History and High Heels: Army Green & Red Poppies

Every year on November 11 nations around the world honor their veterans with celebrations, parades, and ceremonies. In England today is known as Remembrance Day. The people wear little poppy flowers on their breast pocket and the vibrant red flowers fill the streets with a bright glow, just matching the falling autumn leaves. Here in the United States, red, white, and blue flags are raised as military personnel dressed in crisp uniforms mingle amongst the crowds. Despite the rain, today is a beautiful day that celebrates heroes who fought and died in defense of our freedom and above all I am grateful.

image from here

This date was chosen because it is the day that the World War I armistice was signed in 1918. It was on the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month that hostilities ceased and peace spread over Europe. The Great War was the war to end all wars where we saw the horrific atrocities that came with the modernization of warfare. From the trenches in France and Belgium the men fought to stop the spread of the German armies. The Allied line spread to Russia where the poor armies labored alongside the townsfolk to delay the German onslaught until winter could effectively defeat Operation Barbarossa. With the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, hope returned to the Allied peoples and a pervasive wish filled their hearts that no similar war would be fought again.

Today’s post is inspired by Blaire Eadie’s blog Atlantic-Pacific and her use of the army jacket. This easy olive colored cotton outerwear is a favorite for this fall season. It is one of those pieces that goes well with nearly everything. Below are a few ideas for what to pair this with. Add some character to a feminine outfit by adding this masculine piece and a belt for waist definition. Try it with a leather skirt or leggings for a more rock & roll, tough chick look. The mix of the jacket with striped clothing instantly makes the outfit chic. Neon is still a popular trend and the contrast between the olive hue and vibrant color balances out perfectly. Since cabin sweaters are a staple for the fall and winter season, pair one with the army jacket for another layer against the chilly wind. Want to dress it up a bit? Add a chambray shirt to any of these outfit ideas and they are instantly work-worthy!