As a junior officer I need to get my No1 fitting sorted at some point. Thus the topic of No1s came up on the unit recently and a slightly older officer admitted that he needs a new set. In his words they’re quite old and tired, and have definitely “shrunk in the wardrobe”…
The ACLI for sustainment kitting refers only to stuff we can order through the MyRAF app, which obviously doesn’t include No1s other than gloves and peaks. Does anyone know what the process is to get a replacement set?
He’s expecting to need to pay for the privilege of course, but we don’t know how much it will be and whether we just contact station tailor directly or if there’s another process? Do we need any authorisation or approval seeing as there is no right in the ACLIs to demand it?
Doesn’t massively help that BZN stores have been closed for months and no one seems to know when they’ll reopen. Hence I’m still waiting on my own initial No1 fitting.
On a similar vein, does anyone know if it’s possible to kill two birds with one stone and get officers mess dress through parent unit tailors? If so, what would be the rough cost of that? I don’t desperately need it, but if it isn’t too bank-breaking id definitely consider it.
Initial kitting only, after that it’s personal purchase from where ever you can get uniform; and then you wonder why we are seeing more uniformed staff in No.2A dress.
They were fantastic - made to measure, did my ribbons as part of it. because of my odd shape I actually went up to to their shop (it was a fair distance from mine) for a try on and additional measure.
The only thing was because of cost I opted only for the jacket, and not the bottoms.
They were quick, professional and really friendly.
Don’t entirely dismiss the idea of a second hand set either. Ceto militaria (no I’m not on commission) usually have a wide range of sizes for very reasonable prices - they’re also very transparent about condition and any faults
Depending how much the wardrobe shrinkage is, it’s definitely worth getting a tailor to look at them before buying a new set.
I took my medals to be sorted out with my jacket for ribbons and mentioned it was a bit snug (after 20yrs), she took one look said we can sort that, there’s a good six inches in there yet and you only need an inch if that🤣
If anyone is local to Lincolnshire I can highly recommend a private military tailor for No1s adjustments
I do use it - regularly. Both the Wg Cdr and WWO have seen it, and no one has commented at all. Z
A vast improvement on my previous jacket which it took me far too long to accept no longer fitted (which I also never wore with the matching skirt since they issued it with the wrong skirt)
Nope neither of my No1 jackets I have worn with the skirt. The ones issues from Cranwell never fit, and I didn’t pay for it with this one.
But wearing a jacket with an old or new skirt would still be the same problem you have as they won’t match exactly unless you get them from the same piece of material (which at Cranwell you don’t even get anymore unless you’re an unusual shape and are tailored direct to you, and not pulled from the shelf and that size then tailored to you)
Absolutely you have to be careful which materials you use as some will be massively different and not suitable, but there are plenty which are suitable and you can’t tell the difference unless you look at it super up close
If that’s Kendrew Medals then ditto. Debbie also did my no. 1 jacket re-ranking with separate rings not composite braid which is way better. (And did it again when I unexpectedly got promoted only 12 months later!)
