Army-inspired look gives a whole new meaning to the term tank top. (9/03)

By Erica Edwards

Oct. 16, 2003

A blur of olive green dominates the crowd. Dog tags and chains dangle from necks, and everyone in the scene is clad in camouflage. Not a Time photograph from of an army battlefield in Iraq, nor a picture of a military fort in Newsweek, this scene in a popular fashion magazine showcases the newest trend. A growing trend
Army-inspired clothing, dominating retail stores and fashion media, is the War in Iraq's latest impact on pop culture. Sales for army print have increased this past summer, according to Susan Greco, a salesperson at the thrift shop Held Over. "If the media sends out signals to the public that this new style is in, people will go out and buy more and more of it," Greco said. "Although camouflage is a style that has lived on throughout the years, this year's war has affected the styles and choices of today."

Campus scene
Sophomore Luke DelaCalzada recognizes the army trend among his peers. "My friends have been wearing all the shades of green, and I like to wear cargos," he said. However, "sometimes I see people wearing all army, and I think that is overdoing it." Junior Sarah Kingon agrees that this trend can be overkill. "The style is too mainstream," she said. "The camouflage is saying that America is on top of everyone else in the world, and is almost supporting the destruction of other countries. How will we ever accept worldwide equality if the U.S. continues to feed the public with the belief that America is better than everywhere else?"

The camouflage controversy
However, sophomore Nanor Demirjian, whose friends have family members fighting in Iraq, likes the trend.

"The fashion supports the troops and shows sympathy for defending our country," Demirjian said. "Wearing these clothes, for some, is the only way we can respond to the war, especially since we are just kids who can't really change the political problems in our world today." This clothing is another way of showing American pride, according to Demirjian. "I support the clothes if they are being worn to strengthen our country's morale," Demirjian said. "But if the only reason to sell these clothes is to make money, it's not right." However, for sophomore Winny Mau, the trend raises questions as to what the war means to Fashion Fatigue

Americans. "I don't like the American-oriented style because it is suggesting that fighting for your country is right, even though innocent people are killed along the way," she said. Mau, a former member of Designer's Club, said the style suggests the war overseas is just another way for America to gain consumers. "Americans shouldn't smile and support the commercialism and consumption of the U.S.," she said. After the Sept. 11 tragedy, stores began to sell items with decorative American flags to support unity, but according to Mau, now the style is going too far. "It is one thing to wear a T-shirt with the American flag to be proud of the freedom we have and those lost in the Sept. 11 attack, but sometimes people go overboard," she said. Similarly, sophomore Mia Bennett enjoys the trend itself, but not what it represents. "The army print clothing trend is cool-looking and fashionable," she said, "but sends a false and pretentious message. Those who died in the war took the situation seriously, and there is no reason why we shouldn't take the war seriously. Instead we are wearing army print for fun and fashion."

The revolving style
Sylvia Rubin, a fashion editor for the San Francisco Chronicle, believes that some form of military influence will always be with us. Rubin's most recent assignment was to attend New York Fashion Week, where she viewed the newest fashion trends. "Designers continue to show safari type clothes year after year," Rubin said. "They design their collections six months in advance, and so they are not usually making any political statements."

Rubin said that the subject of military-influenced fashion appears throughout the years, but is worn for many different reasons. "One young designer I once interviewed seemed to think that women feel more powerful when they wear military-influenced clothing," Rubin said.

Sept. 11
Rubin noticed a change of fashion after the Sept. 11 tragedies. "The season after Sept. 11, I wrote that designers were showing more 'protective' clothing: layers, hoods, armor-like fabrication, buckles, etc.," Rubin said.

"The clothes became like a cocoon to wear in troubled times." Other countries mirror the trend, according to "Soldier Chic," Carol Mongo's article in Paris Voice (parisvoice.com). "From battle jackets to parachuter pants, clearly the (fashion) industry is still at war," the article states. "Olive drab is the color of the season and militia camouflage prints are all the rage, as evidenced by the latest looks." This time around, war supporters, opponents and those who just want to look good sport military gear. Its world-wide popularity, stemming from the stylish look and universal appeal, is now picking up speed and is inspiring debate. While the look isn't as controversial as it used to be, it still causes reactions around the nation.