On September 20th, 2011 the controversial ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy was repealed. ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was a policy created by the Clinton administration that banned gay men and lesbians from openly serving in the military. With this policy in place, soldiers had to hide their true identity for fear of being discharged. Thousands of soldiers were discharged under the policy, but many still hid their identity from their peers. Now that DADT has been repealed, gay and lesbian members of the military can openly serve without fear of being persecuted for who they are, and those that were discharged under the policy can now reenlist.
This is not only a change for the military; the repeal of DADT is a major turning point in the fight for equal rights for the LGBT community. In honor of the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ I present to you one of my favorite trends: military inspired fashion. I LOVE this trend, and pieces inspired by the military will forever be in my wardrobe. I own a ton of olive green pieces and a pair of combat boots I acquired from an army surplus tent at a flea market. While this trend might not be as popular as it was a year ago, military inspired pieces can still be found in almost any store.
From Urban Outfitters, this Cheap Monday Militaria Dress ($100.00) is a great piece for any wardrobe. I love that it’s oversized, and this would be super comfy for any day of the week. With great shoulder and pocket details, pair with combat boots for the ultimate military look, or wear with flats for a more casual look.
I love a bomber jacket, and I love that this one isn’t your typical olive green. This AE Bomber Jacket ($79.50) is perfect for when it gets a little colder, or for that trip up North this winter. This comes in navy and grey, which is a great alternative to black, khaki, or olive.
Great for a night out, this Cadet Knit Dress from Forever 21 ($14.90) is an affordable way to bring this trend into your wardrobe. Pair with black heels for a great military-inspired outfit for night, or wear with leggings and your favorite flats for day.
I love a military style bag, and this one is perfect for campus. I found this on armysurplusstore.com for a mere $14.99. This Khaki Vintage Medic Bag is stonewashed, giving it that great faded color. I love the hint of leather on the front, and the medic logo strays from the typical military details you usually find.
This Deena & Ozzy Combat Boot is perfect if you want to take your military style to a literal level. Available at Urban Outfitters for $79.00, it mixes classic military style with great stitching for a combat boot that looks tough, but somehow feminine. Wear with your favorite denim and something plain on top; you don’t want too much going on if you have on these fantastic boots.
This Raw-edged Henley shirt from Gap comes in two colors, olive ($39.99) and new bisque ($19.99). A simple but chic way to bring the military trend to your closet, this shirt features great button details on the shoulders and at the neck. It also has great unfinished edges, which I adore.
I love olive green. And while these shorts don’t have any military details, they are a classic color that will never go out of style. From Urban Outfitters, this Urban Renewal Cuffed Levi’s Denim Short ($44.00) are perfect dressed up or dressed down. If you’re up for it, wear with those combat boots (above) and a plain white top for a simple but bold look.
This great Long Sleeve Military Tweed Jacket by Kensie is currently available at Macy’s for $89.99 (original price $128.00). With an ode to classic military fashion, this jacket is great for on campus or for a casual night out. Pair it with neutrals like the model above, or pair it with a jewel-toned top for a pop of color.
With so many options to choose from, there is no excuse to not have at least one military inspired piece in your wardrobe. This trend is great for fall and winter, so celebrate the repeal of DADT and try adding a bit of military inspired fashion to your wardrobe!