<P> The official dress uniform is of blue , red , orange and yellow with a distinctly Renaissance appearance . It was introduced by commandant Jules Repond ( 1910 -- 1921 ) in 1914 . Repond 's design was inspired by 16th - century depictions of the Swiss Guard . While both Michelangelo and a painting of the Pontifical Swiss Guard bearing Pope Julius II on a litter ( by Raphael ) are often cited as inspiration for the Pontifical Swiss Guard uniform , the actual uniforms worn by those soldiers included a flaring skirt ; a common feature in male clothing during the Renaissance . A clear expression of the modern Pontifical Swiss Guard uniform can be seen in a 1577 fresco by Jacopo Coppi of the Empress Eudoxia conversing with Pope Sixtus III . It shows the precursor of today 's recognizable three - colored uniform with boot covers , white gloves , a high or ruff collar , and either a black beret or a black Comb morion ( silver for high occasions ) . Sergeants wear a black top with crimson leggings , while other officers wear an all - crimson uniform . The colours blue and yellow were in use from the 16th century , said to be chosen to represent the Della Rovere coat of arms of Julius II , with the colour red added to represent the Medici coat of arms of Leo X . </P>
<P> The official dress uniform is of blue , red , orange and yellow with a distinctly Renaissance appearance . It was introduced by commandant Jules Repond ( 1910 -- 1921 ) in 1914 . Repond 's design was inspired by 16th - century depictions of the Swiss Guard . While both Michelangelo and a painting of the Pontifical Swiss Guard bearing Pope Julius II on a litter ( by Raphael ) are often cited as inspiration for the Pontifical Swiss Guard uniform , the actual uniforms worn by those soldiers included a flaring skirt ; a common feature in male clothing during the Renaissance . A clear expression of the modern Pontifical Swiss Guard uniform can be seen in a 1577 fresco by Jacopo Coppi of the Empress Eudoxia conversing with Pope Sixtus III . It shows the precursor of today 's recognizable three - colored uniform with boot covers , white gloves , a high or ruff collar , and either a black beret or a black Comb morion ( silver for high occasions ) . Sergeants wear a black top with crimson leggings , while other officers wear an all - crimson uniform . The colours blue and yellow were in use from the 16th century , said to be chosen to represent the Della Rovere coat of arms of Julius II , with the colour red added to represent the Medici coat of arms of Leo X . </P>
who designed the uniform of the swiss guard
who designed the uniform of the swiss guard
Jules Repond
Jules Repond