Most menswear is derived somehow from a military tradition. From no-brainers from the pea-coat to the lowering of the high military collar and eventual pressing down to form the lapels on a suit jacket this is an undeniable fact throughout history.
What seems different today (speaking outside of the suit and tie mentality) is that this kind of fashion extends to include more utilitarian, industrial notions. Two videos ago a young designer who claimed to make menswear with a male-originated gaze advertised a military dogtag and (matching) bullet as a piece of jewelry. While this commercial use of a purely utilitarian object is perhaps a call to a modern industrial aesthetic, it is additionally a way for this military influence to be seen in a more direct manner. Although not industrial in nature, a recent trend in military inspired clothes--epauletts, shoulders, cuffs, boots--seems to be getting closer and closer to the real thing.
Why is this? An ideal of masculinity that is retaliating against the metrosexual trend? Given the events of 9/11 and a fear of terrorist attacks in the 21st battlefield--civilian streets--is this a way for our masculine subconscious to reinforce protection of our territories? Or can we just chalk it up to the death and morning of one Michael Joseph Jackson?
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