I quickly adopted the animal leopard or snakeskin prints as neutrals into my wardrobe, but the camouflage pattern is different. In today’s post, I’m sharing my relaxed approach to camouflage.
The last time I remember camouflage being a must-have was during my college years in the 80s. If you needed any tactical gear, you shopped at the I. Goldberg Army & Navy Store on Market Street in downtown Philly. Unfortunately, after 100 years, the I. Goldberg’s store closed in August 2019.
Let’s look back and see how camouflage became a fashion trend. According to online sources, militaries first used camouflage patterning to hide not people but locations and equipment.
The military began developing low-visibility uniforms and even a camouflage unit called camoufleurs, made up of artists and designers.
In 1940, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started experimenting with camouflage uniforms, and by 1943, U.S. Marines adopted wearing reversible beach coveralls with a “frog” pattern of green and brown.
When machine guns, trench warfare, and aerial photography emerged, France, England, Germany, and the United States abandoned the traditional bright colors and opted for a muted olive drab color.
By the end of WWII, camouflage lost favor. Select units of the Army continued to experiment with and wear camo throughout the 20th century, but the first official camouflage uniform didn’t emerge until the mid-’80s.
Fashion: As early as 1943, Vogue magazine picked up on military trends and incorporated them into the fashion world. It wasn’t until 1971 that the following article featured a trend collage on camo with images.
The camo craze exploded in the 1980s when hunters and civilians started sporting various green, tan, and brown apparel.
Fast-forward to 2015, when the U.S. Army issued a new uniform kit called Operational Camouflage Pattern to soldiers. Donatella Versace followed the inspiration with her take on the pattern.
Camo is a loved pattern made in every conceivable piece of clothing and mixed with other colors.
I talk about my relaxed approach to camouflage, but I feel like I’m wearing a uniform and need to salute or go hunting. How about you and camo? Do tell!
As always, thank you for visiting The Age of Grace; I appreciate your support. Remember the 3W reminders this holiday season: watch your distance, wear a mask, and wash your hands.
