From the Frontlines to the Front Row

Garments developed during World War I in dirty, muddy trenches, World War II in breathtaking high-altitude dogfights, and the dense jungles of Vietnam, with military technology being made to attain the highest level of survival possible, had no fashion purpose originally.

The Trench Coat: A Legacy of Engineering

Developed during WWI as an alternative to the heavy serge greatcoat used by soldiers, the trench coat is the epitome of military-to-mainstream transition and is a brilliantly unique design.

There are two major designers who each claim to be responsible for creating this coat, Burberry and Aquascutum; however, their respective designs have become very recognisable because of how unique and creative they are.

For example, the shoulder straps that you see on the trench coat were not just ornamental; they were used to attach the rank insignia or to provide padding when soldiers carried their rifles. The distinctive D-rings, which are found on many of today’s trench coats, were originally intended to be used as hooks for map cases or swords; today, they serve the same purpose as decorative embellishments.

The additional large pockets found on the trench coat were necessary for soldiers to store gear in while they were in the heat of battle; therefore, the trench coat has become a very stylish and functional piece of outerwear.

Bomber Jackets: Designed for the Clouds

The trench coat is to the infantry as the bomber jacket is to the sky. The bomber jacket was made for pilots who needed warmth in a non-pressurised cockpit during World War II, so it was built for mobility and retaining heat.

The original design is a classic cut that sits snugly around the pilot’s hips and does not bunch up when seated in the confined space of a cockpit, whether the pilot is wearing a classic leather flight jacket (probably worn by a real pilot) or a more modern nylon MA-1 jacket; both versions communicate a sense of activity, sportiness, and rebelliousness. From James Dean to today’s fashion runways, the bomber has changed from an aeroplane to a staple in the modern man’s closet.

The M-65 Field Jacket: The Apex of Utility

Many think the M-65 military jacket is the most iconic of them all. Starting in 1965 as a revised version of its predecessor, the M-51, it was designed specifically to cope with the harsh and sometimes bizarre conditions experienced by soldiers during the Vietnam War.

The unique design of the M-65 jacket allowed the user to stay dry through its snap closure on the storm flap, brass zippers, Velcro cuffs that adjusted sleeve length quickly, a hidden hood, and four large cargo pockets, which were built on the outside of the jacket. In 2009, after years of use, the U.S. military retired this jacket. However, to this day, the M-65 has been seen on and off the catwalk as many fashion designers continue to incorporate the design into their clothing collections using higher-grade materials like hand-cut lamb skin. This speaks to how great that original design was.

Combat Boots: From Defiance to the Runway

The combat boot is one of the most significant items to have transitioned from “battlefield to boardroom”. These boots were originally designed with steel toes and heavy-duty construction to withstand extreme conditions; they were created to be “unbreakable”.

However, there was a huge culture shift when these boots began to make their way into men’s and women’s high-fashion styles. In the 1980s, the goth youth culture adopted these boots as part of their ‘dark and dramatic’ aesthetic. By the 1990s, the grunge movement (primarily influenced by popular bands like Nirvana) brought combat boots into mainstream fashion. While they were originally used as a symbol of strict military discipline, they eventually became a representation of rebellion and toughness,and they have remained just as strongly represented on high-fashion runways as they did on actual battlefields.

Cargo Pants and Aviators: The Finishing Touches

The tactical look is complete with two items that are synonymous with this style. Cargo pants were originally designed as part of military uniforms to allow the soldier to store more of his field gear. They have since been adopted into modern-day streetwear fashion, and for the same reason: to be functional.

Aviator sunglasses have an equally rich history and were developed in 1930 for pilots to protect their eyes from the sun’s glare at high altitudes. They are teardrop-shaped so that no matter where a pilot looks, he has full protection of his field of vision. This is what makes aviators a standard of cool, user-friendly style, even after decades of being used on the battlefield.