Cara/Andrea here,
In historical romance, most of us authors love swathing our heroines in silks and satins. We pore over vintage prints from La Belle Assemblee, studying sleeve shapes, sashes, bodices and furbelows. We peer at the tiny details like buttons and ribbons, sarcenet and lace, gold-threaded embroidery and delicate seed pearls. 
Then, of course, there are bonnets, reticles and pelisses . . .
The details add wonderful color and texture to our characters. Which got me to thinking about our heroes. They tend to be more understated—biscuit-colored breeches, navy superfine coats, snowy white cravats, dark Hessians, polished to a mirror shine . . . Unless, they are military men.
For a just-finished manuscript, I was looking at the Sir Thomas Lawrence paintings of Wellington and Charles Stewart, and taking careful note of the glorious finery of the fancy dress officers. Gold braid, epaulettes, crested buttons, starburst medals and intricate patches fashioned out of precious metals and gems—some of the regalia puts the most elaborate ballgowns to blush. Which got me to thinking about uniforms, and a bit of research turned up the sort of obscure and fun facts that always tickle my fancy.
Firmin and Sons, established in 1665 by Thomas Firmin, (its mention in records of the Company of Girdlers survived the Great Fire of London in 1666.) has been an integral element of British military uniforms since its inception. In the early 1700s, the company was supplying their wares to the Royal family, and received the first Royal warrant for buttons from King George III in 1796—by which time it had become the leading maker of buttons, badges and medals for military and court uniforms.
Nelson sailed into the Battle of Trafalgar wearing a Firmin-tailored coat and the company’s finery on his breast. (He refused to wear a plain coat and it’s speculated that the sharpshooters aimed at him because of all the glitter.) Firmin accouterments also saw action at such epic clashes as 
the Battle of the Nile and Waterloo. The American military also looked to the London company for a touch of flash—both the Union and Confederate forces sported their buttons during the Civil War.
The grand tradition continues to this day. In 2006, the venerable company joined forces with Kashket and Partners, a legendary maker of full uniforms, to form the Kashket Group. Together they manufacture some of the most prestigious military and state ceremonial regalia in the world. The Queen’s birthday celebration showcases many of their creations—the Household cavalry troops the colors wearing their handmade cuirasses, horse furniture, saddles and shabraques.
It was the Kashket Group who was chosen to design and fabricate 2000 special uniforms for the Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Strict secrecy shrouded the preparations. As was his Princely prerogative, William has some custom requests for his clothing—he was worried that the bright TV lights in Westminster Abbey might be so hot that he would pass out during the ceremony, so Russell 
Kashket created a special uniform made of high tech heat-absorbing material. (Prince Harry’s ensemble featured a hidden velco pocket in his fancy cuff so he wouldn’t lose the wedding ring when waving to the crowd as he entered the church.)
More than 350 of the Kashket staff in north London crafted the outfits, which also included the gold state coats of the drum majors, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment dress, and the uniforms for all five Footguards regiments.
So that’s my recent discovery of a historical tidbit. I love learning esoteric information like this, just for the fun of it. What about you? And does a man in military plumage make your heart flutter? (I can see why all the young girls in Pride and Prejudice were all thrilled that the regiment was stationed nearby!)
My friends always get misty-eyed at the Pentagon with soldiers, sailors, and marines wearing different uniforms. There’s the camouflage battle uniforms known as BDUs, class B, and class A. (There’s other ways (more correct ways?) to refer to these; it depends on the age of the military person and their branch of service.) The class A’s are a restrained version of the uniforms pictured above, with features retained as homage to the military’s past.
While the military receive medals, they also get ribbons for various assignments, missions, or operations which are worn with Class B uniform. These have to be arranged in order. Another service member can take a look at another person wearing his/her ribbons and know where s/he’s served.
As for the battle dress uniform, it has a couple of nifty features, including a light that can be used in some cases to passively signal one’s location.
When I mentioned to some guys (all civilians who previously served in the military) that I was going to post on this, they got laughing. One of them directed me to a site about making the uniforms more comfortable to wear in hot climates. Yes, there’s a suggestion that one should not wear underwear in order to prevent fungal infections. Another directed me to an article that discussed research into uniforms that will mask a soldier’s infrared signature, a complete departure from Nelson’s philosophy.
My friends always get misty-eyed at the Pentagon with soldiers, sailors, and marines wearing different uniforms. There’s the camouflage battle uniforms known as BDUs, class B, and class A. (There’s other ways (more correct ways?) to refer to these; it depends on the age of the military person and their branch of service.) The class A’s are a restrained version of the uniforms pictured above, with features retained as homage to the military’s past.
While the military receive medals, they also get ribbons for various assignments, missions, or operations which are worn with Class B uniform. These have to be arranged in order. Another service member can take a look at another person wearing his/her ribbons and know where s/he’s served.
As for the battle dress uniform, it has a couple of nifty features, including a light that can be used in some cases to passively signal one’s location.
When I mentioned to some guys (all civilians who previously served in the military) that I was going to post on this, they got laughing. One of them directed me to a site about making the uniforms more comfortable to wear in hot climates. Yes, there’s a suggestion that one should not wear underwear in order to prevent fungal infections. Another directed me to an article that discussed research into uniforms that will mask a soldier’s infrared signature, a complete departure from Nelson’s philosophy.
My friends always get misty-eyed at the Pentagon with soldiers, sailors, and marines wearing different uniforms. There’s the camouflage battle uniforms known as BDUs, class B, and class A. (There’s other ways (more correct ways?) to refer to these; it depends on the age of the military person and their branch of service.) The class A’s are a restrained version of the uniforms pictured above, with features retained as homage to the military’s past.
While the military receive medals, they also get ribbons for various assignments, missions, or operations which are worn with Class B uniform. These have to be arranged in order. Another service member can take a look at another person wearing his/her ribbons and know where s/he’s served.
As for the battle dress uniform, it has a couple of nifty features, including a light that can be used in some cases to passively signal one’s location.
When I mentioned to some guys (all civilians who previously served in the military) that I was going to post on this, they got laughing. One of them directed me to a site about making the uniforms more comfortable to wear in hot climates. Yes, there’s a suggestion that one should not wear underwear in order to prevent fungal infections. Another directed me to an article that discussed research into uniforms that will mask a soldier’s infrared signature, a complete departure from Nelson’s philosophy.
My friends always get misty-eyed at the Pentagon with soldiers, sailors, and marines wearing different uniforms. There’s the camouflage battle uniforms known as BDUs, class B, and class A. (There’s other ways (more correct ways?) to refer to these; it depends on the age of the military person and their branch of service.) The class A’s are a restrained version of the uniforms pictured above, with features retained as homage to the military’s past.
While the military receive medals, they also get ribbons for various assignments, missions, or operations which are worn with Class B uniform. These have to be arranged in order. Another service member can take a look at another person wearing his/her ribbons and know where s/he’s served.
As for the battle dress uniform, it has a couple of nifty features, including a light that can be used in some cases to passively signal one’s location.
When I mentioned to some guys (all civilians who previously served in the military) that I was going to post on this, they got laughing. One of them directed me to a site about making the uniforms more comfortable to wear in hot climates. Yes, there’s a suggestion that one should not wear underwear in order to prevent fungal infections. Another directed me to an article that discussed research into uniforms that will mask a soldier’s infrared signature, a complete departure from Nelson’s philosophy.
My friends always get misty-eyed at the Pentagon with soldiers, sailors, and marines wearing different uniforms. There’s the camouflage battle uniforms known as BDUs, class B, and class A. (There’s other ways (more correct ways?) to refer to these; it depends on the age of the military person and their branch of service.) The class A’s are a restrained version of the uniforms pictured above, with features retained as homage to the military’s past.
While the military receive medals, they also get ribbons for various assignments, missions, or operations which are worn with Class B uniform. These have to be arranged in order. Another service member can take a look at another person wearing his/her ribbons and know where s/he’s served.
As for the battle dress uniform, it has a couple of nifty features, including a light that can be used in some cases to passively signal one’s location.
When I mentioned to some guys (all civilians who previously served in the military) that I was going to post on this, they got laughing. One of them directed me to a site about making the uniforms more comfortable to wear in hot climates. Yes, there’s a suggestion that one should not wear underwear in order to prevent fungal infections. Another directed me to an article that discussed research into uniforms that will mask a soldier’s infrared signature, a complete departure from Nelson’s philosophy.
Love the uniform update, Shannon! Nelson probably wasn’t too concerned about infrared, but those fungal infections… What a thing to have to think about in uniforms!
Love the uniform update, Shannon! Nelson probably wasn’t too concerned about infrared, but those fungal infections… What a thing to have to think about in uniforms!
Love the uniform update, Shannon! Nelson probably wasn’t too concerned about infrared, but those fungal infections… What a thing to have to think about in uniforms!
Love the uniform update, Shannon! Nelson probably wasn’t too concerned about infrared, but those fungal infections… What a thing to have to think about in uniforms!
Love the uniform update, Shannon! Nelson probably wasn’t too concerned about infrared, but those fungal infections… What a thing to have to think about in uniforms!
Fabulous post! Uniforms really don’t turn me on as much as a good Beau Brummel elegant frock coat and stock, but I love the details.
Fabulous post! Uniforms really don’t turn me on as much as a good Beau Brummel elegant frock coat and stock, but I love the details.
Fabulous post! Uniforms really don’t turn me on as much as a good Beau Brummel elegant frock coat and stock, but I love the details.
Fabulous post! Uniforms really don’t turn me on as much as a good Beau Brummel elegant frock coat and stock, but I love the details.
Fabulous post! Uniforms really don’t turn me on as much as a good Beau Brummel elegant frock coat and stock, but I love the details.
Thanks so much for the modern update, Shannon. So fascinating! I have a feeling Nelson and Wellington weren’t as concerned with the practicalities of their uniforms as todays’s commanders. (I won’t ask whether they wore “small clothes” in hot climes!)
Thanks so much for the modern update, Shannon. So fascinating! I have a feeling Nelson and Wellington weren’t as concerned with the practicalities of their uniforms as todays’s commanders. (I won’t ask whether they wore “small clothes” in hot climes!)
Thanks so much for the modern update, Shannon. So fascinating! I have a feeling Nelson and Wellington weren’t as concerned with the practicalities of their uniforms as todays’s commanders. (I won’t ask whether they wore “small clothes” in hot climes!)
Thanks so much for the modern update, Shannon. So fascinating! I have a feeling Nelson and Wellington weren’t as concerned with the practicalities of their uniforms as todays’s commanders. (I won’t ask whether they wore “small clothes” in hot climes!)
Thanks so much for the modern update, Shannon. So fascinating! I have a feeling Nelson and Wellington weren’t as concerned with the practicalities of their uniforms as todays’s commanders. (I won’t ask whether they wore “small clothes” in hot climes!)
Pat, there is definitely something very appealing about an elegantly tied cravat, but the gold braid and looping cording and details of a dress uniform really are quite magnificent in Regency paintings.
Pat, there is definitely something very appealing about an elegantly tied cravat, but the gold braid and looping cording and details of a dress uniform really are quite magnificent in Regency paintings.
Pat, there is definitely something very appealing about an elegantly tied cravat, but the gold braid and looping cording and details of a dress uniform really are quite magnificent in Regency paintings.
Pat, there is definitely something very appealing about an elegantly tied cravat, but the gold braid and looping cording and details of a dress uniform really are quite magnificent in Regency paintings.
Pat, there is definitely something very appealing about an elegantly tied cravat, but the gold braid and looping cording and details of a dress uniform really are quite magnificent in Regency paintings.
Great blog, Andrea. Uniforms per se don’t turn me on, but I do like a man in color, so in the Regency they definitely brighten the scene.
Great blog, Andrea. Uniforms per se don’t turn me on, but I do like a man in color, so in the Regency they definitely brighten the scene.
Great blog, Andrea. Uniforms per se don’t turn me on, but I do like a man in color, so in the Regency they definitely brighten the scene.
Great blog, Andrea. Uniforms per se don’t turn me on, but I do like a man in color, so in the Regency they definitely brighten the scene.
Great blog, Andrea. Uniforms per se don’t turn me on, but I do like a man in color, so in the Regency they definitely brighten the scene.
I love the pictures. Here is an article from BBC about the great trench coat and how it has been adopted to civilian and female wear. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-29033055
I love the pictures. Here is an article from BBC about the great trench coat and how it has been adopted to civilian and female wear. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-29033055
I love the pictures. Here is an article from BBC about the great trench coat and how it has been adopted to civilian and female wear. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-29033055
I love the pictures. Here is an article from BBC about the great trench coat and how it has been adopted to civilian and female wear. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-29033055
I love the pictures. Here is an article from BBC about the great trench coat and how it has been adopted to civilian and female wear. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-29033055
Thanks, Jo. I’m fascinated by the gold braid, epaulettes and embroidered badges, which are the male equivalent of the jewelry that we ladies love. (Men like bling too, no matter how much they deny it!)
Thanks, Jo. I’m fascinated by the gold braid, epaulettes and embroidered badges, which are the male equivalent of the jewelry that we ladies love. (Men like bling too, no matter how much they deny it!)
Thanks, Jo. I’m fascinated by the gold braid, epaulettes and embroidered badges, which are the male equivalent of the jewelry that we ladies love. (Men like bling too, no matter how much they deny it!)
Thanks, Jo. I’m fascinated by the gold braid, epaulettes and embroidered badges, which are the male equivalent of the jewelry that we ladies love. (Men like bling too, no matter how much they deny it!)
Thanks, Jo. I’m fascinated by the gold braid, epaulettes and embroidered badges, which are the male equivalent of the jewelry that we ladies love. (Men like bling too, no matter how much they deny it!)
Thank you, LynS. This is wonderful. Military needs have resulted in other fashion staples too. The wristwatch really came into its own during WWI. (The Cartier “Tank” watch really means tank.) These snippets of history are so wonderful, aren’t they!
Thank you, LynS. This is wonderful. Military needs have resulted in other fashion staples too. The wristwatch really came into its own during WWI. (The Cartier “Tank” watch really means tank.) These snippets of history are so wonderful, aren’t they!
Thank you, LynS. This is wonderful. Military needs have resulted in other fashion staples too. The wristwatch really came into its own during WWI. (The Cartier “Tank” watch really means tank.) These snippets of history are so wonderful, aren’t they!
Thank you, LynS. This is wonderful. Military needs have resulted in other fashion staples too. The wristwatch really came into its own during WWI. (The Cartier “Tank” watch really means tank.) These snippets of history are so wonderful, aren’t they!
Thank you, LynS. This is wonderful. Military needs have resulted in other fashion staples too. The wristwatch really came into its own during WWI. (The Cartier “Tank” watch really means tank.) These snippets of history are so wonderful, aren’t they!
I visited the Guards Museum in London a couple of weeks ago and I highly recommend it; it has some excellent displays from different eras up to the present day, but I especially enjoyed looking at the displays of the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle Waterloo. One of the things I discovered about uniforms is that the arrangement of the buttons down the front of the uniform jacket denote which of the five regiments a soldier belongs to; Grenadier Guards buttons are uniformly spaced; Coldstream Guards buttons are arranged in twos; Scots Guards’ are arranged in threes, Irish Guards in fours, Welsh Guards in fours. This was something I’d never noticed before.
I visited the Guards Museum in London a couple of weeks ago and I highly recommend it; it has some excellent displays from different eras up to the present day, but I especially enjoyed looking at the displays of the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle Waterloo. One of the things I discovered about uniforms is that the arrangement of the buttons down the front of the uniform jacket denote which of the five regiments a soldier belongs to; Grenadier Guards buttons are uniformly spaced; Coldstream Guards buttons are arranged in twos; Scots Guards’ are arranged in threes, Irish Guards in fours, Welsh Guards in fours. This was something I’d never noticed before.
I visited the Guards Museum in London a couple of weeks ago and I highly recommend it; it has some excellent displays from different eras up to the present day, but I especially enjoyed looking at the displays of the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle Waterloo. One of the things I discovered about uniforms is that the arrangement of the buttons down the front of the uniform jacket denote which of the five regiments a soldier belongs to; Grenadier Guards buttons are uniformly spaced; Coldstream Guards buttons are arranged in twos; Scots Guards’ are arranged in threes, Irish Guards in fours, Welsh Guards in fours. This was something I’d never noticed before.
I visited the Guards Museum in London a couple of weeks ago and I highly recommend it; it has some excellent displays from different eras up to the present day, but I especially enjoyed looking at the displays of the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle Waterloo. One of the things I discovered about uniforms is that the arrangement of the buttons down the front of the uniform jacket denote which of the five regiments a soldier belongs to; Grenadier Guards buttons are uniformly spaced; Coldstream Guards buttons are arranged in twos; Scots Guards’ are arranged in threes, Irish Guards in fours, Welsh Guards in fours. This was something I’d never noticed before.
I visited the Guards Museum in London a couple of weeks ago and I highly recommend it; it has some excellent displays from different eras up to the present day, but I especially enjoyed looking at the displays of the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle Waterloo. One of the things I discovered about uniforms is that the arrangement of the buttons down the front of the uniform jacket denote which of the five regiments a soldier belongs to; Grenadier Guards buttons are uniformly spaced; Coldstream Guards buttons are arranged in twos; Scots Guards’ are arranged in threes, Irish Guards in fours, Welsh Guards in fours. This was something I’d never noticed before.
Oh, Tricia, the Guards Museum is one of my favorite small museums in London. Have been there several times, and find it fascinating. I learned the button thing there too! Love now being able to tell which unit a Guardsman belongs to, just by the front of his tunic.
Oh, Tricia, the Guards Museum is one of my favorite small museums in London. Have been there several times, and find it fascinating. I learned the button thing there too! Love now being able to tell which unit a Guardsman belongs to, just by the front of his tunic.
Oh, Tricia, the Guards Museum is one of my favorite small museums in London. Have been there several times, and find it fascinating. I learned the button thing there too! Love now being able to tell which unit a Guardsman belongs to, just by the front of his tunic.
Oh, Tricia, the Guards Museum is one of my favorite small museums in London. Have been there several times, and find it fascinating. I learned the button thing there too! Love now being able to tell which unit a Guardsman belongs to, just by the front of his tunic.
Oh, Tricia, the Guards Museum is one of my favorite small museums in London. Have been there several times, and find it fascinating. I learned the button thing there too! Love now being able to tell which unit a Guardsman belongs to, just by the front of his tunic.
Wow, those are some beautiful pictures. And I think the continental Europeans had even more ornate uniforms that the British.
Wow, those are some beautiful pictures. And I think the continental Europeans had even more ornate uniforms that the British.
Wow, those are some beautiful pictures. And I think the continental Europeans had even more ornate uniforms that the British.
Wow, those are some beautiful pictures. And I think the continental Europeans had even more ornate uniforms that the British.
Wow, those are some beautiful pictures. And I think the continental Europeans had even more ornate uniforms that the British.
My husband and I visited the Duke of Wellington’s Apsley House in London in May. Wow! It is filled with wonderful paintings/portraits of the Napoleonic era notables, especially Wellington and his officers all in their uniforms (naturally), many by of Sir Thomas Lawrence. This includes the one of Wellington at the top of this blog. What a treat to see it in person…I was very moved…sounds stupid but there it is. Apsley House is not crowded with tourists and is filled with Wellington memorabilia as well as the portraits. The house was originally designed/built by Robert Adam for Lord Apsley, although Wellington refaced/enlarged it…very Georgian/Regency. I highly recommend a visit; it is well worth it.
My husband and I visited the Duke of Wellington’s Apsley House in London in May. Wow! It is filled with wonderful paintings/portraits of the Napoleonic era notables, especially Wellington and his officers all in their uniforms (naturally), many by of Sir Thomas Lawrence. This includes the one of Wellington at the top of this blog. What a treat to see it in person…I was very moved…sounds stupid but there it is. Apsley House is not crowded with tourists and is filled with Wellington memorabilia as well as the portraits. The house was originally designed/built by Robert Adam for Lord Apsley, although Wellington refaced/enlarged it…very Georgian/Regency. I highly recommend a visit; it is well worth it.
My husband and I visited the Duke of Wellington’s Apsley House in London in May. Wow! It is filled with wonderful paintings/portraits of the Napoleonic era notables, especially Wellington and his officers all in their uniforms (naturally), many by of Sir Thomas Lawrence. This includes the one of Wellington at the top of this blog. What a treat to see it in person…I was very moved…sounds stupid but there it is. Apsley House is not crowded with tourists and is filled with Wellington memorabilia as well as the portraits. The house was originally designed/built by Robert Adam for Lord Apsley, although Wellington refaced/enlarged it…very Georgian/Regency. I highly recommend a visit; it is well worth it.
My husband and I visited the Duke of Wellington’s Apsley House in London in May. Wow! It is filled with wonderful paintings/portraits of the Napoleonic era notables, especially Wellington and his officers all in their uniforms (naturally), many by of Sir Thomas Lawrence. This includes the one of Wellington at the top of this blog. What a treat to see it in person…I was very moved…sounds stupid but there it is. Apsley House is not crowded with tourists and is filled with Wellington memorabilia as well as the portraits. The house was originally designed/built by Robert Adam for Lord Apsley, although Wellington refaced/enlarged it…very Georgian/Regency. I highly recommend a visit; it is well worth it.
My husband and I visited the Duke of Wellington’s Apsley House in London in May. Wow! It is filled with wonderful paintings/portraits of the Napoleonic era notables, especially Wellington and his officers all in their uniforms (naturally), many by of Sir Thomas Lawrence. This includes the one of Wellington at the top of this blog. What a treat to see it in person…I was very moved…sounds stupid but there it is. Apsley House is not crowded with tourists and is filled with Wellington memorabilia as well as the portraits. The house was originally designed/built by Robert Adam for Lord Apsley, although Wellington refaced/enlarged it…very Georgian/Regency. I highly recommend a visit; it is well worth it.