Where can I buy a good enough/costume-quality WWII Navy or Army officer's uniform?

BigBrother said:

Hey all! I know in the world of militaria some extreme attention can be paid to detail and authenticity. I've certainly dabbled in similar fields where accuracy was key.

This is NOT one of those searches . For an upcoming dance, I really wanted to go WWII aviator, be it Army Air Corps or Navy. I really, really wish someone made a costume that wasn't pure garbage so I could be in and out for $100 or less, excepting the jacket.

Something like this would be perfect:

https://www.amazon.com/Forum-Novelties-Private-Soldier-Standard/dp/B004C63PEQ/

if it weren't for the piss-poor reviews. (Note that after a year or two of collecting authentic enlisted sailor crackerjacks, in a pinch I had to buy this costume version:

https://www.amazon.com/California-Costumes-Black-X-Large-Costume/dp/B00BBB642U/

and I swear it was so good I ended up wearing it for most events. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find something equivalent for the Army officer's uniform.)

Any thoughts? Buying it piecemeal from militaria sites will run me at minimum $250 and that's just way beyond what I can afford, not to mention above the authenticity threshold I'd need for this event.

Thanks so much for your help all, and I hope you don't mind me asking such a "low grade" question of you!

Best.

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EngProf said:

Getting the outfit that you want in OD wool would be expensive and not likely to succeed in meeting the budget limit.
I assisted a local college in putting on a presentation of Neil Simon's "Biloxi Blues" and we used Dickey's khaki work shirts and pants for the WWII uniforms. They were/are cotton, as were the original Army khakis, so they were one step better on the authenticity scale than a cheap polyester outfit (much cooler also). I can't remember the exact price but they are not that expensive.
A cheap pair of brown plain shoes will do fine. (Goodwill or Salvation Army)
For headgear I would suggest an overseas cap instead of the dress garrison (flat top) hat. Those can get expensive since it's hard to find a good one in your size unless your head is tiny. The overseas caps are the easiest and cheapest headgear to find, especially in khaki.
AT THE FRONT has WWII-style khaki neckties for $15 and officers belts for $10.
If you do find a khaki tunic in your size at an Army surplus store it will be cheaper since most reenactors don't want them.

Since you want to do Air Corps, just put a 20th Air Force patch on the sleeve and be a B-29 pilot flying out of Guam or Tinian. In the South Pacific they wore khaki all the time - HOT!

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