09/05/2026
On September 5, 1776, the first uniforms for Continental Navy officers were adopted. Captains were to wear blue britches, a red waistcoat with narrow lace and red lapels, and a stand-up collar. Meanwhile, enlisted Sailors during the American Revolution wore knee breeches or pantaloons tied at the knee so as not to interfere with work aboard ship, along with a shirt and short-waisted jacket. The instantly recognizable bell-bottom trouser was not introduced until 1817.
There was much debate over the details of the new uniforms, though the fledgling Navy did not, in truth, have the funding to procure official uniforms for every sailor. Even into the next century, it was not uncommon for sailors to sew their own uniforms.
Uniform regulations have changed many times over the course of our nation’s history. Visit our exhibit “A Salute to Style: Fashion and the U.S. Navy” to learn more about U.S. Navy uniforms through history!
