine Corps, only officers and NCOs are allowed to wear messy dress, while lesser enlisted personnel wear the standard dress uniform for formal functions.
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