Top Rank Vintage

Military clothing and accessories are a great way to spice up a wardrobe. Many people wish to beat trends. Men can often follow women’s fashion; for example see pants. Women’s jeans introduced the skinny style, and a few years later, men’s fashion followed to include skinny jeans. To see what will be in style for mainstream fashion, it is often a good idea to keep track of the styles of teenagers, as most of them are not afraid to branch in to styles that are new and extreme. But, what’s extreme one year, will often eventually become the norm.

Some people place more value on transcending trends, instead of attempting to ride them. Instead of surfing the fickle waves, they are like submarines, calm and steady, regardless of what the surface is doing. Transcending fashion is a matter of choosing styles that are relatively conservative. Extreme ideas tend to come in and go out rather quickly, while more moderate ideas tend to stick around. For example, while casual clothing has definitely changed a lot from the beginning of the 20^th century to now, business casual has not. An oxford shirt and chinos have been acceptable wear for a long time. Of course minor details such as pleats in pants or width of ties or location of darts on the back of a shirt see a little fluctuation, these are minor details.

Military fashions are an excellent example of timeless clothing that transcends fashion. This can refer to one of two ideas. The first is actual jackets, pants and other clothing that was actually created to military specifications, and designed to be used by actual servicemen and women. These clothes are sometimes referred to as military surplus, but can also be located at second-hand or vintage stores. Clothes such as the M-65 jacket are a good example of this. Military issue, standard in 1965 and later, these are now not used by military personnel, but the rugged look is popular with civilians.

The other way military fashion influences civilian culture is through clothing that is styled to look as though it might belong in the military, but which is actually specifically designed for civilian wear. These are often not as durable or timeless, since there is a sort of fusion between military quality and civilian fashion ideals.

For great, authentic military styles, Top Rank Vintage has a wide assortment of jackets, pants and other accessories.

In the 50s and 60s the United States was locked in wars in South East Asia. First Korea, and then Vietnam demanded the lives of many young American men. Those who lived had to do so in adverse conditions, fighting through jungles and intense climates. The hot, humid weather was a drastic change from many of the climates of the homes of the men, and ailments like trench foot demanded that military clothing and footwear be altered to adapt. Boots had drains on the sides to allow water out. While it also allowed it in, this meant that feet would be able to dry at least partially while on the march, helping to prevent debilitating gangrene.

But, wars in Asia were not all hot and humid. In winters, the weather can turn bitterly cold. To stay warm, soldiers needed a jacket that was insulatory but also durable and versatile. Enter the m-65 jacket. This jacket, introduced in 1965, and bears that year in its name. The m-65 jacket replaced the m-51 jacket, which had been introduced in 1951. While the two jackets were similar, the m-65 made several significant improvements.

The most obvious improvement over the m-51 jacket was the hood design. The m-51 jacket has an oxford-type collar and a detachable hood. The hood on the m-65 jacket is not detachable, but instead stores in a hidden zippered pouch at the nape of the neck. The m-65 jacket is arguably more convenient, since the hood is always with the jacket and does not have to be stored anywhere, and cannot be lost. Also, being built into the jacket, the hood looks better when up, and not as much like an afterthought. While such things are of little concern to a soldier simply trying to keep warm in a war, the m-65 jacket is primarily worn today by individuals who are concerned with fashion, and a sharp looking jacket is important.

Other changes between the m-51 and m-65 jackets include Velcro cuffs instead of buttons. These are faster and easier to manipulate, especially with cold fingers. While Velcro might be a bit of a liability in stealth situations, this is not a concern for modern civilian wearers, and so the increased convenience easily wins out.

The pockets on the m-65 are both functional and distinctively attractive, adding to the military feel of the coat. The m-65 is a timeless style and one that has been copied and imitated for decades, and is available at Top Rank Vintage.

Military clothing is known for its utility and timeless, utilitarian styles. Military styles are basic, yet distinctive, since they were designed to emphasize the solidarity that keeps troops fighting hard when the battle goes the other direction. When looking out and seeing the swath of identically dressed troops fighting alongside, a soldier can gain confidence that would ordinarily not be there. The distinctive look of virtually all uniforms is a point of pride, and as such uniforms receive respect among military members that even a sharp suit does not.

For example, military clothing and uniforms have a strict code that determines exactly how they are to be worn. Creases must be ironed into pants and shirts, and these creases often have exact dimensions and must be an exact distance from seams and other clothing features. Shoes must be polished to a high degree and everything must be entirely free of wrinkles. Clothing must fit perfectly, and must be worn in such a way that seams line up the same way on every person. For example, American military uniforms often have what is called a “gig line” which is the line of buttons from the shirt collar, extending all the way down through the belt, and must be aligned perfectly with the trouser zipper.

All this emphasis on perfection might seem like a waste of time or even counter-productive to the actual point of the military, but the reasons are more subtle. The attention to detail and discipline required to maintain a uniform in such a way that it will pass inspection is a valuable skill that carries over into many other aspects of life, military or civilian. An engineer designing a bridge or a bomb technician disarming a bomb or a flight crew member executing a safety procedure all need to know how to be exact, precise and pay attention to things that might not seem important at the time.

The emphasis on attention to detail also means that the troops all see themselves as a part of a larger unit, and this provides courage on the battlefield. Military life both fosters and requires a sort of “us-against-them” mentality, and the thought that your fellow soldiers have been through what you have, and have your back no matter what is reassuring when death is close.

What this means for civilians interested in military clothing is that the fashions you’ll find are attractive, yet understated. The looks of coats such as the M-65 jacket are instantly recognizable, but not garishly so. Military fashion cuts through fads, and looks good even when other styles come and go.

A common fashion trend for 2012 and upcoming 2013 is military vintage clothing. Many designers have created vintage styles with a modern twist. While consumers like this modern/vintage feel, they are still looking for those legitimate vintage military styles based on actual military forces. A common question is how can you tell if your vintage military clothing is really inspired by the genuine article? Some of the most commonly asked about are the trench coat, the parka, and cargo pants.

A trench coat is a very common type of coat that most of us are familiar with. The trench coat dates back to the early 1900s and was traditionally worn by European soldiers during that time. A typical trench coat during this period of time was a ten-buttoned, double-breasted long coat made with tan, khaki, beige, or black fabric. They would often have cuff straps on the sleeves, shoulder straps, and a belt. The shoulder straps were for the attachment of rank insignia. Trench coats were most commonly used as windbreakers or as a rain jacket. Today trench coats are commonly long with 6 buttons, double-breasted a belt, and they come in a wide variety of colors. The main function of today’s trench coat is to keep warm which has deviated from the trench coats original purpose. When determining the authenticity of a military vintage trench coat look for the buttons, if it is double-breasted, if it includes a belt, and the color of the coat; these will help you determine the most authenticate trench coat.

There are many types of parkas; one of the most common is the original snorkel parka, which was developed in the USA during the early 1950s for military use, mainly for flight crews stationed in extremely cold areas. This parka was made with sage green DuPont flight silk nylon as the outer material and the lining was padded with a wool blanket type material. It was given the name “snorkel parka” because the hood can be zipped up almost all the way, leaving only a small window so the wearer is able to see. Parkas are typically used in extremely cold and windy climates. Parkas today are not as extreme since they are being made for fashion and not for necessity, they tend to be made out of a thick cotton outer material and are lined commonly with faux furs, and the hood is also detachable and is generally lined with faux fur as well. Parkas today come in a wide variety of colors. When determining the authenticity of a vintage military parka look for the color, the type of lining and outer material, and the length of the parka (they should be waist length).

Cargo pants were first worn by the British military in 1938. These pants were developed because they provided storage and easy access to gear. This is a main reason why these pants are still popular today. They provide men with a way to carry their stuff, and they are loose and comfortable. Today these pants are commonly in khaki, as they were during military times, and they are also made in a variety of other colors. To determine the most authentic military vintage cargo pants look for the khaki color, the loose fit of the pants and the minimal but large pockets.

You can easily find authentic vintage military clothing if you know what you are searching for. These tips will help you determine the best vintage military coats and other military vintage clothing, so you can keep adding to your clothing collection.

Military clothing is quite adaptable to civilian fashions. Throughout the centuries styles of clothing and accessories from the military have found their way into clothing worn by people who would never shoot a gun, much less participate in a war. Some of these are easily identifiable, but others take a little investigation to reveal their military origins.

One of the most readily recognizable military influences on fashion is camouflage clothing. Often, camouflage patterns intended for civilian use are more obviously decorative. Military camouflage, especially modern MARPAT and other 21^st century designs are highly functional and effective at breaking up a soldier’s outline from a distance or at close ranges, and in a variety of hues of terrain. Civilian camouflage often has patches reminiscent of the large swatches of color common in mid-20^th century camouflage, and often incorporate colors such as blue or orange that would be highly impractical and inappropriate for the military.

Another recognizable military influence on shoes is the desert boot. The shape and silhouette is reminiscent of the combat boots of the troops who fought in the sands of northern Africa in World War I. Modern desert boots are probably far more comfortable than those made in the 1910s and ‘20s, but the timeless look has remained.

Other aspects of military fashion are much more subtle. Khaki pants are quite common in business causal wear, and don’t seem like they have much of a military influence at all. Unlike camouflage or other militaristic styles, which are often associated with a particular subculture, khaki pants are simply seen as mainstream, conservative wear for nearly any occasion. However, they began as a part of the uniform in India during the first World War. “Khaki” means dust in Hindi, and the color was used as an early camouflage in the deserts of north Africa.

Other designs such as military style coats or overcoats are warm and cozy in winter and look sharp. When used as part of a uniform, navy pea coats and army trench coats feature medals, ribbons and other military honors make the coats quite distinctive. For civilian wear, the absence of such decorations mean that the coats appear much more conservative – they go with nearly any outfit.

Top Rank Vintage specializes in these articles of clothing and many others. While many places sell second hand clothing, Top Rank’s vintage military styles are often unworn surplus in new condition. For a distinctive, timeless look and highly durable vintage wear, look no further than Top Rank Vintage.