Do clothes make the man?

i think a person's style does say a lot about him, yes

During the Elizabethan time period, the era of Queen Elizabeth I of England, one's clothes and fashion defined one's social status.      
It was common for a man of the upper class to wear a fine silk hat with a feather inside.

A doublet was a snug-fitting jacket that was shaped and fitted to the man's body which was worn in Western Europe from the late Middle Ages up to the mid-17th century.

I had a book on all this stuff but I think it's in storage..and to get it I'd have to go down to Central Texas. But here's a fairly apt link.

It covers your 'frog skin' remnant as well.

http://camopedia.org/index.php?title=USA (copy and post to your browser).

As for local procurement for useage and or testing...it's been a mainstay for decades...years ago in the HTLD test bed period, viz the 9th Infantry division circa 83-89...hundreds if not thousands of local 'off shelf' products were purchased. For testing and possible adoption in the Army's various TOE's'TDA's.

I remember we even tested off the shelf 'Wolverine' brand heavy sports boots; until the Army adopted the new version of the black boot which then gave way to the a whole host of various replacements.

Hats... until we returned to the BDU and now ACU 'patrol style' were also in a constant flux...and I'm not even going to start on the Beret
fiasco.

HTLD= High technology Light Division.

TOE= Table of Organization and Equipment.

TDA= Table of Distribution and Allowance.

Originally posted by J.A.W. CV, by chance the John Wayne 'Nam classic, 'Green Berets' was on TV, & it featured the curious 'Tiger Stripes' combat camo outfit, which was quite a contrast with the basic green. Was this ever an 'official' US forces camo pattern, or just a 'movie' thing? Curiously, the Israeli defence forces seem to have always stuck with the plain un-patterned look..

Yes and no. No they were never an official US issue item. Yes they were authorized for use by USMAAG personnel (US insignia) attached to ARVN units. Predominately SF advisors wore them. Tho eventually they were used by LRRPS and SEALS and Snipers as well.

They are probably a derivative of an earlier French pattern used in the 50's.... during their colonial periods and conflicts; and were in use by ARVN Marines and Ranger units.

US forces were authorized 'local requisition' from SV producers. These were replaced in country with the ERDL uniform; itself a precursor to BDU.

Iirc, Aussies and Kiwis SF used them as well. But don't quote me.

I forgot to mention, of all of them; I personally liked the style, lightweight material and comfort of the 'jungle fatigues'. ie Tropical Combat Uniform.

Thou the OG107 ie. OD's had various types based on who produced them and or whether they were customized.

What's usually never mentioned in relation to uniforms. Is the sometimes prohibitive cost that a soldier might incur, beyond a certain rank, when the issue or replacement was not free.

Certainly beyond the rank of E5 Sergeant, when a soldier received a once a year or occasional specific clothing allowance..this could be quite high especially for dress uniforms.

Edited by Centrix Vigilis - 27-Jun-2015 at 17:42

King Edward VII of Great Britain's taste in clothes was generally conservative.       
He attempted to prevent the demise of the frock coat and to revive the fashion of wearing knee-breeches with evening dress.      
He refused to wear a Panama had and derided those who did.      
Edward continued to wear a silk hat while riding in Rotten Row long after this was considered old-fashioned.

I used the mid levels 1960-70's version of the Vietnam era LBE followed by variants of the precursor MOLLE. To include the ALICE.

Stand green/OD/Arctic and desert patterns made predominantly from heavy canvas eventually giving way to the PALS system and much lighter and weather resistant materials-fasteners straps etc..

All good; some better than others. And in general, the most in demand items necessary, to be worn, by any class, of well fashioned soldiers of the era. Ie. late 20th into the 21st ce.

I can't understand why HRH Prince William, allowed himself to go bald..

Pictures of King Louis XIV of France often show him in high heels with big hair.    
Louis XIV was five feet, four inches tall. Wearing heels and a wig made Louis look taller.