Is camouflage clothing EVER appropriate for non-soldiers to wear?

[hobish]

LOL  Pixie.  I'll just slip outside, where no-one will be able to see me amongst the pine trees!  (I live in a national forest.)

Hey you guys!  This could be fun!  I can actually make myself "invisible!"  LOL

LOL, i have a blue camo t-shirt that i wore when i went sky-diving, joking that so when i was up in the air i could blend. 

[Pixie]

I like the bra-tops.... under another shirt.  But different strokes...  I think as long as it is worn tastefully without parts hanging out, its fine.  Of course I wear bra-tops all the time.  Just this morning I was wearing a bra-top and shorts while I washed the car.... but I'm in south central Texas, Its warm here. 

But I agree on the full BDUs if  one hasn't served, its very disrespectful, IMO.  When I lived in Idaho it used to make me so mad to see some punk wearing BDUs with a blue spiked hairdo or mohawk....   We lived in an Air Force town, and to me it was like mocking our Airmen.   I fully support people's right to free expression, but that doesn't mean I have to like or share their opinion.

Ps.  those bra-tops can be very supportive.... 

[housewife2k]

I like the bra-tops.... under another shirt.  But different strokes...  I think as long as it is worn tastefully without parts hanging out, its fine.  Of course I wear bra-tops all the time.  Just this morning I was wearing a bra-top and shorts while I washed the car.... but I'm in south central Texas, Its warm here. 

But I agree on the full BDUs if  one hasn't served, its very disrespectful, IMO.  When I lived in Idaho it used to make me so mad to see some punk wearing BDUs with a blue spiked hairdo or mohawk....   We lived in an Air Force town, and to me it was like mocking our Airmen.   I fully support people's right to free expression, but that doesn't mean I have to like or share their opinion.

Ps.  those bra-tops can be very supportive.... 

Sports bra style tops, no problem, Bra tops under a just barely see through cover up, no problem. We live in MN, their problem are with the girls who wear what amounts to an under wire push up bra, with nothing else, when it obviously wasn't meant to be worn alone, while walking around a family friendly lake. Bra tops under bib overalls is also a very flattering look. The main issue with bra tops isn't the top itself, but generally how it's worn.

[Cellardoor14]

I certainly don't want to "offend" anyone by my choice of clothing for the day.  No matter how "cute" or comfortable it is.  I'm thinking I should choose something else to wear, just to be safe.  The idea of foreign visitors, coming to the US to see their son on his birthday, and being greeted by some blooming idiot, wearing camouflage at his surprise party...  Well, I'd hate to inadvertently cause undue attention to be paid to me, because I was too stupid to be more sensitive to what may or not be appropriate attire in their country.

As someone who lives in Britian, I don't think the Scottish would be surprised or shocked to see you in cammo.

It's commonly wore here in all styles and colours. 

Even though when I see someone wandering around in the bright orange variety I always wonder what ecosystem that would blend into. 

[housewife2k]

As someone who lives in Britian, I don't think the Scottish would be surprised or shocked to see you in cammo.

It's commonly wore here in all styles and colours. 

Even though when I see someone wandering around in the bright orange variety I always wonder what ecosystem that would blend into. 

Citrus groves? radioactive citrus groves??

[Cellardoor14]

No no, its for those soldiers who are covertly riding an orangutan into battle.

Isd that what they mean when they talk about gorilla warfare?


Pa-dumb-pun!

Seriously folks,

If you are riding an orangutan into a radioactive citrus grove you've got bigger issues than whether or not the enemy can see you 

[Pixie]

But I agree on the full BDUs if  one hasn't served, its very disrespectful, IMO.  When I lived in Idaho it used to make me so mad to see some punk wearing BDUs with a blue spiked hairdo or mohawk....   We lived in an Air Force town, and to me it was like mocking our Airmen.   I fully support people's right to free expression, but that doesn't mean I have to like or share their opinion.

Well, you never can tell... in Atlanta I worked with 3 boys with mohawks, colored hair, funky dred, what have you who had all recently come back from tours of duty in the Middle East.

Hair is temporary and plenty of service men and women exercise their rights of expression too.

Question.... were these active duty Air Force personnel?   

[Balletmom]

Hey, hunters wear camouflage clothing, too...and in rural areas where there are lots of hunters (of all ages, both sexes) you see a lot of camo clothing worn casually.

It's amazing all the different colors and styles it comes in--

But what's a BDU? 

[housewife2k]

Hey, hunters wear camouflage clothing, too...and in rural areas where there are lots of hunters (of all ages, both sexes) you see a lot of camo clothing worn casually.

It's amazing all the different colors and styles it comes in--

But what's a BDU? 

Hunting camo is slightly different than military camo.
BDU is Battle Dress Uniform-it is the whole outfit in camo, made out of specific materials with very distinct cut amd style- there are 'mick' BDUs that many where while hunting, but once again-slightly different.

[Bijou]

I have a slight dilemma:

While in my favorite dress shop last week, I saw a version of a skirt I bought to wear at my daughter's graduation last June.  The one I bought for her graduation is a pale green.  This one was the same skirt, done in camoflage. 

Now I've never been a proponent of people who are non-military, wearing camouflage ANYTHING...especially if it looks like something a soldier would wear...but I have to say that this skirt was utterly adorable!  (And far from looking like it was military issued.)  So I bought it, and co-ordinated a black knit top with a brown tie-front "cardigan," in the same knit material, to go with it.

It looked so cute, I actually wore it out of the store...and to the office that day.

But here's the thing that's bugging me:

Mr. Diva and I have a surprise birthday party to go to, later this afternoon.  I thought I might wear this outfit, as it's casual, yet dressy and quite comfortable.  However, the Birthday Honoree's family is going to be there...and they're from Scotland.

I certainly don't want to "offend" anyone by my choice of clothing for the day.  No matter how "cute" or comfortable it is.  I'm thinking I should choose something else to wear, just to be safe.  The idea of foreign visitors, coming to the US to see their son on his birthday, and being greeted by some blooming idiot, wearing camouflage at his surprise party...  Well, I'd hate to inadvertently cause undue attention to be paid to me, because I was too stupid to be more sensitive to what may or not be appropriate attire in their country.

Am I being silly and too self-conscious?  Or am I right to check my closet for something else?  And if I should check my closet for something else...when if ever, would it be "okay" to wear this outfit?

Thanks!

Edited 'cause I didn't spell "dilemma" correctly. 

Funny you should mention this.  Just this morning at a community breakfast I saw an infant of maybe a couple of weeks old all decked out in camoflage from the tip of his little head to his little toes and I hated to see it.  I don't think camoflage really has a place outside the military, but what the heck,  it's none of my business what people choose to wear.  I don't have to like it, and I don't have to wear it.  BTW, I cannot stand those two characters on "What not to wear".  Talk about opinionated know it alls!  And most of the time the poor soul ends up looking worse than before. 

[lizzyillustration]

I served my two years in the Israeli army, as most eligible girls here do ( Israel drafts women) .. even though I enjoyed my two years of serving my country,  it was enough to have to wear military clothes those two years.
 my teenage daughters sometimes wear khaki pants or cam pants.... but  I tend to think the style  is  more of a teen thing... (my eldest goes to an art high school and dresses rather artily .. lol.
 but thats just me.

[IndianInlaw]

Well, hunting clothing has camouflage print on it too.

Don't you ever shop at Wal-Mart?

[dawbs]

I'm probably headed way way off topic here, but why would camo be disrespectful to wear? 
I understand the resistance to non-military folks wearing military gear, but Camo was and is worn as much for hunting and similar uses as for military use.

I own quite a bit of camo outerwear because I don't see the point in buying a coat for hunting and a separate "chore coat" for chores.

(although I don't tend to wear it "out", because I'm picky and I don't always want to "blend in" with everyone in my hometown :-)

[VorFemme]

I was military from 1979 to 1985.  DeHubby retired in 2005.  DeSon started picking his own clothes while we were stationed at Fort Knox - and for some reason adores camo.  I have collected various styles and colors to make shirts for him ever since.

Although the blue camo with clear sequins stayed at the fabric store.............not a good choice for a young boy, at all!

Unless you are trying to come across as planning to shoot someone (hunter or soldier), I'd say that you are probably fine.  Just don't wear an orange safety vest or carry a rifle........

[Pixie]

I'm probably headed way way off topic here, but why would camo be disrespectful to wear? 
I understand the resistance to non-military folks wearing military gear, but Camo was and is worn as much for hunting and similar uses as for military use.

I own quite a bit of camo outerwear because I don't see the point in buying a coat for hunting and a separate "chore coat" for chores.

(although I don't tend to wear it "out", because I'm picky and I don't always want to "blend in" with everyone in my hometown :-)

I don't believe its disrespectful to wear camouflage, I would just prefer if non-military would not wear military UNIFORMS to appear to be military.  Some younger guys do this to get military discounts they have not earned and respect they have not earned.