- The Navy has several variations of formal dress or "dinner dress" uniforms that are appropriate to functions where civilians would normally wear black tie attire. Navy formal dress uniforms are dinner dress blues and dinner dress whites as well as tropical dress whites.
- Dress blues and whites are less formal than the dinner dress uniforms and may be worn as the uniform of the day. These uniforms may be used when the civilian equivalent would be a coat and tie. For officers and chiefs dress uniforms include slacks, jackets and ties (winter blues only) and shoulder boards for officers on the summer whites. For enlisted sailors, the dress uniforms are the standard navy "crackerjack" uniforms with white hat
-
The Navy has certain "dress casual" uniforms that are often worn in a more relaxed office atmosphere. Among those uniforms are the service khakis worn by officers and chiefs. The Navy also has service uniforms in summer white or winter blues that may be worn by enlisted sailors in such settings.
The service khaki uniform is another distinct uniform of the Navy. It can be worn by both officers and chiefs. The service khaki is a "dress casual" uniform that is more formal than standard utility uniforms but less formal than dress uniforms.
The service uniforms comprise slacks and button-down shirts in either winter blues or summer whites. The winter blues are long-sleeved; the summer whites have short sleeves.
The Navy's winter blue uniform is authorized for wear by all ranks. It consists of a long sleeve black button-up shirt and black belt and trousers. Females may wear the optional skirt. The headgear for this uniform is either the combination cover or, white hat or optional black garrison cap. Males are required to wear neckties with the uniform and females are required to wear a neck tab. When winter blue uniforms are designated as the "uniform of the day," sailors are authorized to wear the all-weather coat, the blue windbreaker or peacoat. - The Navy has several working uniforms for different environments that sailors encounter shipboard and ashore. The Navy authorized a battle dress uniform, which can be the standard working uniform ashore. The Navy has used a standard work uniform for environments where other uniforms would either be too dangerous to wear or where such uniforms would become "unduly soiled." The Navy also has a coveralls work uniform.
-
Certain ratings in the Navy have a need for special uniforms. For example, the flight deck uniforms are color-coded to indicate the flight deck sailors' duties on the ship. Purple uniforms represent fuel handlers; yellow uniforms designate flight deck operations personnel, for example.
Another specialty uniform used by certain sailors is the uniform issued to those sailors assigned to the USS Constitution. The Constitution, the U.S. Navy's oldest ship, is anchored in Boston Harbor and is available for tours. Sailors assigned to the Constitution wear replicas of the uniforms of the original sailors posted aboard the Constitution in 1813. - The Navy began a rollout of new uniforms in 2008. The rollout began with the new Navy working uniform, otherwise known as the "blue camouflage" uniform. The Navy has plans to modify and update several uniforms including the khakis which will come in a "dress khaki" variety. The Navy also plans to eliminate other uniforms, such as the working dress blues.
