mil spec

The Bastille Day thread has got me thinking about military uniforms, and an old idea that military parade uniform was the real basis of elegant male attire, which is, after all, based on a standard plain suit with plenty of pockets, enlivened by flashes of colour. I have to say I'm always very impressed by how immaculately turned out senior US military officers look on TV. By contrast the kitsch outfits of military dictators always undermine their credibility. The old Soviet Red Army style was somewhere in between (the best parade uniforms I've ever seen are those of the Indian Army). As traditional style owes a lot to the military (blazers and regimental-style ties are obvious examples), there is food for discussion and anecdote here, I'm sure.