This spring, fashion is going fatigue. In contrast to the bright colors that start assaulting the public’s corneas this time of the year, designers are going covert by fashioning clothes and accessories with camouflage patterns. The trend goes beyond casual pants and T-shirts; major designers such as Christian Dior and Miu Miu have got the military bug, as well as more economically accessible stores like Old Navy.
It wasn’t long ago when camouflage was in fashion; the beginning of the utilitarian revolution brought cargo pants into style. But what designers are doing now is trying to take camouflage into higher fashion circles by creating dresses and other formal items with the stealthy patterns.
Sharon Stone’s appearance in camouflage on the December cover of Elle magazine was a harbinger of what is happening now. Another notable appearance of the military style is in Destiny’s Child’s new video for the song “Survivor.” In the March issues of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire there are large photo spreads devoted to this military chic that include olive and beige among their essential spring colors.
Retail store windows in New York are decorated with military mannequins, but on the local level, the effects of this fashion trend are not so hard-hitting. Major department stores, such as JC Penney and Meier & Frank, are sure to have some items, but not the supply found in larger cities.
What purpose the fashion industry has for this style reinvention is unclear. While the clothes are not intended to hide people as the real stuff does, they may be building some sense of military-like community among the female population. The JC Penney store at the Valley River Center is carrying camouflage shirts proclaiming “boy fighter” and “military brat,” but employee Tiffney Darnell said that she hasn’t sold any yet.
Sara Henley, a Gap employee, has the answer to explain the military invasion.
“The idea of military dress is that [it is] designed for function. Fashion is taking a more practical bent,” she said.
Camouflage is one trend, but spring will boast a big basket of fashion. Henley says that bright colors are back in this season, as well as polo shirts and capri pants.
“People like capris because they’re a nice way to skirt around wearing shorts,” she said.
Katy Fachko at the Bon Marche pointed out another “girl power” fashion for spring: cowboy.
“Cowboy is really big because of Madonna,” she said.
Fachko also said that duster sweaters will be essential for the spring wardrobe.
So while the military style is not taking the entire fashion world by storm, people must decide whether they are going to enlist.