Those 13 buttons are supposed to represent the 13 original colonies. (A sailor from Utah once complained that he wasn't represented.)
These pants are the Navy's classic 13-button trousers with front broad fall flap --affectionately known as "Sailor Pants" or "Crackerjack Pants."
SUMMARY. An old sailor's tale is that the buttons represent the 13 original colonies. In the early 1800s, the iconic trouser's front flap (crotch area) or "broadfall" had 15 buttons before it was modified 90-years later to have just seven, allowing the manufacturer to reduce the amount of material.
The trouser material is made of cotton fibers that swell when wet and can hold air. In the event of a sailor falling overboard or having to abandon ship without a life vest, the bell-bottomed trousers can be quickly removed in the water without having to remove footwear.
The collar, also known as a tar flap, was a holdover from an earlier era when men had long hair that was tied back with tar or grease. The collar protected the uniform from dirt and grime. Neckerchiefs made of silk were worn as head coverings or used to muffle the sound of guns.
U.S. Navy sailors began calling their service dress uniforms "cracker jacks" because of the mascot of the popular caramel-coated popcorn and peanut snack. Cracker Jack was introduced in 1896 and the mascot "Sailor Jack" made his debut in 1916.
The three lines are by tradition said to commemorate the Battles of Copenhagen, the Nile and Trafalgar.
But as Navy men grew broader, thanks to improvement in nutrition, the flap needed to grow longer. So in 1905 more buttons were added, creating those 13 buttons. Why buttons instead of zippers? Because buttons are much easier to replace on the fly, and early zippers corroded in the salty weather.
Scarf (silk)
The noise and heat on the enclosed gun decks during battle was horrendous. To try to protect their hearing, sailors often stuffed rags into their ears and then tied a scarf over them and around their forehead, which also helped to keep the sweat out of their eyes.
Summer White/Blue ("Salt and Pepper") Initially worn by E-6 and below beginning in the mid-1970s with the temporary phaseout (until 1982) of the traditional "crackerjack" uniforms, it was later expanded to include chief petty officers and commissioned officers.
Not only does the "13 button salute" refer to the 13 buttons on a Navy trousers, in US Navy slang, a "13 button salute" refers to the act of removing the trousers so fast that all 13 buttons come undone immediately, usually prior to intercourse.
The flap would attach to the collar, thus keeping the mass of tar and hair away from the sailor's uniform. It also protected his girlfriend's furniture by careful placement of the flap over the back of the couch or chair between hair and upholstery.
The U.S. Navy had been sporting the flared cuffs on its work uniforms since 1817. The idea was that sailors who would be working on the topmost decks, who were presumably swabbing it or whatever sailors did up there back then, would want to roll their pants up to keep them from getting wet or dirty.
Dungarees, a denim, bell-bottomed working uniform with a blue over shirt existed in the Navy from 1913 to 1999.
Flared pants originated from sailors in the US Navy around the early 19th century because they did not have a required uniform. Later the British Royal Navy adopted them into their uniform. They were easy to roll up and functional for the work the sailors did on the boats.
The Navy has six uniforms: Working, Service, Service Dress, Ceremonial, Dinner Dress and Training. These uniforms differ for officers, chief petty officers and enlisted members who are E6 and below. Like the Army, the Navy also changed to the Navy Working Uniform Type III in 2019.
Consumption of alcohol in the NWUs off-base is not permitted. Consumption of alcohol in the NWUs on base is authorized as promulgated by Regional Commanders. The Area or Regional Commander may further restrict uniform policies within their geographical limits regarding wear of the NWUs.
A red aiguillette is worn on the left shoulder by United States Navy Recruit Division commanders, whereas a blue aiguillette is worn by Recruit Division commanders in training. Recruit Division commanders wearing these are referred colloquially as "red ropes" and "blue ropes" respectively.
Sailors became known as Jack Tars because of their clever use of this natural gooey substance to waterproof things. The name Tar, in this context, dates back to the 17th century and is short for 'tarpaulin' which in those days meant a seaman.
Originally with seven equally spaced horizontal creases down each leg, (supposedly representing the seven seas but that, in reality simply made the trousers easier to fold away in a limited space!), the early bell-bottoms featured a flap held in place by buttons rather than a fly.
It is widely believed to derive from the orders used in firing shipboard cannon in the British Royal Navy. The team of six men had numbered roles. After loading, it was the task of the men numbered two and six to heave (in a coordinated fashion) the cannon out the gunport for firing.
It can be used as a flotation device or a sun shield or even, some claim, as a dog food dish. With its many shapes and uses, it may be the most versatile article of clothing a Navy enlisted man wears.
Those in the engineering and hull community are called firemen apprentice and wear red stripes on both navy blue and white uniforms. Those in the aviation community are called airmen apprentice and wear green stripes on both navy blue and white uniforms.
Although no one has been officially accredited with inventing the bell bottom trouser, the flared out look was introduced for sailors to wear in 1817. The new design was made to allow the young men who washed down the ship's deck to roll their pant legs up above their knees to protect the material.
The flap collar is perhaps the most recognizable item of the sailor suit. It is often considered lucky to touch a sailor's collar. The bell-bottomed trousers were designed so that they could be rolled up easily when scrubbing the decks.