I’m A Real Frederick Zoller

I would have to say one of the better parts of living in the Northeast during the fall is being able to actually wear the latest fall fashion trends. (As any South Floridian will tell you, the heat and humidity linger most of the year. It’s not conducive to wearing nice boots, coats, etc.) This year, my favorite trend is easily military inspiration. It’s easy and casual, which appeals to my inner tomboy. Plus, I can see many of the items now in stores working for a safari style come summer.

Here are some sort of recent outfit shots featuring the military trend:

Striped Top- Material Girl (Macy’s); Shorts- Unionbay; Tights- Target; Boots- Target; Bag- Bueno; Wayfarers- Chinatown; Pendant- Borrowed.

I love this outfit! So far I only wore it when I was out and about in D.C. in early October. It was comfortable and stylish. I was a little nervous about wearing my olive green tights (I didn’t want to look like Peter Pan!), but I think they are a great alternative to skinny cargos. This is also an easy way to try the fall shorts trend- the key is to keep the shorts loose. The purple frames were worn to add some color. Hopefully I’ll get the courage to wear this outfit on campus, but with the dip in temperatures, it may have to wait for winter in Florida.


Button-down shirt- Self-Esteem; Striped Top (Underneath)- Material Girl; Jeans- Polo; Rosette Earrings- Colombian street vendor;  Fedora- Target.

Another really comfortable outfit! I layered my striped shirt (which I’m obsessed with) under my army green shirt to keep myself warm. I love the look and feel of this shirt, plus the color brings out the green in my eyes. I wanted to wear this with my gray skinnies, but they need to be washed, so just use your imagination. Oxfords (also seen here) complement the masculinity of this look, but once it gets colder I’m going to have to wear boots. I wore my favorite orange rosette earrings to add a colorful, girly detail to the outfit. Finally, the fedora is one more  fun accessory for today.

Military Trend #1

Striped Dress- Dorothy Perkins; Belted Jacket- Uniqlo; Patterned Tights- Betsy Johnson; Oxford Heels- Rocket Dog; Heart Pendant- ModCloth.

Start with a swingy striped dress in black and camel (one of the season’s trendiest shades). Pair it with an olive green jacket- I choose this belted one. Tan oxford heels add a preppy, masculine twist to the look. Add black patterned tights for extra warmth. Keep the accessories simple- I think this beautiful goldtone pendant would really complement the olive green.

Military Trend #2

Sweetheart Dress- ModCloth; Navy Jacket- Debenhams; Tights- Pret-A-Beaute; Boots- Target.

I don’t know why I created two outfits based on dresses- it was completely unintentional. I guess that just shows you how versatile the classic dress/jacket/tights canvas is. In a way, this look has more colors than the first: navy, cream, olive green, and black. However, these all act as neutrals so while the colors are daring, they shouldn’t be overwhelming. On top, navy and white are a great combo. The jacket’s buttons play up the military look (though I kind of wish they were brass). I love the simple shape and color of the dress combined with the girliness of the detail. To complete the look, slip into tights in olive green (the color always adds a military vibe) and comfortable knee-high boots.

What do you think? Are you a fan of the military trend? Will this convince to try to incorporate it more? Would you wear outfits similar to these? Let me know in the comments!

~ Sarah