Some days between school runs, meetings, appointments and errands, I could not be more thankful for a comfy but practical life proof uniform… (Of course, this wouldn’t be the Fashionable Housewife blog without doing it in style!)

Any mom will tell you how important it is to have a wardrobe that can keep up with the demands of her hectic mothering life. For this reason alone, ‘utility dressing’ should be your wardrobe’s new best friend. Military style has re-emerged on fashion catwalks this Fall!

We love military fashion for its shades of army green, durable fabrics, and tailoring designed to complement women’s bodies. It’s easy to enjoy the functional aspect of a military jacket that is super smart and on trend! Sure, you might not want to go full-on G.I. Jane with the look, but it’s easy to work in a bit of the style without compromising on femininity. Clothes designed with long-lasting durability and comfort in mind are perfect for taking on the challenges that everyday mom life throws at you. Here are some ideas on how a military-inspired fashion can work for you:

Step to It

Army boots are possibly one of the most obvious things we think about with military inspired fashion. Unfortunately, though, they’re not known for being the most elegant of footwear, conjuring up mental images of clunky leather monstrosities. Comfort-focused footwear manufacturer Aerosoles could not be further from this idea, taking the essential utility style (with chunky laces and textured sole) but with a chic makeover as demonstrated by this low heeled boot. Here, the military look has been teamed with a feminine silhouette that with just a pair of jeans can be worn rain or shine, day or night, dressy or casual (very practical) and will be comfortable no matter how much you run around in them.

Military Blazers

These versatile jackets are a great companion for any casual outfit and will take you from night to day. (The gold buttons will always give whatever you’re wearing a little dressed-up edge!). Zara has a great military blazer at the moment that’s the perfect lightweight military jacket to combat the awkward seasonal summer-into-fall temperature change. The blazer is slightly tailored to give it a feminine edge, just throw it on with jeans and a t-shirt for a no-fuss look at short notice – particularly useful for parent’s evenings and impromptu dinner plans!

Get Some Military Precision

In the military, units will synchronize watches to ensure they are completely on the same page, so that a plan can come together as expected. This is a great idea to adopt when juggling household affairs in everyday family life, so why not branch this military aesthetic to your partner? If your Significant Other has a birthday or milestone coming up (or you’re feeling particularly generous) military watch styles with durable wrist straps and faces make a very cool and practical gift idea. A basic utility style can be easily worn at work, while running errands, and even on downtime, so it’s a useful investment in the long-term. If you’re budget-conscious, you can have a look around for new and second-hand military watches to find the best deal.

Pockets Galore

One of the greatest things about utility clothing has got to be the pockets. Army clothing is of course designed with function in mind – it has to be tough enough to make sure whoever wears it will be as prepared as possible for all eventualities. If you’re always looking for somewhere to stash keys/cash/tissues/smartphone/raisins & juice boxes, then this is where military styles really hold their own while still looking pretty. H&M are selling are selling a great take on the style in jumpsuit form that will keep you cool on summer days while meeting all your on-the-go storage needs… so you have one less thing to worry about!

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