Military Style: The After 5 Edit

Another favorite from Theory - what can we say, they did a pretty group of olive styles this season- this army green and white dress is a wonderful dress to transition from late Summer to Fall. The a-line silhouette is so flattering, nipping in at the waist and flaring out around the hips in a contemporary fit that just skims the body and isn’t too slim. Nude lace-up heels or booties are the perfect finish, with a gold cuff bracelet.

Not only is navy one of our favorite things about nautical inspiration, but the epaulettes on this Joie silk blouse give you just a touch of flare that we love to step up this simple silhouette for a night out. And it’s actually a stylish little trick to bring the eye up and create the illusion of a longer silhouette. The split neckline works on women of all bust sizes, and looks great under a blazer or on its own. Tuck it into jeans or dress trousers for a night out. Tip: Navy looks endlessly chic with black, so if you’re not sure what colors work with this top, you won’t go wrong starting there.

This casual James Perse dress is ideal for an easy night out with friends and family. At a glance, this looks like a simple knit dress – and high quality, contemporary fitting knits are what James Perse is known for, so they’re one of our favorite resources for them. But click through the ‘shop it’ button to check out the back view. And this is what makes it an amazing find. It has an elastic detail at the waist, so the top of the dress can effortlessly blouse for an effect that does amazing things for your behind and hips. It breaks up the lines of the dress and you can still add a belt for even further waist definition (which we love if you are curvier). The dropped shoulders give the dress a relaxed shape, so it’s not clingy. It all comes together for a knit dress that is really made for a lady. Wear it with simple flats or sandals now, and add your favorite pull-on or lace up boots later. We love the cypress green color, since it doesn’t have too much yellow in it so it works on most skin tones.

Many ladies have plenty of go-to black tops for a night out, and the deep green (called Camo through the ‘shop it’ button) of J Brand’s contemporary skinny jeans is a stylish alternative to dark denim or black pants. The fabric is a super soft (really, super soft) twill that has a sateen finish to give them a bit of a dressed up feel. The rich, deep green hints at color but is dark enough to remain super slimming. They have great stretch to them, with a mid-rise that hits at the right spot just below your belly button and faux front pockets – another great trick to ensure a sleek line and no added bulk.

Free People is known for their bohemian feel and drapey styles, and this army green open jacket is amazing for ladies of all ages. Whether you wear it with jeans and a tee, over a sleek black outfit, or even over a floral dress, it will instantly add just the right sartorial finish for a night out (and you’ll wear it all weekend long, really). The mix of fabrics give it so much visual interest, with a cascading lapel that has a raw edge and offsets the more structured motorcycle style, giving it a feminine and versatile feel. The body of this jacket is made of coated stretch cotton, so you get just a touch of sheen – not as serious as a leather jacket, but just as cool looking.

Joie’s playful interpretation of military doesn’t get any more ladylike - or cool. We absolutely adore the camouflage print in this strappy sandal. It is actually a very subtle touch, since the shoes are so light and feminine. With a pair of jeans – boyfriends rolled up, a new pair of flares, or a cropped skinny – you’ve instantly modernized your look, and created a perfect mix of sexy and tough edge.

As opposed to the strappy camouflage heels featured above, J.Crew’s ladylike use of green (called ‘fresh parsley’ on J.Crew’s website) is all about timeless sophistication – and just as updated and modern looking. The suede d’orsay - that’s a shoe with an open vamp in the middle of the shoe – is really sexy on the foot. The pointed toe looks great peaking out from under wide leg pants or flare jeans, but they’re so pretty you’ll probably want to show them off with skinny pants or a skirt or dress. Besides denim, this color looks beautiful as a pop against camel, brown, grey, or black.

Rebecca Minkoff’s quilted bags are best sellers, and this new rich forest green is simply gorgeous for the season ahead. It’s dark so it doesn’t read as “color”, making it easy to wear with deep jewel tones and any neutral. The crossbody silhouette is great for a night out, especially if you’ll be mingling and walking around, since your hands will be free. It’s big enough to hold all your essentials, and the leather is soft and high quality.