How To Style: Fatigues
If you were to ask us, we’d probably tell you that fatigues, olive fatigues in particular, are the perfect alternative to denim. We wear them year-round. And much like denim, the fatigue pant is one of those styles that despite trending in the moment has remained a timeless style for upwards of 50 years. In more recent years, there’s become a high demand for vintage OG-107s (standard army issue fatigue pant from 1952 to 1989), especially as Gen-Z and TikTok fashion influencers have latched onto various vintage styles and American army surplus. However, vintage fatigues were made as simply as possible in order to be mass-produced, and while we don’t deny that there are plenty of well-made pairs floating around the second-hand market, the fit and material used on many of these original pairs often leave something to be desired. While there is a certain appeal to tracking down that perfect pair of vintage fatigue pants, in our opinion, the orSlow reproductions beat the real thing. While many fashion circles have been rejecting skinny fits, fortunately orSlow offers many of their styles in an expertly tailored slim cut if the more traditional standard cut is not your cup of tea. orSlow has done their fatigue in a variety of fabrics over the years, but the Olive Reverse Sateen is the fan favorite and for good reason. The fabric that orSlow sourced is as good, if not better, than the original, and it only gets better with wear.
SLIM vs. STANDARD fit - which is right for me?
While Ryan is partial to the the fit of the standard fatigue, both pants fit his frame well. Ryan is 5'9" and ~140 lbs and wears the size 1 in both. Usually he does not use the tabbed side adjusters, but over the years that he's had these pants his waist size has fluctuated slightly and he's been able to use them to dial in the fit as needed - can't do that with denim! If you're on the fence about sizing, going up a size and using the adjusters works well and can give you a little extra room down the leg, too. Note that both pairs worn above are from Ryan's personal wardrobe and show signs of wear accordingly. The slims have been worn on and off for 6 years and regulars for 3. Having both pairs allows Ryan to pick the right pair to complement the proportions of the rest of his outfit. In general though both pairs are so well-tailored that they are practically interchangeable - we think choosing based on your personal preference is best - but if you really can't decide we wouldn't blame you for having a pair of both.
Styling military-style fatigues
Being the huge fan of the fatigue style and orSlow that he is, we asked Ryan to put together a few different looks styling his standard fatigue pants with other pieces from the shop and tell us a little about them.
Look 1:
The word versatile is a fashion cliché I tire of, but I really do believe that olive fatigues are as versatile as your most-worn denim pants, if not more so. You can get away with wearing them in situations where denim may not be considered appropriate. Here I opted for a casual, but smarter look - a button down shirt, cardigan, and a fun pair of shoes is a combination of garments that most people own and could pull together. In this case, I grabbed the Dehen 1920 Classic Cardigan and paired it with the 3sixteen Khadi Block Shirt. For that touch of fun, I thought my personal Clarks Original x WuTang Wallabees fit the bill here. While this is an outfit I'd ultimately wear for just about anything, it's also something that I felt I could get away with in any business-casual environment or for attending an event with some expectations towards a dress-code.
Look 2:
If you're the kind of person that feels uncomfortable when you're not wearing denim, why not try flipping the script? Fatigues pair great with denim jackets. I often opt for a monotone color-palette, sometimes with a single contrasting piece to break it all up. In this case, I grabbed the Striped Olive Linen shirt from 3sixteen, which on its own isn't too dissimilar to the pants, but paired with the Iron Heart Denim Type II to add some contrast. I pulled it together with a pair of boots to add that rugged flair, and a bucket hat to round out the proportions from head to toe. I think most would agree that olive and indigo are two of the best paired colors that we typically find in our wardrobe, so it's pretty easy to find a denim layer that pairs well with fatigues.
Look 3:
Over the last handful of years I've gotten away from many of the heritage inspired styles that initially sparked my interest in clothing and style. Fatigues work just as well in simple, understated looks as they do in looks with a lot more going on. However, I find that more often than not I just want to be comfortable in what I'm wearing. That's not to say that the previous looks are uncomfortable, but there is something more relaxing about the simplicity of only wearing a loose shirt with some roomy pants. It also takes the complexity out of getting dressed! Here I grabbed the Jackman Rib Long Sleeve, a Knickerbocker Beanie, and my Novesta Star Masters. Unlike the previous look, the fatigues in this fit are actually the contrasting piece. You could accomplish this yourself with any combination of basics in the same color. I think neutrals work best.
Feeling inspired?
We’ve curated a short fatigue-inspired Spotify playlist for you to toss on while you’re crafting your new favorite outfit. Stoked on a look you’ve put together with pieces from the shop? Give us a tag on Instagram and let us know! #jamesdant