Mess jacket

Messkit1

St John Ambulance of Canada officers in mess dress

Mess jacket is a type of jacket that is part of the mess dress uniform worn at formal occasions by the military and other formal organizations. The mess jacket is traditionally distinguished by its short length, ending around the waistline, and does not close in the front, making it necessary to wear a waistcoat or cummerbund underneath. It is most commonly seen in the armed forces for formal evening occasions, known as mess dinners, and is equivalent in function to civilian black tie and white tie attire.

History

The mess jacket originated in the British Army in the late 19th century. It was designed for wear in the mess or dining room by officers. The concept was to provide a more comfortable and less formal jacket than the full dress uniform for social occasions within a military environment. Over time, the mess jacket was adopted by various military forces around the world, including those of the Commonwealth nations and the United States. Each country and service branch has its own specific regulations regarding the design and wear of the mess jacket, including color, lapel style, and decorations.

Design

The design of the mess jacket varies between different military forces and branches, but common features include: - **Short length:** The jacket ends around the waist. - **Open front:** The jacket does not close in the front, requiring the wear of a waistcoat or cummerbund. - **Lapels:** Many mess jackets feature peaked lapels, though the style can vary. - **Decorations:** Officers may wear various decorations on their mess jackets, including medals, ribbons, and badges, according to their service's regulations.

Colors and Variations

The color and specific style of the mess jacket can vary significantly: - **British Army:** Traditionally, the British Army mess jacket is dark blue. - **Royal Air Force:** The RAF mess jacket is light blue. - **United States Army:** The U.S. Army mess jacket is dark blue for the Army Blue Mess and white for the Army White Mess. - **United States Navy:** Navy mess jackets are black for the Dinner Dress Blue Jacket and white for the Dinner Dress White Jacket.

Occasions for Wear

Mess jackets are worn at formal military dinners known as mess nights, as well as at other formal military social functions. They are not typically worn for ceremonial duties, which have their own specific uniforms.

Contemporary Use

While still a part of many military uniforms, the use of the mess jacket has declined in favor of more modern service dress uniforms. However, it remains a symbol of tradition and formality in military dining and social occasions.

See Also

• Military uniform
• Dress uniform
• Black tie
• White tie