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

[Bijou]

Well, hunting clothing has camouflage print on it too.

Don't you ever shop at Wal-Mart?

Brrrr.  I thought about that hunting part of it.  Is that scary or what, blending in with the bushes and shadows in the woods with all those other hunters out there? 

[housewife2k]

Well, hunting clothing has camouflage print on it too.

Don't you ever shop at Wal-Mart?

It's been my experience that hunting camo is different from military camo, slight color and pattern differences, and occasional branches and greenery in the hunting camo.

And though I shop wal-mart, I am loathe to admit it!

[behindbj]

I am of two minds about the wearing of military-style camo when not in the military.

On the one hand, it looks good on folks and they make some nice clothes. 

On the other, some gangs in fair City wear it to show that they are manly foot-soldiers of the drug trade.

If you are in the first group, then knock your socks off.

If you are in the second group, I am planning on chartering a plane, dumping all of those ignorant wastes of flesh and bone on it and sending them over to where the action is to see what kind of "men" they really are.

But - that's me.  As for me, even though I am a Civilian, I have deployed with the military because I perform a function that they do not have.  So, BDUs for me.  While they are comfortable and made dressing in the morning a breeze (10 minutes to dress:  3 minutes to put on the uniform and 7 to lace the dang boots), I do not don camo out of a personal feeling of respect for those I worked with (and all the rest out there).

I do not have an issue with fashion camo when on other people (except for the afore-mentioned street morons and their little worthless friends).

behindbj

[dawbs]

Brrrr.  I thought about that hunting part of it.  Is that scary or what, blending in with the bushes and shadows in the woods with all those other hunters out there? 

Hence the bright orange hat :-)

[MineralDiva]

Well I just got home from the party and had to tell you all what a BLAST it was!  Yes, several people commented on my outfit...and they were all complimentary, including the Scottish relatives! 

In fact, as with the pale green version of the same skirt, several of the ladies are going over to the dress shop where I bought it, to see about getting one to take back home with them!  LOL

Thanks everyone, for your honest opinions and great support!

[Peyton Fan]

What's funny is when I see someone wearing camouflage (some of which is very cute!) I don't always go straight to military. I more often think of hunting. It must be growing up in the rural parts of the South.

[Brentwood]

Well I just got home from the party and had to tell you all what a BLAST it was!  Yes, several people commented on my outfit...and they were all complimentary, including the Scottish relatives! 

In fact, as with the pale green version of the same skirt, several of the ladies are going over to the dress shop where I bought it, to see about getting one to take back home with them!  LOL

Thanks everyone, for your honest opinions and great support!

Now I really want to see a picture of that skirt!

[RuneGuardian]

I've always loved the camouflage pattern and was overjoyed to finally get myself a nice pair of flare-leg camouflage pants. I've never known anyone who would be offended by non-military individuals wearing it. Why should those in the military be the only ones to have the ability to wear camo? That's like saying only hospital employees should be allowed to wear scrubs.

I also found a real military-style hat at the local thrift store to match my pants. My boyfriend's father has the exact same hat with the same patch, and it happened to be the cap he wore when he was a captain. I have a feeling perhaps the hat I picked up belonged to someone who was deceased and whose family gave away the unwanted clothes because I don't think anyone who served would want to just give away their badge like that. Never gotten any flack from anyone for wearing it either.

[Sterling]

I never think of the military when I see Camo.  growing us in Mississippi camo was for hunting.  However I wear my grandfathers flight jacket from when he was in the airforce and my cousin still wears his dad's boots from when he served in vietnam.  He even had the bottoms resoled so he could continue to wear them.

i never thought of this as being disrespectful we did it because we were proud of them and in a way I guess we saw these items as family hierlooms.

[ehellion]

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. 

Just two more cents, coming from someone who has served in the military. I am not offended at people who wear camo. I used to wear my BDU pants with cute shirts many moons ago and my friends thought I was crazy (of course THAT was a no-no, as I was still in the service and we were only supposed to wear the pants for uniform only). Now all the kids are wearing camo and it cracks me up. I also don't take offense when people wear things with the American flag on it, though many people do. So wear your cute outfit and have fun with it.

[MineralDiva]

Thanks, ehellion.  I did!  And will do so again! 

[Brentwood]

 I also don't take offense when people wear things with the American flag on it, though many people do.

I do admit being offended by some uses of the American flag as clothing. I don't have a problem with the 4th of July style t-shirts from Old Navy, for example, that have the flag on the front, nor do I object to children's clothing that is clearly made with the intent of celebrating July 4th.

What bothers me is when people wear the flag on their rear ends as bikinis or underwear, or flags as bras or other similar use. The flag is a symbol that shouldn't be come so overly commercialized that it stops meaning anything, and it shouldn't be wrapped around someone's derriere.

I also don't like the car/truck flags that get ripped to shreds in the wind caused by the vehicle. To me, that doesn't follow flag protocol for proper display and care of a flag. My husband is an Eagle Scout, so I guess I'm sticky about some parts of flag use. We never display our flag at night, because we don't have proper lighting for it, and we aren't displaying our flag right now during the 30 days of half staff because we have no way to hang it half staff.

[MineralDiva]

Cathy, you bring up another one of my hot buttons:  Flag display etiquette.  It amazes me that so many people have really no idea how to properly display...or dispose of...the flag!

I agree with you on certain types of flag clothing being seen as patriotic...and others as highly disrespectful.

Yes, I have burned a flag.  It was looking somewhat ragged (though not torn to shreds, clearly non-flyable)...and it is not proper to just throw it away.

[Gwywnnydd]

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

I believe that's used for hunting. Deer don't see the orange, but people do. Reduces the chances of you getting shot by someone under the impression you 'were a deer in a red hat, perhaps. Maybe a large, flesh colored squirrel...'.

[emeraldsage85]

I'd never even heard of appropriateness for camouflage until I read this post! But I think you'll be fine if you wear it to the party. It's not like you're greeting them in a kilt.