When you put together all these unusual items, you are left with one of the best military uniforms in the world....
BITS ‘N’ PIECES
The Royal Regiment of Scotland
The Royal Regiment of Scotland’s ceremonial dress uniform pulls out all the stops. Wearing a kilt itself is next level, and the kilt in Scotland has strong historical meaning. The kilt is symbolic of patriotism.
Also, the uniform also features a sporran, which is a pouch that hangs at the front of the kilt. The sporran, which is known as the Piper’s Sporran, uses white and black horsehair. Furthermore, each battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland has a different colour hackle, which is a hat. The hackles are incomplete without Blackcock feathers.
However, band members in the Royal Regiment of Scotland wear large plumed hats. When you put together all these unusual items, you are left with one of the best military uniforms in the world.
Napoleonic glory
Uniforms were at their most glorious during the Napoleonic era in Europe (1793–1815). Officers wore elegant tight-fitting uniforms with extravagant gold or silver braiding, multitudes of gold buttons, and polished leather. They were designed to allow the wearer to cut a fine figure regardless of any impracticalities. Such uniforms conveyed authority, status, power, and glamour, and provided impressive and alluring displays.
Regular soldiers wore less extravagant versions, but were still dressed in smart, tightly-fitting uniforms. Until the end of the 19th century, soldiers would parade and fight in the same uniform, even though it was often restrictive in battle. Posture and tight-fitting colourful clothing were the elements that distinguished a soldier.
The Evzones
The Greek Presidential Guard – also known as the Evzones – still wear the uniform of an elite Greek soldier from yesteryear. The outfit’s foustanella (the skirt-like item) has 400 folds, one for each year of Turkish occupation. Wearing a 100-year-old-plus military uniform, is weird when it is accompanied by an M1 Garand rifle.
The Spanish Legion
The Spanish Legion came about when the French handed over the French Foreign Legion when Queen Isabella took the throne. In 1835, the title changed to the Spanish Foreign Legion. The Spanish Foreign Legion spent time in North Africa during a rebellion, and there other military campaigns followed. Today, the Spanish Legion does more peacekeeping missions. Also, these uniforms have not changed a whole lot over the decades. The simple dress style includes a parade uniform with open lapels as well as hats with piping and tassels.
