Mess dress, flight suits, oh my.

[trekkindave]

Kidna off topic of the off topic-ness.... where can the mess dress uniform be purchased?  I would wear it if i could find one to wear.

[ddelaney103]

Kidna off topic of the off topic-ness.... where can the mess dress uniform be purchased?  I would wear it if i could find one to wear.

It can be bought at any on-base MCSS or through Vanguard.  Unless you're loaded, you might want to consider AFB thrift stores or thrifts near bases.

[pixelwonk]

Vanguard for accessories maybe, but I haven't seen the uniforms there.

Not near an AFB? Try AAFES via phone if you want it new
EBay is another source for used mess dress

[AlphaSigOU]

Kidna off topic of the off topic-ness.... where can the mess dress uniform be purchased?  I would wear it if i could find one to wear.

AAFES military clothing sales stores at your nearby (or not-so-nearby) Air Force base, for starters. Be prepared to fork over $300 for the uniform itself (jacket, trousers, shirt, bowtie and cummerbund, cufflinks and studs, and any tailoring), and at least $75-$200 additional for the CAP-specific insignia, mini medals, etc.

Also, the base thrift store/Airman's Attic sometimes has gently-used mess dress uniforms for sale for a fraction of the cost of new. eBay is another source, but bidding wars often erupt over the larger sizes most CAPers wear when offered for auction.

I don't know of any private source of the AF mess dress, though. Googled with no result. Army and Navy has Marlow White for their formal dress uniforms.

[MIKE]

The CAP Bookstore used to sell mess dress... Vanguard only offers the doo dads now IIRC.

[JayT]

Kidna off topic of the off topic-ness.... where can the mess dress uniform be purchased?  I would wear it if i could find one to wear.

Maybe check with one of the guys at the 106th?

[trekkindave]

Possibly... I'll have to ask around and check out EBAY

[JayT]

Possibly... I'll have to ask around and check out EBAY

If I find something, I'll let you know. I'm looking for a set for when I go FO.

[Hawk200]

Possibly... I'll have to ask around and check out EBAY

If I find something, I'll let you know. I'm looking for a set for when I go FO.

It would be sharp, but one problem: Do they even make FO Mess Dress shoulder boards? I've never seen them, so I don't know if they exist.

[Hawk200]

It would be sharp, but one problem: Do they even make FO Mess Dress shoulder boards? I've never seen them, so I don't know if they exist.

Apparently, Vanguard has the FO ranks in bullion to glue on to some blank shoulder boards. Ironically, the first investment is more expensive than regular officer grades.

[JayT]

Possibly... I'll have to ask around and check out EBAY

If I find something, I'll let you know. I'm looking for a set for when I go FO.

It would be sharp, but one problem: Do they even make FO Mess Dress shoulder boards? I've never seen them, so I don't know if they exist.

Yeah, metal rank on blank shoulder boards.

Blah!

[Hawk200]

Yeah, metal rank on blank shoulder boards.

Blah!

Actually they aren't metal, they're bullion like other officer rank.

http://www.vanguardmil.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_390_408_411&products_id=7233

http://www.vanguardmil.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_390_408_411&products_id=7234

http://www.vanguardmil.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_390_408_411&products_id=7235

Vanguard's rather proud of them. Gotta be at that price.

[RogueLeader]

Slightly off topic, but what is bullion?

[MIKE]

Slightly off topic, but what is bullion?

Main Entry: bul·lion
Pronunciation: 'bul-y&n, -"yän
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French billion, bullion melting house, bullion, probably blend of Middle French bille ingot, piece of money (from Old French, log) and Anglo-French *bulliun, buillun cauldron, from Old French boillon froth on boiling liquid, broth -- more at BILLET, BOUILLON
1 a : gold or silver considered as so much metal; specifically : uncoined gold or silver in bars or ingots b : metal in the mass <lead bullion>
2 : lace, braid, or fringe of gold or silver threads

[Hawk200]

Slightly off topic, but what is bullion?

I don't know how to exactly to describe it other than it's basically a coiled strand of metal "embroidered" into the appropriate shape. There are numerous examples of it on the Vanguard website that should show you what it looks like, just search for "bullion" on there.

Go to the bottom of this page, hopefully it will work:

http://www.vanguardmil.com/store/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=bullion&items_per_page=40&sort=20a&page=21

There are a few examples of CAP bulliion items.

[RogueLeader]

Roger, and thanks. . . . .Who's Roger

[SAR-EMT1]

But I'd say if you want to do it, by all means wear your Mess Dress to formal night, just call it a recruiting opportunity. (Just don't get plowed or start blowing chunks in public...)  YMMV

Is this prohibited in the 39-1 or the 151?
Then again I blew chunks when I first saw the price tag. 

[Mustang]

I've seen a lot of differing opinions about wearing various uniforms, but here's a question which recently came up:

If you're on a cruiseline vacation, and there's a "formal" night, can you wear your mess dress uniform?

What I can't believe isn't that this question was asked, but that it was someone other than Joe-Ely Carrales asking it!

[Hawk200]

But I'd say if you want to do it, by all means wear your Mess Dress to formal night, just call it a recruiting opportunity. (Just don't get plowed or start blowing chunks in public...)  YMMV

Is this prohibited in the 39-1 or the 151?
Then again I blew chunks when I first saw the price tag. 

I believe that recommendation is more applicable when you are wearing said uniform. While looking at the price tag it may be considered acceptable, possibly expected.