The Ottawa Citzen
September 17, 1998
Cool cargo: Fall into step with military styles
Uniformity has never been so versatile. Cargo, Army, Carpenter, Painter -- this season's utilitarian-inspired trousers are a mix of cutting-edge comfort and military style.
So if you're on a mission to update your wardrobe, look no further than the thrift store classics with a fashion-forward twist.
Cargo pants in classic army green and neutral shades like khaki and black have become a casual staple for men and women alike.
Pockets define the style. Cargo pants feature two large pockets on the outside of the thighs, complete with flaps that are as much for fashion as functionality.
Levi's six-pocket cargo has expandable deep side pockets that are big enough to hold a cell phone. And depending on what size you buy, Levi's suggests cargo pants can be worn as a regular or oversized fit, reflecting your individual style.
"Although cargo pants originated in the military, they now have a broader attraction, attitude and context," said Anastasia Giorgalis, development specialist of jeanswear bottoms for Levi Strauss and Co. (Canada) Inc.
"Today's popularity of the cargo pant is triggered by the need to combine fashion and function. Cargo pants have the capacity to express a broad range of personal statements -- classic and clean to sexy and hip or loose and relaxed. Cargo pants are the uniform to express individual style."
This fall, the Gap launched its new line of cotton twill pants in classic cargo, deep-pocketed army and drawstring variations. All styles fit loose in the seat and thighs and have a straight wide leg.
This relaxed, comfortable pant is easily worked into anyone's wardrobe, says Gap Canada spokeswoman Jane Shaw.
She says we can look forward to the same military styles in different fabrics, such as wool and corduroy, introduced later in the season.
But we won't have to wait to get the Gap's latest addition to the cargo craze, the cotton twill skirt, which comes in army green, khaki and black. The mid-thigh, double-pocketed cargo skirts sell for $48.
Fashion truly takes over when cargo crosses boundaries. Designer labels like blue jean detailing, producing hybrid styles ranging from $78-$110.
Even high-end designers like DKNY are getting in step with the military mood. A drawstring wool cargo pant in midnight blue sells for $235 at Holt Renfrews in the bigger centres.
