Before 1970, the 180 Pontifical Gendarmes wore elaborate ceremonial uniforms of 19th-century origin. These included
bearskin headdresses with red plumes, black
coatees with white-fringed
epaulettes, white doeskin breeches and knee-high riding boots. In service dress
bicornes and blue trousers were substituted. The present-day Vatican City gendarmes wear dark blue modern police uniforms. There are different orders of dress for different occasions and seasons (as well as weather). However, rank, insignia and decorations do not differ between uniforms.
Everyday dress • Blue kepi (cap) with cap badge • White shirt • Black tie • Blue tunic with four pockets, or long black jacket or short black bomber jacket • Pocket badge • Blue trousers with a black stripe down the side • Black boots.
Dress-down uniform • (worn when the above is impractical/unsuitable) • Light blue polo shirt • Dark blue trousers • V-neck jumper • Jacket • Baseball cap • Black boots/shoes
Special/practical duties • Dark blue shirt-jacket • Dark blue cargo trousers • Helmet • Square baseball cap • Beret • Black boots
Plain clothes • A dark suit may be worn when gendarmes carry out close protection duties (e.g. assisting the Swiss Guard with protecting the Pope)
Ceremonial dress • Blue kepi (cap) with cap badge • White shirt • Black tie • Blue tunic with four pockets • Pocket badge • Blue trousers with a black stripe down the side • Dark blue cape with clasp (wintertime) • Black waist belts with belt badge over tunic (with or without closed pistol holster or sword) • Officers wear a gold and yellow shoulder sash • White gloves • Medals are worn on the left breast (if any) • Black boots ==Ranks==