When we deployed a pair of VC10K3s to Hawaii for a certain operation, the DetCo decided that, whilst on duty, we'd wear either flying coveralls (if available for flying) or RAF KD - but with 'Akrotiri village type' bondhu boots rather than black DMS shoes. Some of the groundcrew muttered about having to buy their own bondhu boots, but were told that if they didn't want to, then there were probably others happy to take their places on the Hawaii det!
Somehow the message hadn't got through to the 'science party' who'd also deployed. When some Chief Tech was rounded up by the Hickam SPs, he'd been wandering around the aircraft parking area with his survey equipment, but dressed only in shorts and flip flops.... The sort of thing they used to slop around in when they were working with the 27 Sqn Vulcan dets at Midway. From then on they were told to dress in the same manner as everyone else! The TCW team, who couldn't believe their luck as they were usually deployed to muddy parts of Salisbury Plain, were always very military in their dress and manner though.
In hot climes, RAF groundcrew sometimes adopted the ridiculous habit of rolling up their KD shorts so that the pocket linings dangled down below the cuffs - they looked quite absurd.
No doubt elfin safety has laid down appropriate standards these days?