USMC Dress Blue Jacket To Sherrifmuir Doublet

[davidlpope]

I really think that military uniforms are best left in their rightful place. Even if you successfully altered this Enlisted Marine Dress Blue Blouse and change the buttons it will still look like what it is- a modified military uniform, rather than a doublet made to wear with your kilt.

As a Marine, I would find it off-putting to run into a non-Marine wearing a Marine uniform, albeit modified, as part of civilian formal dress.

If you particularly like the styling of Marine Dress Blues I'd suggest a Kenmore Doublet. Same standing collar, single-breasted style, but a civilian garment designed to be worn with the kilt.

[flyrod6057]

I'm with David; Marine uniforms are something left to Marines.

Having said that...if you're still set on altering a Marine dress blue jacket, then look for an officer's jacket: no red piping to deal with. Also...for what it's worth, (at the risk if my fellow Marines' ire,) a Marine jacket minus gold buttons, red piping, rank and insignia is pretty much just another high-necked coat. I think they were originally patterned off of the British anyway...

Best of luck with your project.

[Mickey]

I'm with David; Marine uniforms are something left to Marines.

Having said that...if you're still set on altering a Marine dress blue jacket, then look for an officer's jacket: no red piping to deal with. Also...for what it's worth, (at the risk if my fellow Marines' ire,) a Marine jacket minus gold buttons, red piping, rank and insignia is pretty much just another high-necked coat. I think they were originally patterned off of the British anyway...

Couldn't agree more. Without the piping and chevrons, what do you have? An officer's jacket! And what do those look like? A very generic, military styled jacket. No snap, no zing. But even after cutting, if you leave the piping on, any Marine will recognize what it is from a country mile, no matter what buttons you put on it. But if you do it, I'd like to see pics of how it comes out.

Here is a USMC mess dress jacket after having the chevrons removed and gold buttons replaced with slightly larger silver ones. The only piping is on the epaulettes. Although the piping bugs me a little, I will leave it as it ties in nicely with the Leatherneck tartan, which is probably the only kilt that I will wear it with, and then, probably only to USMC balls. Though a sharp jacket, it just doesn't look right without chevrons. Too plain. Plus having buttons on the lapels where the EGAs go bothers me a bit. Gotta come up with something different I think.

[Chas]

Sorry if this sounds negative, but I do not like this.

"Tis neither fish, nor fowl, nor good red meat!"

If this is, more or less, a Dress Blue Jacket, I do nor see how it can be modified into a Sheriffmuir. It looks like a PC at first glance.

A Sheriffmuir is a totally different style. It has a high collar and the jacket meets at the neck. It comes straight down from the collar with no lapels to the waist, which is straight round the body. From the waist hang the four Inverness taches.

Sorry, but this looks nothing like a Sheriffmuir.

Regards

Chas

[CMcG]

Chas, you are correct that neither of the Marine jackets mentioned here look like a Sherriffmuir. There still appears to be some confusion and I hope someone more knowledgeable will correct me if I'm wrong...

I believe the OP is talking about the Dress Blue jacket, which looks somewhat similar to a Kenmore doublet:


The image you quoted from Mickey is a Mess Dress jacket, which he clearly stated in his post.

This is why a picture is worth a thousand words and people should use more of them to help clear up confusion!

[davidg]

I believe the OP is talking about the Dress Blue jacket, which looks somewhat similar to a Kenmore doublet:

Quite apart from all the other comments that have been made re the suitability or unsuitability of this jacket for conversion I would add that it has a stiffened military collar. Highland jackets may have collars that superficially look similar but they are not stiffened military collars, being more akin to a mandarin collar which is far less rigid and does not close at the neck

Trying to replace the collar would, in my opinion, make the project liable to failure

[madmacs]

I believe there was a post not long ago aboit turning one into a doublet... Im guessimg it cant be too far down in the diy forum... Looked promising then stalled due to time issues i think...

As far as mickeys post,, i dont think he was saying it was. The same jacket, merely that it was a marines mess dress... as for it being neither fish nor fowl, I think there are a number if regiments that wear mess dress with a kilt rather than a doublet

[Mickey]

Here are a couple of plates to help show the differences between Marine dress uniforms.

Enlisted dress




Officer dress




Enlisted and officer mess dress blue. Enlisted far left, officer center and far right

[creagdhubh]

Here are a couple of plates to help show the differences between Marine dress uniforms.

Enlisted dress




Officer dress




Enlisted and officer mess dress blue. Enlisted far left, officer center and far right

I remember seeing this series of artwork whilst on active-duty, my cO had them framed in his office. They are outstanding, and are produced from actual Marines. Some of the uniform regs have changed, but they are still a great resource for Marines.

[Chas]

Chas, you are correct that neither of the Marine jackets mentioned here look like a Sherriffmuir. There still appears to be some confusion and I hope someone more knowledgeable will correct me if I'm wrong...

I believe the OP is talking about the Dress Blue jacket, which looks somewhat similar to a Kenmore doublet:


The image you quoted from Mickey is a Mess Dress jacket, which he clearly stated in his post.

This is why a picture is worth a thousand words and people should use more of them to help clear up confusion!

Thanks CMcG, all is clear now.

I think this jacket has potential, but there are some IFs.

Firstly, If all the patch pockets can be removed,
Secondly, If the collar can be opened at the front to allow for a jabot,
Thirdly, If the below the waist area can be modified into the Inverness tashes,
And finally, If something can be done with the piping.

I don't think that any of those are insurmountable. All it will take is planning and forethought. The first two, I know that I could do, so should not be that hard. For the third, some time spent with a sheet of graph paper would be useful to make a template for the tashes.

The big IF is the piping. It gives a nice finished edge to the garment and would be a shame to loose. If it were me I would look at having the jacket dyed all one colour. Then you would have the best of both worlds.

Regards

Chas