Military Inspired Looks

My father was in the Marines for four years, and emerged very picky about his clothes. His focus was tailoring, but when I think military looks, I think of buttons, epaulets, piping, gold trim, and a very specific color scheme.

It could be my bias, but Marine dress uniforms are my favorite. If you can find a dark jacket (black is preferred but navy will work) with red trim, all you need to complete the look is white pants. I went with flat boots and a basic black bag, but you can fem it up with stilettos and a clutch. The globe necklace is a reference to the Marine symbol.

Marine - by Fashion Me Fabulous on Polyvore.com

This outfit uses the greens and browns of fatigues, but my major focus was buttons. I used the chevron bangle to recall medals.

Military Inspired - by Fashion Me Fabulous on Polyvore.com

Branch out from modern American military and think about the finery of European officers from one or two hundred years ago. This look uses the red and blue, but I picked ivory over white to symbolize an old flag. The jacket, with all it's regal braiding, was the focal point.

Toy Soldier - by Fashion Me Fabulous on Polyvore.com

Of course, you can really turn the buttoned up military look on it's head with proper tattering and mussy hair. The more I worked on making each item a military reversal -- tight, torn jeans; guns as earrings; a tough as nails evening bag; fetishized boots -- the more the look moved from military to rock star. Of course, turning things around and thumbing their noses at authority is standard rock star behavior.

Rock Star - by Fashion Me Fabulous on Polyvore.com