Sunday, December 20, 2009

military fashion: yay or nay?

I'm so in love with Rihanna's new video for "Hard." Been a fan of her music and her fashion for quite a while, but hated "Run This Town" with Jay-Z and Kanye West, and I didn't enjoy "Russian Roulette" at all, the song or the video. So I guess I've been a little concerned, but "Hard" has absolutely put any doubts in my mind to rest. Love the song. Love the video. The fashion is pretty stellar (I want a Mickey Mouse helmet ever so much), but more than anything, I have to praise the makeup artists for this video shoot. They really did amazing work.



I've always been a bit conflicted about military trends in fashion, especially when it's not just a thematic reference, but a specific item from military dress. Coming from an Air Force and Army family, for a long time I felt that using uniforms in an ironic sense or even just for aesthetic purposes was kind of disrespectful. (In high school, there no way my mom was going to let me go to school wearing a pair of army pants.) But as I grew up and my Vogue and W archives expanded to fill up an entire bookshelf, I got over these concerns. Don't get me wrong, I've still got my dad's framed flag in my living room and his dog tags on my dresser, but I also recently asked my mom if I could have his old garrison cap for fashion purposes. (She didn't seem to mind. Maybe she's gotten over her concerns too.) So what say you? If I wear my dad's old garrison cap out and about, is it disrespectful to him? To the military? Or is it just a badass accessory? (Keep in mind that garrison caps are sometimes referred to as piss cutter caps or cunt caps, so it's not an item of dress that the military necessarily holds in the highest esteem.) And if it is disrespectful to wear it as a fashion piece, is it less so if I wear it without rank insignia? Thoughts?

Ron Livingston wearing a garrison cap in my favorite mini-series of all time Band of Brothers

4 comments:

GingerSnap said...

I personally love the military look, but only in moderation. Anything more can just look like a costume! I think the perfect little military jacket can be wonderful!

Unknown said...

DO it. And yeah, where can I get that Minnie Mouse helmet??

Drea Carmen said...

I'm sticking with "badass accessory". Even primary pieces can be pulled off if paired with the right thing. Army jacket over a low-cut blouse and pencil skirt? Classy. As long as it's tasteful it's respectful. And it's not a new phenomenon; post-war housewives in high-waisted Navy pants? Hotness.

Anonymous said...

do you by any chance know who does her makeup? even her new video S & M is amazing and so is her makeup! and i would love to know who her makeup artist is, or atleast the lipstick colour she is wearing in the picture you posted!