SOLDIERS SET THE TREND (PART 2)

How army clothing affects fashion

Whether you are a newbie soldier, a paracommando on holiday or the most pacifist-minded civilian, it is quite possible that you are at this very moment dressed in a military outfit. Because today, often without being aware of it, everyone owns a lot of garments that have their origins in the military. From T-shirts to trench coats and from bermuda shorts to bomber jackets...,'t Amerikaantje examines in this revealing three-part series how the practicality of the army outfit has defined our street scene for decades.

TRENCHCOAT

Anyone with a good command of the English language can no doubt guess from which war term this garment takes its name. 'Trench' is the English word for 'trench', and so this jacket was commonly worn by soldiers there. Already during the Crimean War in 1853, the British army wore such a coat. By the time of World War I, the design had been improved by Thomas Burberry and the trench coat emerged as the most cherished garment of officers and soldiers, as its waterproof material allowed them to spend the night - protected from the elements - in the trenches. Even after their military service, many men clung to the practical trench coat, the by now iconic jacket worn with style in the film Casablanca by Humphrey Bogart, among others. To this day, the trench coat is characterised by large lapels, a high collar and shoulder epaulettes to indicate rank.

COMBAT BOOTS

Army boots, bottoms, Dr Martens or combat boots: whatever you want to call them, the current style of the army boot can be traced back to a design by German army doctor Klaus Martens. Soldiers have always needed durable footwear, and a bit of comfort was nice during long marches. And precisely in terms of comfort, army boots left much to be desired until World War II. This was also the experience of Dr Klaus Martens, who wore his military footwear on a skiing trip and found that his injured foot was particularly hard to cope with. Together with a business partner, he developed a new, sturdy boot, but with softer leather and a more supple, soft sole.

CARGOBROEK

This type of trousers, recognisable by the large side pockets with flaps, were first worn by the British armed forces in the 1930s. The large pockets were a necessity to carry all kinds of extra items to the battlefield, such as maps, bandages and other first-aid materials. In the US, cargo trousers only surfaced in World War II, where they were added to paratroopers' equipment, with the intention of storing additional rations and ammunition. Today, cargo trousers are worn mainly for their comfortable cut and ease of use. The short version, the cargo shorts, are ideal on hikes, walks and summer outings.

army clothing