Navy deep-sixes its dungaree bell-bottoms
Krueskamp (kruez@mci2000.com)
Fri Jun 19 09:54:57 1998
06:40 PM ET 06/18/98
Navy deep-sixes its dungaree bell-bottoms
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Navy said Thursday it was
deep-sixing an unpopular bell-bottom dungaree working trousers
in favor of a spiffy new straight-legged dark-blue poly-cotton
blend.
The old pants, easy to roll up in the days when sailors
scrubbed decks in their bare feet, have been worn for the past
60 years.
They had grown unpopular because they faded quickly and
smacked of an era gone by, Navy spokesman Frank Thorp said.
''Sailors wanted a uniform that stayed smart and fit better,''
he added. The new trousers is a 65-35 polyester-cotton twill.
The poplin-blend shirt will be chambray blue. The date of the
switch-over is still being worked out, the Navy said.
The change was approved by Admiral Jay Johnson, chief of
naval operations, after hearing complaints from sailors
worldwide.
Bell-bottoms survive in the Navy's traditional white
''Cracker Jack'' dress uniform, which also features a
distinctive flap on the back of its shirt.
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