Women's military coats illustrate a true fashion trend for the
first decade of the new
millennium. Military styling returns each autumn with a fresh
look, sometimes it's a long military coat
which settles around the calves, at other times it's a short
cropped military jacket. On other catwalks it's a floor sweeping military maxi
coat that is top of hit list.
Right - Hobbs Limited Edition
Leather
Trench 'Emma' Coat.
Here is a selection of the women's military coats in stores for
autumn winter 2009. Not only do they illustrate the
fundamentals of military styling, but also they reflect the
micro trends of the moment such as cowl funnel necks and the
fashion for belting coats.
All women's military coat items are from Autumn 2009 collections on the high street
or at selected UK stores.
In fashion history terms, the coats shown above are based on the
greatcoats of yore worn by soldiers who were travelling for
miles, fighting and sleeping out of doors in wintry Northern
countries. Modem military coats for women and men often feature
style elements that once had a utilitarian function such as,
epaulettes in which to push gloves, a soft hat, or even rolled
up documents.
Practical, Utilitarian Coats
Military characteristics in coats include little
extras such as multiple pockets inside and out. There were loops
and belt hooks to attach weapons so that the hands were free for
other tasks, such as riding a horse.
Extra storm flaps at chest and shoulders helped protect the
lungs from cold when walking against the wind. The storm flaps
are really a leftover style element from caped highwayman coats.
Travelling greatcoats had up to three layers of shoulder line
capes to help repel rain soaking through to the skin. Burberry
and Aquascutum used some of these features in their trench coats which
literally were designed for wartime trenches.
Today extra large lapels can be turned up for greater neck
warmth. Buttoned up high cowl and funnel necks do the job
automatically. Double breasted coats also offer an extra layer
of front wrap material for colder days.
When selecting a
military style coat for function and warmth consider all these
possibilities. Always make sure that any coat you buy can be
buttoned up, just in case one day you find yourself without
transport on an extra cold day.
If you want to pick up on the latest micro trends, then get a military
cape, cloak or perhaps a military inspired cape jacket like
this grey coat near left.
Throughout the fashion history of women's clothing, designers
have chosen a snappy
term based on a 'character' to
differentiate between styles, furthermore a catchy name sticks
in the mind.
Women's military style coats
have a particularly rich variety of names:-
Sergeant Pepper coats,
Majorette jackets, Bandstand looks, Officer's Uniform,
Hussar Spencer jackets, Little Drummer Boy coats, Circus Boy
tails, Admiralty pea coats, Captain Pugwash jacket, and Dr Zhivago
Greatcoats. These are all phrases used to describe military coat
fashions.
Above Left - Dorothy Perkins AW09 - Modern Red
Women's Military Coat £95/150, Colour block dress £40/60, Blue
multi strap shoes £60/95 Dorothy Perkins Autumn Winter 2009.
Near Right - Cream Military Coat with Brass Buttons £89. T50 6600
Marks & Spencer Autumn Winter 2009.
Far Right - Per Una Autumn 2009 Marks & Spencer Agnes Cord
Coat £79.50 September Sizes: 8-22.
Soutache appliquι, cord braiding, frogging, cuff, epaulette
trims or gold twist fringe, can add style to woman's military
coat. Striped grosgrain medal ribbons,
ship-shape cut, and well balanced buttons in uniform rows, are
all features of women's military coats. Any or all of
these decorative elements help create a classy military inspired piece.
Constructional touches include double or single breasted placement of buttons, or cord frog fasteners or Chinese soutache
button balls. Both these coats right show use of decorative
frogging and this gives a Hussar military styling to the
women's coats.
Right - Black Short Military Jacket,
£65, 95. Wallis Black military coat, £90/140. Both pieces
Wallis Autumn 2009 Winter 2010.
Collar styles can be neat stand or funnel shaped narrow, and the
lapels can be wide, sharp or round. Asymmetric front flap fastening and
storm flaps add a military air to any piece.
Whilst epaulettes are the most obvious source of further
decoration, shoulders, sequins, crystals and piping are
micro fashion trend extras of the moment. Notice how button placement adds
constant variety to military coats.
This military Jacket left is from Kaliko and uses small repeat
rows of buttons combined with sharp fitted tailoring to make the
military statement.
Midnight Military Jacket, Ivory Frill Pleat Blouse, Midnight
Military Trouser. Jacket £140/200, Blouse £50/75, Trouser
£80/115 Kaliko Autumn Winter 2009.
Coat fabrics such as thick wool Melton cloth, cashmere,
leather, denim, serge,
corduroy, velveteen, velvet, and moleskin each make wonderful
military style coats. Designer military jacket, short
coat or long coat, vintage military coat or charity shop
bargain, just take your pick - military is now a classic fashion
style.
Military coats, jackets, blouses, and now military knitwear, add a
new seasonal twist when coat lengths, sleeves and lapels are
each adjusted in line with other fashion trends.
Above Left - Military Button Coat £74.99 - Blazers and Coats at
River Island Clothing Co. Ltd.
Above Right - Autograph Navy Military Buttoned Coat £69.
Marks & Spencer Autumn Winter 2009 - T50 20001A Marks & Spencer
Autumn Winter 2009. Both coats have high stand necklines making
them winter warmer coats ideal for wear with pants or jeans.
Above Left - Black Military Style Cropped Jacket £35 Sophie Gray
at BHS Womenswear - Sophie Gray @ Bhs Autumn Winter 09.
Above Right - Quality Black Buttoned Marching Band Wool Military Coat From
Boden. This coat has a contrast lining and is also available in a
fabulous tone of purple and red UK sizes 8-18.
These military jackets also discussed in the
wardrobes tips page are shown here again in, but with
bigger picture
size as the detail is interesting.
Above Left - Double breasted coat - Per Una Nikita Coat
£120.00. In store: October sizes: 8-18.
Per Una Autumn 2009 at
Marks & Spencer.
Above Right - Velvet Military Style Smoking Jacket £65/105.
Dorothy Perkins AW09 - DP COLLECTION @ Dorothy
Perkins.
Above Left - Military Black Cropped Trophy Jacket £60/95. DP COLLECTION @ Dorothy Perkins AW09.
Above Right - Cropped Military Jacket £30, AW09. G21 George at
ASDA.
As you can see there is so much variety in women's military
coats. Military pieces can look quite simple or get a designer
touch like the piece below by John Galliano and which take it
out of the ordinary. Denim is also a perennial favourite in
every age group now, so of course some military jackets must be
made in denim!
Below Left - Current Elliott Denim Military Jacket at Harvey
Nichols.
Below Right - John Galliano Trompe L'oeil Military Piece.
TK Maxx say PLEASE NOTE THAT STYLES VARY PER STORE. This
means the coat shown on this page may or may not appear in your
local store.
PR INFO - TK Maxx
TK Maxx is an off-price retailer that sells designer and
high street brands in womenswear, menswear, childrenswear,
gifts, accessories and homeware at up to 60% off the RRP. A
concept imported from the States and tailored for the UK market,
off-price shopping offers a mix of predominately current
season designer and high street items all at up to 60% off the
recommended retail price. The amazing deals can be passed on to
customers because the stores offer a no frills operation. Each
store has over 50,000 items in stock and will sell one fifth of
all stock every week so theres 10,000 new items arriving in
store every week. This fast turnover combined with daily
deliveries means that stock is always fresh. TK Maxx currently
has over 200 stores around the UK and Republic of Ireland and
dedicated home stores in York, Edinburgh and Kingston. To find
your nearest store visit
www.tkmaxx.com and sign up for
hot@arrivals.co.uk
for information on the latest special deliveries.
Date added 20 August 2009 - Ref:P.744.
Copyright of images courtesy of Prshots, IFTF,
Swarovski, Dorothy Perkins, BHS, Boden, Dorothy Perkins, Marks &
Spencer, Harvey Nichols, Wallis, French Connection,
Monsoon, Kaliko,
River Island, T.K.MAXX, Matalan, George at Asda.
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Women's military style coats
have a particularly rich variety of names:-
Sergeant Pepper coats,
Majorette jackets, Bandstand looks, Officer's Uniform,
Hussar Spencer jackets, Little Drummer Boy coats, Circus Boy
tails, Admiralty pea coats, Captain Pugwash jacket, and Dr Zhivago
Greatcoats. These are all phrases used to describe military coat
fashions. 
