Get The Look – Catwalk Military

For this week’s look book I decided to do something slightly different and take inspiration from the catwalk previews earlier on this year. As you well know if you are a regular reader, military is set to go off this Autumn/Winter and we have already done 2 previews into the type of military items you can get your hands on with our Military Trend Article and Military Colours article.

Today we will not just be taking one item and mixing it up into different outfits, instead I have included an image above that shows 3 military inspired outfits which were present on the catwalk previews for this year’s Autumn/Winter 09 seasons. Pictures included above are from the D&G, Burberry and John Galliano runways who are 3 premium designers which really got into and backed the trend. Now the high street has caught on and it means we can recreate the military look for a lot less cash.

What I wanted to show above is that military needn’t be big shiny buttons, camouflage colours and combat trousers – the trend is much more sophisticated than that. I tell a lot of my friends about the new trends coming out and most of them automatically associated those things with the military trend. Military is about the roots and ethos behind the whole military uniform. We don’t want to look like soldiers going off to war – we want to take the high standards and dress code of the military into account: clean/sharp lines, square “strong” frames to outfits, clean shoes/boots, be well presented and immaculately finished.

All the outfits above get this spot on. Yes there is military styling like epaulettes and button detailing, but it is not over the top and just gives a nod to the trend. You could wear all these outfits in different situations like to work, out on a night out, or for a relaxed formal look at the weekend. These looks are very different to some of the worker boot outfits I posted last week (military item) and as such have a much more chic and potentially older, more sophisticated look to them. That is not to say that the younger readers cannot get involved, these are looks that anyone can rock and if you pull it off you are going to look like a stylish male who is well put together and also very well dressed.

When rocking catwalk military styles like this you should be immaculately groomed. If you look at the photos above everyone is clean shaven and has a sharp and well finished haircut. This really gives off the military vibe and keeps the whole look congruent. Don’t worry if this is not your style, for longer hair or those with beards just make sure it is well presented, neat and not scruffy. You can even add flat caps and other accessories like in the 3rd outfit to keep it all looking sharp.

So let’s dive into the outfits and try and recreate them all using items available to buy today…

Military Catwalk Outfits

From Left to Right:
Outfit 1 – Relaxed Formal
This is my favourite outfit of the 3 above because it is such a great look and ANYONE can pull it off. It has the sharp lines of military but is also relaxed formal that you could wear on a night out or out and about this weekend. Such a simple but effective approach to military that as you can see, looks well presented and super sharp. Perfect for the looks I am rocking myself at the moment.

First we start with a great military black jacket. Pick one that does nod toward the military trend either through buttons, shape or military styling like epaulettes. Next add a beautiful crisp light blue shirt that will contrast well with the black jacket and the jeans we are going to add. Keeping it quite a formal looking shirt is a good idea in order to keep the whole military ethos. Next add slim or skinny jeans in a dark blue/indigo colour and look for destroyed/ripped versions to add some flair and bring the whole outfit down a notch and give it a relaxed formal vibe. I have then substituted the brown shoes with a pair of brown military boots. I have done this because I want it to be a definite relaxed formal look which anyone can wear no matter what age or situation, and also because military boots are also a massive trend this year and tucking your jeans in to them will look AMAZING.

For accessories the catwalk model has a nice black lightweight scarf wrapped around his neck and tucked into the shirt slightly, and also carrying a pair of smart black gloves. It is up to you how and when you accessorise with this outfit and it might be stuff to leave until the colder winter months. Each accessory is in black to match the jacket and give contrast with the rest of the outfit. Perfect.

Outfit 2 – Modern Gentleman/Working Professional
What I love about the second outfit is that it would not look out of place within a professional environment or formal occasion but still keeps a fashion essence about it. Really nods towards military trend and also the whole geek chic look by mixing the long military jacket with formal pin stripe trousers and bow tie. Fashion doesn’t have to be hard, looking like you are not “trying to hard” and just getting the basics right is the key to good style. All these outfits really nod towards military in their appearance and attitude rather than just picking stereotypical items. The grooming, the hair cut, the immaculate shoes and clean lines are all you need to pull off a “military look”.

So get hold of some great formal trousers in a slim or skinny cut if you really want to push the fashion look, black patent material shoes – remember polished and shiny shoes is the military way – then add a crisp white shirt and black bow tie. This the basis of your outfit which looks very professional and formal. On it’s own this would be geek chic, but if we throw on the military style long over coat/mac then we can nod to the trend with military styling and the ethos of the armed forces.

Accessories this time would be a great leather holdall or bowling bag, as well as some gloves for the colder months. An easy and professional look to pull off and as you can see from the photo, is razor sharp.

Outfit 3 – Casual
This look came off the Burberry catwalk and I have labelled it casual but it still has an edge and really sharp lines. This would again be more of a fashion forward look which has both formal and casual styling. This time we are going to smarten up the bottom half with some great skinny trousers and black shoes. Next add a white graphic tee to give the top half a relaxed vibe and add the long grey military style overcoat to really nod to the military trend. Sharp shoes, well groomed, clean lines and military styling on the overcoat are the key to knocking this military look out the park. You can accessorise this time with the baker boy hat or flat cap which really gives off the modern gentleman vibe.

Here is the other way of dressing this up: keep the top half the same and then on the lower half add skinny or slim black jeans and tuck them into black military work boots. This would really be a great look for the younger readers and bring the outfit right down to a casual look. It is still tidied up with the coat and hat, but has a much more fashion forward edge to it. Play around and experiment. I have put both options below:

Other Option: