Epaulette is part of a military uniform 18th and 19th century, and today a fashion accessory

Epaulette - this is an unusual accessory, worn on the shoulder. Until the 20th century, it was part of a military uniform, but then it began to wear in everyday life as an ornament for casual wear. Today epaulettes worn by officers of certain military organizations in ceremonial uniform, and girls complement them their outfits to make them more interesting.

What's epaulettes

The Word "epaulette" was first used in historical documents in the late 18th century. It comes from the French "épaulettes", which in Russian translates as "hanger". Initially, this accessory was part of the knightly armour was made of metal and used to protect the shoulders. With the invention of firearms, metal armor became useless, and epaulettes were to perform only a decorative function.

This accessory is a rectangle, decorated with ornaments, rounded on one side and trimmed with fringe. Epaulettes secured on the shoulder of his uniform buttons, laces, hooks or belts. Different patterns, shape and length of the fringe corresponded to a certain military rank, as modern epaulettes at that time not yet invented.

Epaulettes as part of a military uniform

In the 19th century epaulettes worn by British and French officers to indicate rank, and then they were used in the armies of other countries: USA, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Russia. The rank of an officer could be determined by which shoulder he wore the epaulette: on the right, left or both. Later those soldiers who wore only one shoulder strap, obliged to wear and the second on the opposite shoulder, but without the fringe.

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Epaulettes for officers was made of gold and silver for sergeants and ordinary soldiers used fabric of different colors.

Bright shoulders were visible from a distance and allowed the soldiers to identify their commanders in the heat of battle. Some troops wore only one epaulette on the right shoulder, in the other only the left, and in others on both shoulders.

The British military discovered that this sign not only helps his soldiers to see the officers, but the enemy snipers. When it became apparent that the arrows of the enemy purposefully kill officers because their epaulettes - it is an easy target, the British armed forces removed from their uniforms and replaced with a more secure shoulder straps. Soon did the same and the U.S. military.

Currently, decorative epaulettes are used as part of a ceremonial military uniforms in some countries.

Epaulets in Russia

This item is a military uniform appeared around the end of the 17th century. At first it looked like a loop of fabric or leather, attached to the shoulder, and serve as a limiter for a belt pouch: kept him from slipping. These "epaulets" was part of the ordinary form, as officers did not wear guns, and pouches with cartridges they were useless.

Insignia and decorations were completely absent. In the first half of the 19th century epaulettes began to put the ornament, which meet certain military rank.

The epaulettes are different from epaulet

In the mid-19th century, almost all the armies of Europe and America in gold or silver epaulettes began to remove from military uniforms, before the 1st world war, they completely replaced the straps. Although these two elements of the army outfit similar to each other, between them there are a few differences.

The shoulder Straps are made in the shape of a rectangle, they are usually made of cloth or of heavy foundations, covered with a cloth. On the upper side sewn insignia: insignias, stars. Epaulette is a rectangle, rounded on one side. Around the perimeter or just along the edge of the fringe is fixed on Apollo, which serves as the identifier of military rank. On the shoulder straps fringe is missing.

Epaulettes women's clothes

More than two hundred years served as epaulettes fashion accessory for women's outfits. When the country is at war, the men put on the uniform and go to the front and women stay at home. At such times, ladies frequently use the design elements of army uniforms when creating dresses and other garments. Details such as gold trim or large brass buttons, help to recreate the military style, and women wearing officer's epaulets for the same reason - to give the outfits a trendy military mood. Even the famous designers use this element in their collections. Epaulette is a way to make the female silhouette more clear, taut and strong, to give him strength and even a certain arrogance.

Today epaulettes carry only a decorative function, but once played an important role in the lives of people who went to war and those who were under their leadership. Luxurious gold fringe was a badge of distinction, demonstrated the high status of the owner and was admired by both military and civilian. Many militaries still use the epaulettes during the festive parades, and women love to decorate their fashionable dresses.