Military

With Veterans Day falling this Sunday and the holidays soon to follow, I can't help but be reminded of the thousands of soldiers who keep our nation safe. While some of these courageous individuals will be spending the next few months on active duty, some will be coming home to loving families, including their adoring pets. There is a close relationship between dogs and the military: canines serve alongside soldiers overseas and provide comfort and support to veterans when they finish their last tours. But the crowning moment for a pooch is seeing his heroic pet parent walk through the front door.

Whether you and your pet have a brave soldier in your family or you're just honored to know that these women and men are protecting our great country, here's a sweet salute to all the soldiers and veterans and the dogs who love them.

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The military-inspired look isn't a fleeting trend, and we've got the Fall '12 runways to back us up. Instead of just erring on the side of traditional camouflage prints and surplus army parkas, there's a new breed of structural pieces that point to an updated take on utilitarian silhouettes and cavalry-influenced details. Victoria Beckham presented a strong olive-green-and-black palette that gave way to a particularly feminine crop of military-inspired sheaths — not your average cargo dress. Altuzarra put a luxe fur-trimmed spin on parkas and khaki pants, Jason Wu toughened up his vest selection with a military twist, and Burberry provided the perfect balance of equestrian meets old-school military. As with any heavily themed trend, the trick is never to go overboard — one piece per ensemble is always enough. Thus, we're looking to incorporate the coolest military trench coat into our off-duty wardrobe, juxtapose a camo-printed jean against our favorite striped tops, and so on. Click on for five outfits you'll want to wear right now.

Fall's military trend isn't unlike the actual military; it's an age-old tradition, expertly skilled, and ready for anything. From season to season, the utilitarian look can take on many forms — and between sharp, structured silhouettes, elaborate embellishments, and classic camouflage touches, designers definitely brought out the big guns for Fall 2012. The overall aesthetic was punctuated by crisp coats and capes with fitted trousers along with traditional military touches like epaulets, strong shoulders, and knee-high boots — all in a dark, moody color palette of khakis, blacks, and grays.

So, are you ready for battle? Click through for some runway-inspired examples of the military trend, then shop some pieces for your arsenal.

Prince William has been a busy boy during his birthday week! Ahead of turning 30 this Thursday, he's taken part in the Trooping the Colour and Order of the Garter ceremonies, hung out with a rhino, played in a charity polo match, and had some sweet moments paling around with his dog, Lupo.

With his various royal duties and regular Royal Air Force duty in Wales, it's clear the future King of England wants to be more to his country than a figurehead. And lucky for us, the Duke of Cambridge looks good doing it. See photos of Flight Lieutenant William Wales now.

Hundreds of US Navy seamen have arrived in the Big Apple for this year's Fleet Week. Throughout the year, active military ships dock at ports around the country, giving the sailors a chance to explore the city's attractions. As for the locals, they're treated to military demonstrations and a batch of cute young men, and women, walking around the streets in uniform. If the good-looking guys don't come to a city near you, we've got you covered. Take a look at Fleet Week's finest now.

With the Fall '12 collections fresh in our minds, it's hard not to love the resurgence of structured military-inspired silhouettes, utilitarian-style belts, and a whole new crop of cool olive-green pieces to soup up our wardrobe color palettes. Lucky for us, this "military moment" happens to fit right in with Spring's transitional styling MO. Looks straight from Topshop Unique, Balmain, and McQ Alexander McQueen runways have revamped the way we've been thinking about the army-heavy trend. Here's the deal: forget cargo pants and parachute tops, it's all about classic gold buttons à la Sgt. Pepper, clean lines, zipper detailing, slick leather add-ons, and two-tone paneling. For a military-chic look — that covers all the Spring '12 bases — take styling notes on Victoria Beckham's sleek dress with tough waist-belt cinching, Rachel McAdams's The Row sleek toggle-buckle overcoat, or Rooney Mara's edgy peplum-infused Givenchy jacket. For more military-inspired style inspiration and our editors' need-now picks, just keep clicking.