Imperial military uniforms

"I'm going to need that uniform as soon as possible.''" "''Certainly, sir. I'll instruct the fabricator to begin at once."

- Moff Tarkin and a protocol droid

The uniform worn by the martial forces of the Galactic Empire consisted of a double-breasted tunic with a round collar and matching trousers, a pair of black boots, a belt and sometimes a command cap. While free of medals and battle ribbons, it could feature a Rank insignia plaque, up to four code cylinders, as well as multiple officer's disks. It was designed by Moff Wilhuff Tarkin in the 14 BBY as a replacement for the uniform that had carried over from the previous government, the Galactic Republic. Tarkin's design remained in use for over two decades, but was replaced when the Empire transitioned into the First Order.

History
"Is that the new uniform?''" "''What, this old thing?"

- Nils Tenant and Wilhuff Tarkin

At the conclusion of the Clone Wars, Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine abolished the democratic Republic he presided over, reorganizing it into a First Galactic Empire with him as absolute ruler. As the massive Grand Army of the Republic was progressively transformed into the Imperial Military, the uniform originally created for the Republic officers remained in use during the first five years of Emperor Palpatine's reign. However, in 14 BBY the task of designing a new uniform was assigned to Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, a decorated Imperial governor from Eriadu. With the assistance of an RA-7 protocol droid, Tarkin accomplished that mission while he was stationed on Sentinel Base, a station that was overseeing the construction of the Death Star. When Grand Vizier Mas Amedda summoned Tarkin to Coruscant, the Empire's capital world, the Moff launched production of his new uniform so he could wear it at the Imperial court. That new service uniform was quickly endorsed in all branches of the military, as well as other organisations of the Empire.

Design
"While I can appreciate devotion to one's sartorial programming, I've no interest in initiating a fashion trend on Coruscant or anywhere else. I simply want a uniform that fits. Especially the boots. The stars know, my feet have logged more kilometers aboard Star Destroyers than during surface deployments, even in a facility of this size."

- Moff Tarkin, to a protocol droid

The uniform jacket was a short skirted double breasted tunic made of gaberwool that fastened with snap closures on the inside. The tunic featured a round choker collar and its skirt extended halfway between the hip and the knee. When closed, the tunic had a vertical left over right closure, when its Clone Wars predecessor extended across the chest on one side and across the midsection on the other. Additionally, the Imperial tunic generally lacked shoulder boards and epaulettes, as Emperor Palpatine believed that the use of such put more emphasis on status as opposed to duty. Contrarily to the straight-legged Clone Wars-era trousers, the redesigned ones were flared in the hips and thighs, narrowing at the cuffs so they could be more easily tucked into their wearers' boots. There were laces and lace holes at the lower leg. Officers wore a pair of black, durasteel-toed knee boots with turndown topside cuffs; as Tarkin had stressed the importance of the boots fitting the wearer while designing the uniform, citing the significant distances he had walked while aboard Star Destroyers.



Additions
Additions to the uniform could include a brimmed command cap and a belt, both featuring an Officer's disk. Rank could be indicated by a Rank insignia plaque affixed to the tunic's left breast and a number of code cylinders could be carried in narrow pockets just below each shoulder. Beneath their uniform, officers wore an off-white shirt. Sometimes, the collar and sleeve cuffs of that shirt were slightly visible, protruding from under the tunic. Some officers also wore black gloves, or even a cape. Since Emperor Palpatine was scornful of commendations, there was no place for medals or battle ribbons on the uniform.



Color
While the standard-issue uniforms were made of a gray-green fabric, there existed a black variant worn by noncoms and Stormtrooper officers. There also existed a version of the uniform with a white tunic, black trousers and sometimes a black cap, worn by intelligence officers, such as those belonging to Imperial Intelligence or the Imperial Security Bureau. A gray-blue variant affiliated with the Imperial Press Corps also existed, as well as the all white uniforms, complete with golden shoulder boards, worn by Grand Admirals.

Variants
In potentially hostile situations, officers could wear armor over their tunic, as well as a protective helmet similar to those worn by AT-ST drivers. While this armor was sand-blue for officers wearing a regular grey uniform, officers with different colored uniforms wore armor that reflected this differentially, such as Grand Admirals, who wore white armor, with golden shoulder boards similar to the ones on their regular tunic.

For more rainy Planets, officers wore another layer over their tunic, that would stop water getting in. The layer was the same color as the wearer's tunic and was made from a different material from the regular uniform, being more suitable for wet weather. It required the wearer to move their rank plaque and code cylinders to this new layer, although all cylinders now had to be on the right side of the wearer, whereas they would normally be on both sides.

On colder worlds, an overcoat could be worn, that extended down to to tops of the wearers boots.