The colours of mess jackets and overalls reflect those of the traditional full dress uniforms of the regiments in question, as worn until at least 1914.
The other reason is that the mess jacket had gone on to be worn by bellhops and waiters, leading the fashion conscious of the era to abandon the garment.
For example, the museum provides blue patrol tunics, officer's mess jackets and waistcoats to tailors to refer to as they make new clothing for the regiment.
A universal pattern comprising scarlet mess jackets and blue-black trousers has replaced the various regimental and corps mess dress uniforms previously worn.
