Love it or hate it but this fall, military look had a major impact on fashion runways! From Michael Kors to Prabal Gurung and Calvin Klein, military shift dresses and sharply tailored army jackets look more polished and still add the headturning, edgy style to fall and winter ensembles.

Today the trend has more of a luxurious and feminine flair so one may say it’s not for the tomboys whatsoever. Since military and ladylike join fashion forces you’re much welcome to embrace your inner tough girl with army styling and cool khaki colours and mix things up with delicate pieces and red lipstick. Don’t be afraid to break the style rules, you’re supposed to look like a understated woman commander, not the real soldier.

Fashion runways have been having a military moment since fall 2008. It was then considered as stronger than now. Military trend for Fall 2009 / Winter 2010 (as seen on: Hermès, Haider Ackermann, Lavin, Paul Smith, D&G, Dries Van Noten) combines all the best fashion features of aviator chic and Russian Tsars’ period. Colors vary from black and khaki to royal blues and reds.

Military jacket

Army green anorak with epaulettes at the shoulders and military style appliqué patches is an ultimate expression of the utilitarian trend. The other essential addition to your outwear arsenal is a black military jacket or an officer’s greatcoat. All options are up in arms for you to get you warm in a chilly day and make an interesting contrast to ladylike ethereal fabrics and bold colours (as seen in Isabel Marant).

Military jackets and coats are one of this season’s most sought after trends, they can be regarded as a classic. Their military feel can be expressed in different ways: with the gold braiding, double-breasted brass buttons, shoulder epaulettes. A great choice is a neat stand-up collar that gives a feminine feel to the trend. On the contrary, there is a long khaki officer’s greatcoat with its tough-looking military shape.

Military dress

You’ll love the subtlety and less in-your-face approach torwards military look that a shift dress brings. Look for a dress in hunter green, with embossed gold buttons and lots of pockets. Follow Victoria Beckham’s military-chic interpretation and incorporate the on-trend demure updo and a belt wrapped around twice. To saunter into fall sophistication team with flawless pumps and a statement dome bag.

The army trend makes its rounds every few years and is generally represented by the green jacket with epaulets, and brass buttons. This fall, however, a military look goes beyond the essential piece as fashion designers commanded military and ladylike to join forces! Look for regimental polish presented in a more subtle way in everything from skirts and pants to dresses and boots. The modern approach torwards army chic has been promoted by Salvadore Ferragamo and Victora Beckham.

Michael Jackson was a military trend lover himself – the singer would wear many items from the Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 Balmain collection which was actually inspired with Jacko’s style.

Military-style is a bit masculine itself so it’s avisable to add some feminine touch to the overal outfit. Forget the boot-cut jeans or other clothes just taken off your boyfriend. Military coats and jackets look best worn with ultra trendy thigh-high boots, lacy dresses, ballerina skirts, skinny pants or shiny leggings.

If a military frogging is a bit too much for you, try some high quality military accessories: leather belts, long gloves, military-style caps and Russian Cossak hats. Brocade, brass buttons and epaulettes – this is what military trend is all about!

A touch of military is always in style, whether it is a light and stylish peacoat, camo print combats or a pair of desert boots. The key to a look that is infused with military style is not to make it too serious, and that’s true this season more than ever: look out for brightly coloured trench coats for a way to inject a bit of playfulness into your fatigues.