Tailored Military

I’m fascinated with gaiters. 

No, not the animal. Gaiters (or spats) are those leather or cloth pieces of fabric that wrap around your ankle and cover the top of your boot and the bottom of your trousers. The military wore them during WWI to protect their ankles, but they’re also worn during horseback riding, mountaineering and hunting. They had a million little buttons or hooks up the side, if that helps you picture them. 

It’s probably the costume designer in me coming out, but I really appreciate the utility and look of them. I have this image in my head of a bomber jacket and trousers tucked into tall boots. Like an aviator or an Englishman on a hunt.

That’s basically how I want to dress all the time. Like I’m about to hike through mud but still well-tailored.

So why am I talking about my love of gaters? Because the “military trend” isn’t really a trend. The armed forces have influenced classic menswear (think bomber jackets) as well as how we style ourselves in general. 

Cargo pants with boots and heavy socks? ‘Military’ jackets with utility pockets? Rucksacks?

These aren’t trends that come and go. You see them every season in menswear.

Mixing utility with tailoring is where it’s at these days! 

You can do this same look with joggers and skip the whole tucking-your-pants-into-your-socks thing, but I really wanted to wear suiting trousers. 

And who the hell cares if they don’t have elastic on the bottom?! As long as your trousers are slim enough, you’re good to go. 

I’m sure you can see it if you scroll through the blog: an underlying American military/utilitarian POV.

What do you think of the look? Can trousers be tucked into socks?

Club Monaco blazer / Indochino trousers / Frank and Oak cardigan / Uniqlo denim shirt / The Tie Bar tie / CAT Footwear boots / Anonymousism socks