There are an infinite number of influences on fashion, and trends come and go now more than ever.  Inspiration has been pulled from categories like sports, history, art, and even the military. The military has made its way into the fabric of fashion history over time with the evolution of its uniforms.  

Military clothing was introduced into civilian fashion particularly by women during the time period that they began to take on less traditional roles to represent a feeling of empowerment. 

From streetwear to the runway, here are a few elements of fashion that you may or may not know were inspired by the military. 

Sharp Silhouette 

Military uniforms are known for their sharp, clean lines and structure. These are qualities that have also generally become ingrained into civilian fashion. Specifically, pieces like blazers, trench coats, and shoulder padded tops exemplify military inspiration.    

Camouflage Print 

The more obvious military fashion influences include camouflage print. The use of camouflage in the military came about amidst World War 1 in France. In an attempt to blend in and hide as well as possible, camouflage was used not only for uniforms but also for things like vehicles and buildings. 

The print was adopted into fashion as early as 1943 when vogue began writing about it. Today, you can find anything from camouflage print shirts and pants to shoes, jackets, and accessories.  

Combat Boots 

Combat boots have been another big trend to come from the military. Since the second half of the 20th century, combat style boots have been a fashion trend woven into the punk rock culture.  

The shoes were originally designed for the purposes of durability and protection but came to be a symbol of defiance and edginess among certain subcultures. This is a trend that has managed to maintain its presence in society as well.  

Punk pop artist Olivia Rodrigo can be seen here in a pair of chunky combat boots on her Instagram. 

 

Cargo Pants 

Similar to camouflage print, cargo pants are another element of military fashion that’ve made their way into many people’s day-to-day apparel. The pants were first worn in Britain in 1938 as a means of functionality due to their pockets and accessibility.  

Today they’re often worn as a streetwear style and became popular as a result of their edgy and comfortable silhouette.  

Slicked-back Bun 

The latest trend with some Military influence is the popular slicked back bun hairstyle. The U.S army specifies that “long hair should be worn neatly pinned above the lower edge of your collar.” For women in the military a low, neat bun is typically the standard.  

Amidst the ‘clean girl aesthetic’ internet trend, generation Z has taken on a similar type of hairstyle. The slicked back bun essentially involves styling the hair into a high or low bun and using some sort of styling gel or product to keep the hair neatly brushed back into place.  

Check out this video for a quick tutorial: 

@jamievanslooten

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♬ Lil Boo Thang – Paul Russell