Vogue Magazine recently rated it’s 9 Notable Street Style Trends For 2022. Featured among this group are both men and women’s military styled apparel.
Today’s rural, baby boomer, Horry County residents have embraced military themed clothing since the 1970’s right into this decade. Patriotic apparel was also very popular during the mid 1940’s, both during and just after World War II.
CELEBRITY APPEAL
During World War II, American women made military apparel a fashion trend. Celebrity females who helped raise funds for war relief and the war effort included Dinah Shore, Tallulah Bankhead, Bette Davis, Lynn Fontaine, Helen Hayes, Katharine Hepburn, Hedy Lamarr, Gypsy Rose Lee, Ethel Merman, and the Andrews Sisters. These girls made military fashion the style of the day.
Clark Gable, Paul Newman, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Kirk Douglas, Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, among a host of others made military clothing fashionable while helping with the war effort as well.
James “Jimmy” Stewart was already an Academy Award-winning actor and civilian pilot with 400 logged flight hours when he first enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941.
Before the war, Stewart was known for his roles in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “It’s a Wonderful Life” and many other classic films.
Stewart initially served as a flight instructor. However, concerned that his celebrity status would hold him back from truly serving, the actor appealed directly to his superiors and was eventually deployed to England, where he served as the commanding officer of the 703d Bomb Squadron. He would later transfer to the 453rd Bombardment Group and flew a total of 20 dangerous combat missions in the B-24 Liberator bomber aircraft; for his actions, he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Cross medals and the French honor of the Croix de Guerre.
After WWII, even as he resumed his acting career, Stewart continued to serve in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, even deploying to Vietnam, and would retire at the rank of brigadier general, making him the highest-ranking actor in American military history.
FASHION BACK IN HIGH DEMAND
Military, patriotic-themed, clothing is now back in high demand. We are fortunate in Horry County as Myrtle Beach features a store that prints both women’s and men’s apparel locally.
56 Military Apparel offers patriotic themed T Shirts inspired by locals. This fashion sense has been timeless. It still is today.
FASHION FOR A CAUSE
22% of all purchases with 56 Military Apparel go to veteran’s causes that include the construction of tiny homes. Proceeds also go to causes like Stop Soldier Suicide.
From the streets of N.Y. City to the most rural areas of America, this brand offers a look unlikely to ever go out of style.