Armor and Fashion

[ewiggi2]

A hearty hello to the Style Forum!

I'm a recently graduated art student with a particular interest in European armor. I have this crazy idea to attempt to re-stylize and reintroduce armor into our modern world and figure that the best way to go about it is through the fashion industry.

Herein lies my dilemma: I am particularly comfortable with armor but am completely clueless about fashion. I have absolutely no understanding of what is currently considered stylish, and other than a couple of "big names" that I'm told are highly regarded, I have no idea where to start learning.

The initial connection I'm trying to make is between the suit of armor and the modern business suit, so maybe that's the place to start. What does the stylish modern man look for in a suit? What shapes or lines are considered desirable? Is there a particular length of jacket, sleeve, and/or pant that is considered proper?

If it would help, I can throw up a couple of pictures of the one jacket I've put together...

Thanks for your input and any direction you gentlemen can provide. I'm sure with a little time in these forums and a lot of research on my part, I can get the answers I need.

Bryan

 

[acidboy]

But how can I get in and out of my car with my armor on?

 

[Flambeur]

IMHO motorcycle gear = modern armor.

 

[magogian12345]

Originally Posted by ewiggi2

A hearty hello to the Style Forum!

I'm a recently graduated art student with a particular interest in European armor. I have this crazy idea to attempt to re-stylize and reintroduce armor into our modern world and figure that the best way to go about it is through the fashion industry.

Herein lies my dilemma: I am particularly comfortable with armor but am completely clueless about fashion. I have absolutely no understanding of what is currently considered stylish, and other than a couple of "big names" that I'm told are highly regarded, I have no idea where to start learning.

The initial connection I'm trying to make is between the suit of armor and the modern business suit, so maybe that's the place to start. What does the stylish modern man look for in a suit? What shapes or lines are considered desirable? Is there a particular length of jacket, sleeve, and/or pant that is considered proper?

If it would help, I can throw up a couple of pictures of the one jacket I've put together...

Thanks for your input and any direction you gentlemen can provide. I'm sure with a little time in these forums and a lot of research on my part, I can get the answers I need.

Bryan

I'd like to see chainmail that I can wear under a suit jacket.

 

[dsmolken]

Originally Posted by ewiggi2

If it would help, I can throw up a couple of pictures of the one jacket I've put together...
I'm curious what this is like.

For what is considered desirable and proper, look through the "what are you wearing right now" thread at the top. See what gets criticized for being too long or too short.

 

[j]

Yeah, we'll need pics.

I've contemplated, though not with any serious intent, making hardened leather scale mail or something out of hard leather like the armor from Bram Stoker's Dracula that I could wear while riding. (Motorcycles) It could look awesome (though weird) but would be pretty ridiculous and expensive.

I can't see how you can merge the business suit and armor but I could see how you could merge armor with "streetwear"/fashion type clothing, and honestly I'm surprised it hasn't been done (that I've seen). For example a thin-ish wool sweater or a jacket with formed semi rigid leather plates over the shoulders and forearms, etc. I could see that on the runway easily. I wouldn't buy it, or wear it, but I could see a designer bothering to do that. And honestly it would look less dumb than a lot of things I've seen.

 

[Chouse]

I want a chainmail armor cut like a business suit and a metal tie that can somehow be used as a blade. From a distance it would probably look like a stylish gray-on-gray "North by Northwest"-like outfit and it would give me extra confidence during those tricky meetings because if all else fails I could still challenge my boss to a medieval duel

 

[JRPate]

How would you retain the shape of a jacket made of chainmail?

 

[ysc]

Well obviously it would have to be fully canvassed. You don't want to get your chain mail RTW anyway, you should go bespoke.

 

[dibadiba]

I think this has already been done http://gizmodo.com/384643/body-armor...-security-suit

 

[ewiggi2]

Wow, thanks for all of the replies! Actually what I'm going for is full plate, not simply mail. I'm still working out design and materials, but what I've got in mind right now is a hardened 6000 series aluminum. That should provide enough durability while also being light. These wouldn't be day to day garments. More for events or special occasions. My plan is to try to get them on the runway and see if I can get them to trickle down into the consumer market. I've only made one hurriedly constructed prototype so far, and it is way more armor than it is style or fashion. I have a very long way to go with improving the concept, so please keep that in mind. The biggest flaw in this one I think is that it isn't really tailored at all. The shoulders are HUGE and the sleeves are practically perfect tubes. A slim tailored arm and a tighter shoulder would go a long way to improving the look I think. Anyways, here are some links to pics. I didn't want to hard link them in my post for fear that folks would just glance at the pics and not read about the jacket being an initial, very flawed prototype. Some shots of it in the gallery. Some shots of it during construction. And a shot of me in it. (I'm obviously not a very fashionable guy

) Thanks very much for any comments or constructive criticism. Bryan

 

[Cary Grant]

Glennie and Wiggie...

Wait for it...

 

[dkzzzz]

There is no roll on lapels and button stance is not flattering.

 

[Bhowie]

Can we merge this with the LARP'ing thread?

 

[Eagle]

Regardless of any sartorial considerations, it would definitely complicate processing through security screening at the airports!