Original Uniforms
Originals are a good option if you are of average
size (and are not very tall or corpulent). In many cases, original uniforms
are cheaper than reproductions. However, be careful to search for garments
in very good condition, especially if you search for dress uniforms. Unfortunately,
many vintage uniforms have become moth-eaten, stained, subject to mold,
etc., with the passage of time.
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The Size Problem
..
| Vintage military sizes are different from
current sizes. A vintage military size 10 would be about a modern US size
4, a vintage military size 12 would be about a modern US size 6, etc.
Additionally, a "S" following the size on the
tag stands for "short", "L" for "long" and "R" for regular. This is important
to note because most people won't fit in a size S with extremely short
sleeves, skirt or legs. |
.... |
 |
.
Therefore, it's always best to ask the seller
for exact measurements. Even if the size tag has your size, the uniform
might have been resized to fit the former wearer better.
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WWII US
Military Size
|
Current
US Size
|
Current
German Size
|
|
8
|
2
|
32
|
|
10
|
4
|
34
|
|
12
|
6
|
36
|
|
14
|
8
|
38
|
|
16
|
10
|
40
|
|
18
|
12
|
42
|
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Specification Tags
.
 |
.... |
It's always the best if the clothes still
contain the original tags (in readable condition). Then you know that your
item is really authentic WWII.
Especially, if it is an item you had no picture
or knowledge of beforehand. Not all items are really as old as claimed
by the sellers or female attire.
Tags are sometimes hidden inside pockets.
Left Side:
Specification tag of Army Nurse's
slacks. The tag is dated Feb1, 1944 ( pattern dated August 10, 1943).
|
.
| The WAVES label was changed to "U.S. Women's Naval Reserve"
late in the war and was still used in the early postwar period.
|
... |
 |
... |
 |
.
However, even if a uniform with the U.S. Women's
Naval Reserve label might be procured after the war, these early postwar WAVES
uniforms usually look exactly like the wartime clothes - so there is no real problem
to use them. The only difference is that postwar enlisted uniforms had
gilt buttons instead of blue plastic buttons. Additionally, service stripes
on sleeves should be removed because such stripes were not worn by WAVES/SPARS
during WWII.
.
.
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| American
Ebay |
Originals can be found best on Ebay. If one
is patient and looks daily one can find nearly everything. Especially recommended
for smaller items like caps, scarves, ties, purses, bracelets etc. which
are usually not to found anywhere else. |
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Reproductions
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If you cannot find any originals in your size
or want a complete uniform in a short time, you can acquire good reproductions.
Below, I have listed some links of vendors who sell reproductions. However,
the quality of the reproductions and the reliability of the sellers varies.
Best to ask in a messageboard or at events about the experiences of others
with their reproductions.
You can also take a look at the Reenactors
Vendor's Buyers Guide
(provided by www.greendevils.com)
.
.
| WWII
Impressions |
WWII Impressions sells for example the following
Army women's garments:
| HBT jacket and trousers with fatigue hat |
| Enlisted WACs winter service uniform + garrison
cap |
| Enlisted WACs summer service uniform |
| WAC officer's winter service uniform |
| Wool waist |
|
| What
Price Glory |
WPG sells for example:
| Enlisted WACs summer service uniform |
| Enlisted WACs ETO uniform |
Hobby Hats, Army Nurse service caps,
Officer's garrison caps, |
| WAC and Army Nurse Purse |
| WAC shoes |
| WAAC/WAC insignia |
|
| Allied Workshops
LLC |
E-store dedicated to 30s and 40s American
uniforms/accessories both original and in-house reproductions.
Lots of interesting stuff for WWII reenactors you hardly get anywhere else. |
| At
the Front |
WWII Combat equipment and militaria.
They sell reproductions of men's items- but
some could be used for female impressions as well. Great hints about the
care of uniforms and interesting background information about several items. |
| www.1903.com |
Reproductions of nearly all kinds of WWII
aviation wings (including flight nurse wings, WASP wings, etc.) at
reasonable cost. |
| Vanguardmil |
Modern military buttons, sleeve stripes,
insignia, dress scarves, cuff links for nurse's work uniforms, etc. (but
be careful! Some designs and materials have changed since WWII). |
| Garcia
Aviation |
Garcia Aviation sells for example:
Several insignia (like Army officer's insignia
useable for WAC officer's impressions; WASP insignia), different patches,
male flight gear useable for WASP impressions. |
| Quartermasterstores |
sells original US Army clothing from the 1920s to 1950s including
women's uniforms. The seller is located in the UK, but also sells his
items at various military shows in Europe. For more information contact:
UK mobile phone: +44 7733366365 (due to spam filter for unknown email
addresses please contact via mobile phone)or via e-mail: martin6697@live.co.uk |
| 6thjune1944 |
quality replica WW2 insignia and badges
located in France, Ste Mere Eglise Normandy |
| Warhorse
and Reproductions of History |
Reproductions of WAC/ANC/WAVES/NNC uniforms and accessories located
in the UK. |
| EMC Militaria |
Reproductions of US WWII women's uniforms |
| After The Battle |
Original items and reproductions of WWII Army uniforms and equipment
located in Germany |
| USMC WW-II DOG TAGS |
Authentic WW-II pattern USMC/USN/USCG reproduction dog tags--fabricated
out of stainless steel |
| WWII Dogtags |
Authentic patterned WWII Army Dog
Tag reproductions made of stainless stainless steel |
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.
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| It might also be worthwhile to visit a local
tailor and have a uniform custom made there. If you can provide good detailed
pictures, a good tailor should be able to make you a fitting pattern and
reproduce the desired uniform.
It would be best if you possessed an original
to copy (maybe a cheap poorly fitting item in bad condition). Needed insignia,
buttons and sleeve stripes could be removed from an inferior uniform. Original
fabric might be taken from a larger men's uniform or you can search for
similar material at a local fabric store. |
... |
 |
In any case, be aware that if the fabric is
cheap the whole uniform will look cheap, no matter how excellent your tailor
is! The advantages are that you can choose the fabric of your choice, that
you will get an uniform exactly tailored for your size (like it was usually
done for officer's attire during the war) and that the business is nearby
in case of problems.
Of course, this might be more expensive than
purchasing a reproduction from a vendor, but perhaps you will be much more
satisfied in the end. If no reproductions of the desired uniform are available
on the market this may also be the only option.
If you are skillful and have some experience
in tailoring you might also try making reproductions of your own!
.
.
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Converting Uniforms
If an uniform is extremely rare, it might be
an option to convert another uniform into the desired one. Here are some
hints:
.
Male Uniforms
.
.The
Army provided men's coveralls
for WASP in large sizes.
Therefore, the women called
them "Zoot Suits".
|
.... |
The easiest way to start with a uniform for
reenacting is to search for male field clothing which is usually quite
cheap in smaller sizes (HBT uniforms, khaki shirt and trousers, coveralls
...).
Women were supplied with such garments because
special female work attire was initially scarce during the war.
You only need to add the appropriate distinctive
insignia (Army Nurse Collar Insignia, Pallas Athene Insignia for WACs,
Red Cross Insignia, WASP insignia, etc.). |
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.
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WAVES to SPARS
.
If one obtains the necessary distinctive insignia,
one can easily convert a WAVES uniform into a SPARS uniform. SPARS collar
insignia and blue Coast Guard plastic buttons for the jacket are sometimes
sold on Ebay, an enlisted cap band with the letters "U.S. Coast Guard"
could be taken from an enlisted men's cap and the Coast Guard shields and
officer's cap devices might also be found among common WWII Coast Guard
items.
.
| Gold-colored Coast Guard and Navy officer's
buttons still have the same design and sizes today (the only difference
is that the eagle faces the opposite direction). |
.... |
Left Side: WWII Coast
Guard Button
Right Side: Modern Coast
Guard Button |
.
..
WAC to ANC
.
| WAC and Army Nurses wore many identical items
differentiated only by some distinctive attributes like collar insignia,
different shaped service caps and handbags. However, there are some things
which should be noted:
a) the summer service uniforms of Army Nurses
and WACs had the same cut but differed in fabric, color, sleeve stripes
and epaulet trimming.
Therefore, it's not possible to convert a
WAC summer uniform into a ANC summer uniform and the other way round. |
..... |
WAC Summer
Service Unifom
|
.. |
ANC Summmer
Service Uniform
|
| b) Army Nurses and WACs received entirely
different kinds of off-duty dress which not only differed in its pattern
but also in fabric, fabric color, sleeve stripe and epaulet color. Therefore,
it's not possible to convert a Army Nurse off-duty dress into a WAC off-duty
dress and the other way round. |
.
WAC Summer
Off-Duty Dress
|
.. |
ANC Summer
Off-Duty Dress
|
.. |
WAC WInter
Off-Duty Dress
|
.. |
ANC WInter
Off-Duty Dress
|
..
.
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ANC/WAC to PHS
.
| Converting a female Army officer's into a
PHS uniform is possible if the buttons and cap insignia are exchanged.
Unfortunately, no modern PHS buttons can be used if one wants to be precise
since the design has changed. Old PHS buttons are often sold as Navy buttons
- so you might have good luck there. |
.....
Left Side: WWII PHS
Button
Right Side: Modern PHS
Button
|
.
| The modern cap device and collar insignia
are also slightly different (but less obvious than on the buttons). Therefore,
it is the best to search for WWII PHS items. |
..... |
Left Side: WWII PHS Collar
Insignia
Right SIde: Modern PHS
Collar Insignia
|
| As for the cap device, you can
also use a Cadet Nurse Corps cap device (reproductions available) if you
change the color to gold (perhaps with the help of a jeweller or electroplate
it yourself if you have the necessary instruments). |
..... |
Left Side: WWII PHS Cap
Device
Right Side: Modern PHS
Cap Device
Note: Differences in
design of winged caduceus, anchor, shield and overall size.
|
.
.
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WAVES/SPARS to PHS
.
The same changes as for ANC/WAC uniforms is
necessary if a WAVES or SPARS uniform should be converted to a PHS uniform.
Additionally, there are two more difficulties:
.
| a) the embroidered sleeve insignia. Modern
PHS sleeve insignia are available, but they look different than the ones
of WWII vintage. |
.... |
WWII Sleeve Insignia
|
... |
Modern Sleeve Insignia |
.
.
| b) the cap and cap devices. The PHS service
had a distinctive beret for female personnel, but fortunately garrison
caps can be worn as well. However, they were worn with the miniature cap
PHS device. |
.
.
| Modern miniature PHS cap devices are slightly
different in design (but the differences are not very obvious).
Original miniature PHS devises are quite rare. |
...... |
Left Side: WWII Miniature
PHS Cap Device
Right Side: Current Miniature
PHS Cap Device
Note: Different winged caduceus
design amd different size of anchor and shield. |
|
