Military Surplus Store

Military Surplus Clothing: How to Wear Army Without the Overkill

There was a season in the late 1990’s when camouflage (nicknamed “camo”) hit it big in the fashion scene. People everywhere wore it: from the model on the runway to the ordinary teenager on the street. Army wear at that time was not limited only to military surplus clothing stores. In fact, almost every brand had a version of it: camo cargo pants, camo shorts, camo jackets, camo hoodies, camo hats. Some bed and bath store even came out with camo bed and bath stores!

Today, we see army-inspired apparel slowly inching its way back into the fashion market. Designers like Rei Kawakubo have experimented with mixing the rigid functionality of army wear with the whimsicality of ballet-inspired chiffon dresses. Some young celebrities have also been making waves in the fashion industry by hitting the streets in combat boots or bomber jackets. Military clothing is definitely back, but unlike its previous boom in the 1990’s, you don’t exactly want to look like G.I. Joe fresh from the war.

Want to incorporate army wear into your wardrobe but don’t know how? Before you take a trip to your local military surplus clothing store, here are some tips to help you wear army, without the overkill.

1. A is for Aviator Shades.

If you want to incorporate military into your outfit, this is the easiest way to do it. From the moment Top Gun hit the screens till today, aviator shades have been the accessory of the hip and happening. So, keep your eyes peeled for a pair when you visit the army store.

2. B is for Boots.

Oh-la-la, the combat boots. Every James Dean, rebel-without-a-cause wanna be needs to have a pair. But even if you’re not really into the biker crowd, a pair of combats would be good to keep in one’s wardrobe. For women, you can wear it with a floral, chiffon dress for instant contrast and a chic, hippie feel.

3. Jackets Galore.

Here is every military surplus clothing store’s best-kept secrets: they have the coolest jackets you can ever wish to own. From pea coats to full British trenches to leather bomber jackets – an army store is heaven to jacket-lovers. Personally, this is why I love shopping in army stores. The jackets are simply gorgeous.

4. Cargo pants and shorts

Finally, if you’re looking for durable cargo pants or shorts, then the army surplus store is definitely where you should go. If you’re the adventurous traveler type, you can stock up on your multi-pocketed khaki cargos here. Feeling a little camouflage? Pair your camo cargos with a logo shirt or a plain tank top.

With all these tips, you're well on your way to sporting military fashion the right way. Just remember that when it comes to wearing ultra-functional and rigid clothes, the best thing to do is to pair them with the opposite: flowing, whimsical material. Contrast is key in incorporating military surplus clothing into your wardrobe. Check out our military surplus store the next time you want to have something outrageous to add in your wardrobe.

A fan of different military weaponry? You can also check out our page for different military surplus guns and see if there's anything that you'd like. Just feel free to browse our site to get all the information that you need.