Bloody Red

[Guest]

Excuse me! Them is fighten words mon cher ami



The French wore red pants too!

M Alden

[Guest]

The French wore red pants too!

Actually, with certain exceptions the French 'pantalon rouge' only goes back to about 1830. The 'ancien regime' clothed its soldiers in off-white before the Revolution, and from then through the First Empire the 'National Guard' scheme of blue coats trimmed with red was worn with white trousers. About 1830 the French came into possession of Algeria, one of whose major commercial products was red madder dye. The story goes that the French government created a market by adopting red trousers for the line units of the army. (It should be noted that, like the British red coat, these were not universal. Units such as artillery and Chasseurs wore dark blue trousers, and I believe recruits wore white until completing training.)

The French continued to wear these things through 1914, when it became obvious that red trousers, long bayonets and guts were no match for German machine guns. In order to keep a bit of their traditional color the French developed 'horizon blue' (a light blue-gray color) and finished the First World War dressed in that. A khaki brown uniform was in use by WWII -- so in that sense the brown trouser comment is appropriate.

Hope this is of interest,

Jim Ruley

[Guest]

so... they moved moved from white to brown through a process of trial and obvious error!

[Guest]

I'm glad that my remark viz: French army trousers was taken in the spirit in which it was meant but apologies if anyone was offended by it. I'm afraid it's an old British Army joke similar to the one about Italy being the only army in the world with reversing lights on their tanks.

[Guest]

I'm afraid it's an old British Army joke similar to the one about Italy being the only army in the world with reversing lights on their tanks.

The way I heard that one was that Italian tanks have five speeds -- one forward and four reverse

Supposedly someone told this at a high-level NATO meeting and nearly broke up the alliance.

Apologies to our Italian contributors, who will no doubt think up a good one about Ohioans, or those whose ancestors came from West Virginia...

Regards,

Jim Ruley

[Guest]

The red coats in the British army have nothing to do with the colour of blood. Well, not so directly.

Though it is credibly suggested that they were retained as looking warlike, their origins are almost coincidental. In the First English Civil War, a Parliamentary regiment named the Eastern Association (as well as some others) wore red, they rose to prominence in the course of the war, and the New Model Army's attempts to introduce a uniform patterned it on the Associations red coats.

Although, it must be noted that many Royalists wore red also, mostly as it was a comparatively cheap dye to produce, I believe. Many regiments on both sides also wore a mid-blue.

[Guest]

"Mr Classic: Jeremy Hackett celebrates a great British tradition: red"


http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_q ... _n16772828


mark t m

[Guest]

!1. The forward gear on Italian tanks was for use on occasions when the enemy attacked from behind

2. I think red just conveys an attitude of "Devil may care". ..I'm rich and privileged etc etc

3. Yellow is the new red..at least for socks ..the late Duke of Devonshire wore them all the time....

4 I'm of partly Italian stock..(see 1. above)

[Guest]

Actually, yellow is very nice.

But when sitting in a business meeting, in lounge chairs, sans table, it is surprising how the foot is the center of attention of men facing each other.

So, unless you own the company, or are in a creative business, only the most conservative shoes and socks will be do.

Business is still conservative regardless one's inner dandy.

[Guest]

Hello, I've lurked but this is my 1st post.
An (otherwise) impeccably dressed elderly client of mine had a thing about red socks. I remembered this thread and recently asked his son if it had any meaning. He told me that it is a kind of secret signal between Public school (thats Private school in the US) Old Boys.
-Seems anyone can don an Old School Tie..
Oh, have I inadvertently given any fraudsters or conmen a future tip?

[Guest]

Hello, I've lurked but this is my 1st post.
An (otherwise) impeccably dressed elderly client of mine had a thing about red socks. I remembered this thread and recently asked his son if it had any meaning. He told me that it is a kind of secret signal between Public school (thats Private school in the US) Old Boys.
-Seems anyone can don an Old School Tie..
Oh, have I inadvertently given any fraudsters or conmen a future tip?

And anyone can wear red socks.

RJ

[Guest]

Hello, I've lurked but this is my 1st post.
An (otherwise) impeccably dressed elderly client of mine had a thing about red socks. I remembered this thread and recently asked his son if it had any meaning. He told me that it is a kind of secret signal between Public school (thats Private school in the US) Old Boys.
-Seems anyone can don an Old School Tie..
Oh, have I inadvertently given any fraudsters or conmen a future tip?

And anyone can wear red socks.

RJ

[Guest]

I hate this 'classism'. Clothes being (mis) used to imply a better, moneyed , exclusive group. Leave it to the Brits with their constant social striving.

I will never wear red socks again if that is the inadvertent message people may gather from wearing them.

Are there any other such signalers that I should know to avoid?

[Guest]

Hello, I've lurked but this is my 1st post.
An (otherwise) impeccably dressed elderly client of mine had a thing about red socks. I remembered this thread and recently asked his son if it had any meaning. He told me that it is a kind of secret signal between Public school (thats Private school in the US) Old Boys.
-Seems anyone can don an Old School Tie..
Oh, have I inadvertently given any fraudsters or conmen a future tip?

And anyone can wear red socks.

RJ

Yes, anyone can wear red socks..But the point is; how many people knew what it meant? Not many, judging by the previous answers on this thread.
And ok ok, Brits and their social climbing etc. But isn't that what sartorial dressing is all about? i.e. male competitiveness?

[Guest]

I
Are there any other such signalers that I should know to avoid?

Yes. Avoid wearing everything as everything has some hidden meaning to someone or another.

Clothes are the great silent communicator.