Styles · An idea under Techwear

Military style for women

Field jackets, flight bombers, cargo trousers and canvas boots in olive and khaki from independent boutiques.

Military style is a way of dressing built on functional army uniforms, heavy canvas coats, cargo pants and utilitarian field gear adapted for daily life. Relaxed cuts meet dense cotton twill and ripstop woven in shades of olive, black and grey. Every detail serves practical movement and weather protection rather than ornament.

Cargo trousers came from the British Army's battle dress of the late nineteen thirties and the American paratroopers of the Second World War, and the trench coat and the field jacket came out of the wars too. C.P. Company, known since the seventies for garment dyeing, cuts the cargo trousers here, and Helmut Lang flight trousers and a carpenter utility jacket in clean lines. Porter, the Tokyo bag maker, adds canvas waist and shoulder bags.

Field jackets, wide leg cargo pants and durable shoulder bags anchor the wardrobe alongside crisp cotton shirts and rugged lace up boots. Due West, WDLT117 and Utopia in Toronto carry these cargo trousers, field jackets and parkas.

Common questions

How do you identify military style?
Look for functional construction drawn from combat dress, such as gusseted pockets, reinforced elbows and storm flaps. Sturdy textiles like cotton ripstop and heavy canvas in neutral olive or khaki define the aesthetic.
What balances military style pieces in a daily outfit?
Pair one structured utility piece with clean, understated basics to avoid looking like a costume. A surplus jacket complements plain denim and a fine merino wool knit.
Which designers are known for military style clothing?
C.P. Company, known since the seventies for garment dyeing, builds its cargo trousers on army patterns, and Helmut Lang cuts utility pieces in clean lines. Porter, from Tokyo, makes canvas waist and shoulder bags.