The military know a thing or two about clothing, and has done for thousands of years. Whether it’s designed to provide soldier with warmth, dryness, coolness, camouflage, protection, intimidation or pomp on the parade ground, it has evolved over the centuries into what it is now. Camouflage and khaki have now taken on semi-formal properties; it is not unusual to see treaties and surrenders being signed by generals in fatigues.

This is a far cry from a hundred years ago. Soldiers in the Victorian era fought in uniforms that today would be considered rather formal. If you’ve seen the film Zulu or images of the Napoleonic wars, you’ll realize that polished buttons and impractical headgear were the order of the day. While it all helped to instill discipline in the army, it must have hindered the act or war. For sure, the bright red jackets of the British Army made them sitting ducks for snipers, and by the start of the First World War they had been replaced by camouflaged clothing that we would recognize today, if we could only see it.

Camouflage, of course, is a highly subjective term. Fighting in the snowy mountains of Scandinavia in the Second World War, this would have meant white. In the desert it was khaki, and in the jungle it was the leafy, green and brown broken pattern most of us associate with the word. By the first Gulf War in 1990, technology was beginning to take over military clothing, thus the “Desert Night” camouflage that was designed to make enemy night-vision goggles less effective.

Keeping armies clothed, however, has always been a huge logistical operation. Military clothing needs to be manufactured on a grand scale, with production lines working round the clock during times of conflict. This has led to an offshoot industry, the military surplus store. Such shops have always had a willing customer base among anglers (who benefit from a little camouflage and a lot of winter warmth) and other outdoor types such as motorcyclists and campers. Military clothing is by nature water resistant and durable, so it fits the bill perfectly.

But the clothing also has a place on the high street, too. If you were a bit of a political activist in the 1980s, you’d probably have a green military jacket with a German flag on the shoulder, but the look percolated through society and by the 1990s it was quite normal to see full camouflage coats worn in everyday situations. In fact camouflage did mount something of a catwalk mission in the late 1990s, when men and women could be seen regularly in the material wearing everything from “combats” (camouflaged trousers) to camo bikinis. It’s doubtful if these were genuine military surplus, though.

The whole range of camouflage and military coats, from the buttoned-up jackets and greatcoats of the nineteenth century to the more recent army surplus gear, can still be tracked down at a good vintage clothing store. There’s a certain sector of society that still carries off the historical military vibe. Coldplay have been experimenting with the look for several years, a sort of Les Miserables and Sergeant Pepper mash-up. If it’s done subtly enough, it’s a look that can be pulled off without it looking like you’re trying too hard.

Edward Banks writes continuously about fashion in all its forms. Military wear like army jackets are always in demand. Edward explains why vintage clothing stores always keep a range and why they are popular.

Edward Banks writes continuously about fashion in all its forms.Military wear like army jackets are always in demand. Edwards explains why vintage clothing stores such as http://www.rokit.co.uk/ always keep a range and why they are popular.

Author Bio: Edward Banks writes continuously about fashion in all its forms. Military wear like army jackets are always in demand. Edward explains why vintage clothing stores always keep a range and why they are popular.

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