Women's Reserve of the
Coast Guard
(SPARS)
... III. Uniforms
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-. Insignia
-. Medals and Ribbons
-. Service and Dress Uniform
-. Work Attire
-. Miscellaneous
-. Dress Regulations
 
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Miscellaneous
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Headgear
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SPARS Service Hat
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The hat for enlisted personnel had a navy blue stitched brim that was turned up in the back. The six-section crown could be removed. Three different kinds of crown covers were used:
*. the navy blue cover with the Service Dress, Blue, A
* the white cover with the Service Dress, Blue, B and Service Dress, White
* the gray and white pinstriped seersucker cover with the matching working uniform
A dark navy blue cap ribbon carried the designation "US Coast Guard" in golden letters. The letters were embroidered or simply printed.
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
SPARS Service Hat and Hat Covers (Enlisted Personnel)
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The service cap for officers had a navy blue stitched brim and an oval shaped stiffened crown. Different kinds of hat covers could be attached. The insignia were worn at the front of the crown, attached to a navy blue band that encircled the crown at the brim. 
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.. SPARS Officer's Hat

Top Row:
- Hat shaper 
(the covers were dried over the shaper to keep them in correct form)
- Rain Cover
- White Cover

Second Row:
- Blue Cover 
- Cap without cover
- Gray Cover

Bottom:
- Hat Band with Cap Device

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Garrison Caps
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In 1944, officers and chief petty officers were allowed to wear male style navy-blue garrison caps within station limits when prescribed by the commanding officer.
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Later female style garrison caps were authorized for officers and enlisted personnel. Unlike the men's caps, they were designed in a banana shape for better fit over female hairstyles. 
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Enlisted personnel were authorized to wear the Coast Guard collar insignia on the left front of the cap.
Chief Petty Officers wore a miniature Chief Petty Officer device on the left front of the cap. 
Commissioned Officers wore a miniature Coast Guard officer's insignia on the left front of the cap and a miniature pin-on rank on the right front. 
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Garrison Caps
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Shirts
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The shirts were made of cotton or rayon material and issued in three different colors: white, navy blue and reserve blue. The regulations governing the wearing of the various shirts varied slightly from district to district and during the time. Here are some general rules:
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White Shirts: either long or short sleeved types could be worn by officers (and Chief Petty Officers) at any time, while enlisted personnel could wear them only for dress occasions. The long-sleeved white shirt was worn by officers at dress occasions only. 
(Exception: The short-sleeved white shirt could be worn as work shirt by enlisted personnel when the navy blue summer work uniform was worn. Qualified WAVES wore a rating badge on the left sleeve.)
Reserve-Blue Shirts: were the dress shirts for enlisted personnel. Officers could wear reserve blue shirts for work or travel. If officers removed the jacket the reserve-blue shirt was worn with collar bars. In October 1943 the issue of reserve-blue shirts was discontinued, but shirts in possession could be worn until they were no longer serviceable. 
Navy-Blue Shirts: were the work shirts for enlisted personnel (other than Chief Petty Officers). Qualified personnel had to wear a rating badge on navy-blue shirts.
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Three different variations of shirt pattern were authorized. 
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The main pattern had a button front style with turn down pointed collar, long set-in sleeves with two button cuffs. Three darts were placed at each shoulder seam and the collar was closed with button and buttonhole.
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
Navy Blue Shirt
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Picture Source: Life Magazine, March 15, 1943, p.76 ...... A second alternative pattern offered a slip-over shirt with turn down pointed collar and long sleeves with buttoned single cuffs. The front of this variation had a yoke ending in the open ends of a V shape. 
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The third pattern variation had a button down front again, turn down, pointed collar and long sleeves with buttoned cuffs. The front of this shirt had a yoke one each forepart ending in a vertical line extending to top shoulder seam. The collar closed with a small button and button loop.
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
Reserve Blue Shirt
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... In addition, a white short-sleeved shirt made of cotton material in the same design as the long-sleeved shirt was authorized. Just the sleeves were shortened to two-thirds of the distance from shoulder seam to elbow. The sleeves were finished with a turned back cuff. 
The short-sleeved shirt was worn with the white uniform and also with the blue uniform during spring and fall.
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When a shirt was worn without the jacket, enlisted SPARS who obtained a rank wore a matching rating badge on the left sleeve and the Coast Guard shield on the lower right sleeve. Officers wore miniature pin-on ranks on both sides of their collar. It was only allowed to remove the jacket when the working uniform was worn.
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Blue Cotton Chambray Shirt

During 1944, a blue cotton chambray shirt for work was introduced. The shirt had a breast patch pocket on the left side and was closed with 5 white buttons. The shirt was worn with blue denim slacks. 

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Ties
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The square knot that was used with Naval uniforms since the eighteenth century were adopted for the WAVES and SPARS uniforms. The ties were made of black or reserve-blue rayon or silk material. The black tie was worn with the white shirt, the reserve-blue shirt and the seersucker working uniform. The reserve-blue tie was worn with the navy-blue shirt only. It was worn under the shirt collar with the knot placed at the collar opening and the tie ends tucked under the collar tips.

Different variations of the tie could be used.
(For those who are interested in reproducing a WAVES/SPARS tie, 
I have added patterns here)
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
A two section tie could be buttoned under the collar. Therefore, each half of the tie had a button hole at the narrow end. A black and a reserve-blue half of such a tie is shown in the picture on the bottom right.
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Another variant was a one piece tie approximately 11 inches wide and 33 inches long with pointed ends. This tie was folded lengthwise. An example of a reserve-blue one-piece tie of this type is shown in the picture on the top. A black tie completely folded is shown on the left side of the picture.
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Additionally, a one piece tie shaped similar to the two section tie but connected in the middle is shown in the middle of the photo.
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Picture Source: Guide Right by Mary Virginia Harris,1944, p.24
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Stockings
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Lisle stockings were worn most commonly during all seasons. They were prescribed for all personnel in training and for drill. At all other occasions, SPARS were allowed to wear silk and rayon stockings if they were obtainable. The stockings had to have a neutral shade. Mesh stockings, fancy stockings or decorated stockings were not allowed. Wearing a stocking with a run or a mended run was not permitted. Bare legs (no stockings) or using liquid hose on the legs was prohibited while in uniform.
Navy-blue ankle socks could be worn with the aviation coverall, the exercise suit, and with the slacks. 
 
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Stockings, Rayon (above) / Stockings, Cotton Lisle (below) 
Typical examples of stockings as they were used in wartime
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Gloves
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Wide latitude was allowed in style and type of gloves, except that black suede were not permitted. The gloves used for winter were made of black leather or fabric. Black gloves could also be worn with the gray working uniform. The gloves needed to be short, of plain design, and without fluted edges or appliqué. 

In spring and summer and on winter dress occasions, white gloves in a short, simple design were worn. Black stitching on white gloves and white stitching on black gloves were not allowed.

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Examples of 1940s gloves (made of black leather and white cotton) as worn by WAVES and SPARS 
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Shoes
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Service Shoes, Black
... Black laced (4, 5 or 6 eyelet) oxford shoes were authorized as service shoes. The heels could not be higher than 1-3/8 inches and plain black leather with closed toes and heels was mandated. The stitching had to be black and no decorations or perforations of any kind were allowed. Moccasin toe types and variations were permitted, but no suede, patent or novelty shoes. The service shoes were normally worn for drill, training and work, and were also permitted for dress occasions.
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Simple pumps or monk strap style shoes made of plain black leather or fabric were permitted for work and dress occasions. 

The toes and heels had to be closed and the stitching had to be black. Heels higher than 2 inches were officially disapproved, but still worn. 
 

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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
Example of 1940s pumps which could have been used as Dress Shoes, Black
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Example of 1940s Oxfords made of buckskin which could have been used as Dress Shoes, White
..v White summer shoes were worn with the white summer uniform. 

They could be Oxfords, pumps or monk-strap shoes.

White buckskin was allowed and leather-covered, built-up leather, or wooden heels were acceptable. The stitching had to be white.

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Although the heel height of the pumps could not officially exceed two inches and needed to be plain, wartime photographs are evidence that many women actually wore shoes having higher heels, decorative styles and even perforations. 

Because leather was rationed and shoes became scarce during wartime, the regulations governing footwear were not enforced strictly - especially regarding the dress pumps.
 

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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
Example of 1940's pumps which could have been used as Dress Shoes, White
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Handbags
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The envelope style handbag was made of black fabric, synthetic material, or leather. It was about 11 inches wide and 7 1/2 inches high. The handbag had a detachable shoulder strap of self-material. It was carried by the shoulder strap on the right shoulder with the bag swung over the left hip. 
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A white handbag of the same design was worn with the Service Dress, White. It was permitted to carry the handbag with or without the shoulder strap. 
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As an alternative, a white cover of cotton, rayon or wool material could be used over the black handbag in place of the all white handbag. The black straps had to be removed when the cover was used. 
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Coypright by BLITZKRIEGBABY

The cover had an oilcloth lining for protection from soiling caused by the black leather of the handbag.

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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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continue to:
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Insignia
Medals and Ribbons
Service and Dress Uniform
Work Attire
Miscellaneous
Dress Regulations
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.[ I. Development ]..[ II. Facts about the SPARS ]..[ III. Uniforms ]..[ IV. Sources ]
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