Just finished redoing my own uniform. Here's a couple of things we've found.
Make sure the trousers are easily adjustable. Extra material to "let them in/out".
A lot of people, especially younger players, don't like wools, so a blend or a sunthetic works better. We opted for a poly/wool blend. This is alsso better for frequent washings and doesn't necessarily need drycleaning.
Try to get a colour that can be easily duplicated if extra pants need to be made/bought later on. Blacks and some navy blues are best here.
We had a lot of debate over the stripe. Do we want it? How big? In the end we added it because our band wanted it (but not the committee) and it looks impressive on marches, which we do at least 3 times a year. ASK YOUR PLAYERS (!!!!!!!) before deciding on this. Also, it tends to help the trousers hold their shape better.
Work Drill shirts are cheaper, don't vary in colour, wash better and can be more practical that fancy dress blouses. In Australia we have a brand called King Gee, and another, Yakka (from the phrase "hard Yakka" meaning hard work). Bonds may have something similar. These also have a reputation for being "holeproof".
If you are changing your ties, or buying a few more, save a little hassle and buy a mass order. Colours can vary from batch to batch in everything, including ties, and you want to look as identical as possible, I presume!
Under new Health Codes, we cannot get our band hats (Military Officer style "lids") cleaned, so the years of grime and such are starting to make them look worse for wear. I don't know what things are like there, but look into it. If hats need replacing, a lot of health organisations are recommending fuller brims. We chose a design that claims to be "indestructible", meaning it can be hand washed and bends back intoi shape. This is good as our secondary hats, Akubras (bushman hats) tendded to get bent in the brims in different angles depending on what suited the player.
Hope this helps!!
- for example, the jackets we have been wearing for the last twenty years (yes - the same ones :cry: for twenty years - not just the same design, but the same jackets) have metal buttons down the front - which is not so good for the finish on the euphs and basses.
