Question: I work on a military base and every few months they put out a big cardboard bin, like the kind they ship and display watermelons in at the supermarket, for people to donate uniforms they don’t want anymore, and it always fills up within just a couple of hours (and then I spend the rest of the day explaining that it was full to people coming in every 5 minutes to ask where the uniform donation bin went). Why does everyone have so many extra uniforms?
I don’t have any military apparel, but I use my uncle’s old Army duffel as a laundry bag, and that’s gotten me mistaken for a veteran a time or two. I just say “No, it’s my uncle’s”, and move on.
Active duty soldiers have to buy their own uniforms from their clothing allowance. They might just be getting rid of worn uniforms. They do wear out. When you deploy they throw a bunch of uniforms at you for free. That’s how I got a bunch.
There are some countries in the world where it is illegal to wear clothing that has the appearance of being military. Tantamount to impersonating police in USA, I suppose. Africa there are some, but I can’t remember which ones. I was traveling in surplus Syrian military fatigues pants with nice cargo pockets, and this was brought to my attention, but I was pretty obviously not impersonating military so nobody made a fuss.
That’s surprising, because Charles in Charles is usually very accurate when it comes to most things.
I don’t know if there is an official US Navy peacoat that’s illegal to wear. But the peacoat is such a ubiquitous style (like the leather bomber jacket) that unless you are wearing white bellbottoms and Dixie Cup hat with it, you are at little risk of being mistaken for anything other than a guy who shops at J Crew.
I remember in the 80s and 90s, a lot of people wore olive drab Army surplus jackets like the M-65. Particularly if you wanted to look like a psycho.
Plus military uniforms tend to shrink. Mine sure did. Right around the belly mostly.
Back in your dad’s day there were real military surplus stores. Now military surplus goes to police (or the trash – wouldn’t want the enemy to get a hold of that high tech camo) and “surplus” stores mostly sell new civilian gear that looks like the real deal. And importing Chinese knockoff gear from companies trying to make a profit instead of buying genuine surplus from the government for dirt cheap has a big impact on prices.
I use to have a navy pea coat and I never was asked if I was in the navy . This was in the 60 and 70’s and I brought most of my winter clothes from a navy and army surplus store. It made better than crap that was made for women . I loved their turtlenecks , they so thick and lasted forever . You can’t buy decent clothes today !
I have an Old Navy peacoat that I love for semi-formal appearance. I was never in the Navy, no one has ever asked if I was and I’ve never considered any of the stuff in the OP.
It is just a good coat for 40-60 degree weather and I look good in it.
Yeah, the last time I went into one they had none of the cool old shit I remembered from my childhood and it felt a lot more like a military fetish store. That’s a real shame, I loved going to the Army surplus with my dad.
I love long old man coats (great coats, long pea coats) but not usually in military colours.
Some of my males friends wanted to buy my peacoat from me , it was a long one and great for the long hard New England winters . I gave it a guy when I moved to Ca. I wish I had kept it b/c when I lived in the mountain they had the worst winter in 35 years ! They didn’t get any snow for 35 years and I moved to Ca. to get away from snow! :smack: My peacoat would had come in handy.
Next time, do what I do. Yell, “INCOMING!!!”, and dive under a table.
I’ve got a real nice camo shirt/jacket that I wear when its cold outside. Nobody seems to notice it.
Speaking as a veteran, this is stolen valor. Wearing an unadorned peacoat, not so much.
A co-worker (or cow-orker) had a shirt with the name and emblem of the Los Angeles County Bomb Disposal Unit. He wasn’t ever a member, but his son-in-law was. Gift shirt. Cool.
I live close nearby a military surplus store, and get lots of good stuff there. I like button-fly black BDU trousers.
I was in a surplus store one time and they had those sweet Red Army wool trenchcoats for like 5 bucks. They felt so warm and comfortable I really wanted to get one, but the look is so unmistakable and I was afraid people would think I was making a political statement, so I passed.
Although I’ve been mistaken for a cop while wearing a raincoat from a surplus store, it never occurred to me that someone would think my surplus pea coat meant that I had been in the Navy. I was at Great Lakes Naval Training Center for a month but had to give up my coat when discharged; they let me keep my raincoat but it got stolen at the homeless shelter. Been trying to find a coat just like it ever since.
Been wearing a surplus M-65 as my winter coat for the last 25 years or so. I may look like a psycho to some but–particularly with the liner–damn I’m warm! Best $85 I ever spent.
In the UK, surplus German army parkas were a big thing among the alternative/raver/festival-goer/traveller/free party/basically-homeless types. They were cheap, durable and very warm, and available from any Army surplus store. Nowadays, they aren’t so cheap…