Double breasted suits are tough to pull off for most folks. For pilot uniforms, it's an even bigger stretch, for pilots in general (mostly big bellied) it's damn near impossible. When most of Delta's new hires were trim, fit military folk, it worked. But these days, in reality, most of the Delta guys can't pull it off and it doesn't look good. But that's just my opinion.
I dissagree. In fact sometimes I am surprised how some of the "Joe Average" looking captains look different when I see them walking down the terminal in the doubled breasted suit compared to white shirt only in the summer you can more easily see that gut. Id say it slims better than a single breasted jacket. I have always thought the Delta guys looked very sharp and that has to do with the uniform. In my limited experience it does command respect when worn properly. Cant say Im a big fan of hats but I wear mine until if/when the rules change.