Air Force bow ties are worn only by males with the Mess Dress (authorized for both
officers and
enlisted Airmen) and Formal Dress uniforms (only officers are allowed to wear the Formal Dress uniform). The Mess Dress bow tie is made of blue satin to match the shade of the uniform, while the Formal Dress bow tie is white in accordance with the types of events that mandate the wear of the Formal Dress uniform—official, formal evening functions or state ceremonies and events that, in the civilian sector, would be described as “white-tie tuxedo” affairs.
The Air Force’s uniform manual, AFI 36-2903, specifies that the Formal Dress bow tie must have square ends, but the only requirements found in the manual regarding the Mess Dress bow tie is the color and material, to wit, “the blue-satin tie is mandatory.” Our Air Force bow tie is pre-tied in the butterfly shape (also referred to as a “thistle shape”). It is not only the most popular of the various bow-tie shapes, but is also appropriate for every occasion.