Fashion designers have never been able to resist the precision cut of military garments. They are one of their richest sources of ideas and inspiration. There are echoes of all the classic staples that make up the uniforms of soldiers, aviators and sailors in the modern dress, constantly revisited, adapted and re-interpreted.
In 1920 Coco Chanel based her wide-legged “yachting pants” for women on sailor’s bell-bottoms. The double-breasted jacket is really a cleverly altered eight-buttoned British naval coat. In 1968 Yves Saint Laurent gave the classic military jacket a safari mood. And in 1971 the same Yves Saint Laurent’s “1940s” couture collection shocked the fashion world, an hommage to the Paris of the 1940s, of the Occupation years. It appalled the fashion critics for its blatant disregard for that most basic rule of haute couture: decorum.
The show was fearless, bold and unprecedented at the time in the way the clothes were styled and presented, meant to liberate, to bring freedom into fashion and its ’40s inflected square-shouldered silhouette became a dominant look of the decade and Yves Saint Laurent became one of the most influential couturiers of the second half of the 20th century. “Chanel gave liberation of the body to women and Saint Laurent gave power to women with the men’s clothes.” Pierre Bergé.
It’s been recruited for every designer’s work at some point or another and, of course, it’s been a recurrence in every Burberry collection: every single aspect of the military uniform has been consistently revived, advanced to today, made urban. “The military uniform is everything civilian clothing aspires to be: decorative as well as decorous, functional as well as flattering, dignified as well as daring, perfectly cut as well as comfortable.”
I hope your weekend was lovely and that your week is off to a very stylish and wonderful start!
source: photos by Kalle Gustafsson for Madame Figaro; you can read more about Yves Saint Laurent’s 1971 collection here ; the last quote by Richard Torregrossa from his book, Cary Grant: A Celebration Of Style
Beautiful! 🙂
xxx
Love the military look, it look so chic and strong! xo
Great inspiration!
x
Michelle
http://www.michellesstylefile.blogspot.com
I can never resist a military style jacket; such a classic style that will never date. Hope you’re week is off to a great start Ada xx
I fall in and out of love with military and i think i am falling in love again at the mo xx
Good week to you
https://fashionandfrank.blogspot.com/
I enjoyed very much reading your description and a little bit of the military history in fashion 😉 I want that military green hat in the 3rd picture :)))
The last quote says it all <3 Hope you're well!
thanks for the interesting YSL lesson
great post!
I do love military-inspired fashion. While some people may disagree, I think it’s more classic than trendy. I have a military-cut coat that I will keep for as long as it stays in good condition! I love it.
Lovely post. I love how McQueen used military detailing in a few pieces this season, especially the stunning dress/coat Kate Middleton wore for some event. Still haven’t given up on finding something similar to that – super flattering, and I’m slightly addicted to gold buttons!
Ada, darling, such a wonderful post and images are gorgeous. Wishing you a wonderful week, sweetie! x
I really like military inspired pieces…and these photos are beautiful!
Amazing…it’s incredible how military influences can be so pretty! xo
Great examples of the style – all very chic
Amazing hair and the coats to die for!!!
~M
xox
Ada, your descriptions are great! thanks for the wonderful post. I m going o read Cary Grant: A Celebration Of Style. Happy new week
A sharply cut military jacket with rounded gold buttons is going straight onto my wishlist! Hope you had a fantastic start to the week!
Lovely post, Ada! I’ve always been so partial to the military look. I have quite a few jackets and blazers and also a pair of pants that I cherish 🙂
Hope you had a lovely weekend! xoxo
This is a great post! I love how you explained the history! I love the military jackets! Beautiful!
I have always been drawn to beautiful military coats, especially navy with big brass buttons–they are just so fabulous! It’s such a great topic to write about Ada. Yesterday I watched this documentary on Tom Ford and he talked about the cultural aspects of fashion–why women have big lips and breasts now and what it says about socieity, and I think that the military fashion is another aspect that is interesting to ponder…
Hope you are off to a lovely new week. And thank you so much for your sweet comment about my interview!
xo Mary Jo
I’ve always loved the glamour that the military style can create when added to the staples in my wardrobe … classic and sophisticated. And fun! Happy new week, lovely.
Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou
https://oohlafroufrou.blogspot.com
This Week: Grand Flirt II
Hello Ada,
First off, I wanted to thank you for being a frequent reader of Simply Seductive. Have been meaning for so long to let you know how much your comments make my day! Your blog content is amazing, so informative! I especially love this post relating to the military influence in fashion. I hope you are doing well and once again, thank you for your special support… it means a lot to me!
All the very best,
Linda, xo
Thank you, Linda, for your kind words. So nice of you to stop by. 🙂
I just realised I don’t own any military jacket or coat and I don’t know why because I love it so much :S
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