For WIZZARD LINER NOTES VOL.4 "Battle Dress Uniform", what exactly is a "Battle Dress Uniform" to me in the context of WIZZARD?
Also, I'd like to talk a bit about the relationship between military fashion and music! (If you've already read the newsletter, please continue reading from here.)
Battle Dress Uniform?? Never heard of it.
For those unfamiliar, a Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) is a combat uniform.
You've probably noticed that military items are frequently incorporated into fashion, haven't you?
To name a few typical examples, there are MA-1 jackets, M-51 mod coats, M-65 field jackets, trench coats, peacoats, cargo pants, and many more items that are incorporated into fashion and are prevalent.
WIZZARD also designs based on military items every season.
What is a Battle Dress Uniform to me, as I conceive it for WIZZARD?
Battle → Combat environment = Living environment
Dress → Clothing = Fashion
Uniform → Uniform = Wardrobe
I believe it's not just about details, but about incorporating fashion, practicality, and functionality into items for modern living environments, making them heavy-use items that function as a uniform within one's wardrobe.
Speaking of which, don't you ever wonder when military items became fashion?
I hear the trigger was the Mod fashion of the Mod movement that occurred in England in the 60s... I wonder if that's true.
※I looked it up again, just in case.
It seems that's how it is... Hmm...
Considering the era when trench coats became popular among civilians, it's a bit debatable, but let's assume it's true!
Allow me to share a little about myself.
There were two significant occasions that led me to buy and start wearing what could be called military fashion items.
The first was when I was about 16 years old.
When I first entered high school, I was completely immersed in British New Wave and Punk, but then, by chance, the record "THE WHO/QUADROPHENIA" appeared before me at a record store. This chance encounter profoundly changed my style at 16.
It all started with one record.
It was when I went to a record store in Shinjuku.
By chance, on a shelf that caught my eye, there was a record of THE WHO/QUADROPHENIA.
Perhaps because it was a UK original pressing, I think it was close to 10,000 yen.
Of course.
I couldn't afford it.
At the time, even looking at the record, I didn't know that QUADROPHENIA was a movie soundtrack; I only understood it was a THE WHO record.
But more than that, the photo on the record jacket was just too cool, and I became very interested in the band THE WHO and QUADROPHENIA (at that time, I still thought it was just the album title, lol).
Later, through various sources, I learned it was a movie, and that the coat worn on the record jacket was a mod coat (M-51 fishtail parka).
At 16, I was completely absorbed in mod culture.
At that time, MOD'S fashion, in my mind, was broadly divided into two types.
One was a sophisticated style: a custom-made three-button jacket suit paired with Clarks Desert Boots or tassel loafers, topped with an M-51 mod coat. The other was a casual style: instead of a suit, a Fred Perry polo shirt and V-neck knit as an inner layer, Levi's 501s, Clarks, and a mod coat.
As a high school student, custom-made suits were far beyond my reach, so I had no choice, but the latter style was also worn by JIMMY, the protagonist in the movie, and it looked very cool, so I emulated it.
Following that, the first military item I ever bought myself was an M-51 fishtail parka.
The fact that mod coats were chosen as overcoats to prevent suits from getting dirty from scooter oil... that's also pretty cool, isn't it?
I wasn't wearing suits, but I did wear cheap three-button jackets bought from a used clothing store, so please forgive me for that.
※QUADROPHENIA (Japanese title: Saraba Seishun no Hikari)
A representative mod film set in early 1960s Britain.
https://youtu.be/IZAX5HLxlZY
The secondきっかけ (trigger/opportunity).
The next opportunity came rather quickly.
At 17, I encountered skateboarding.
Skateboarding was a culture that had a major influence on my life, besides music.
At first, I somewhat underestimated it, thinking it was just a kids' game.
The first time I encountered skateboarding was when a friend happened to show me a video called POWELL's Public Domain (1988) at his house.
What I saw there completely shattered my preconceived notions of skateboarding as just a silly pastime. It was a cultural shock.
The skater Mike Vallely, in particular, was impactful; his skating style, fashion, and hardcore vibe were all exactly to my taste.
I immediately borrowed the video from my friend, watched it countless times, and then headed out to the city to search for the cargo pants he wore in the video.
And what I bought at a used clothing store were US ARMY BDU CARGO PANTS—nostalgic...
I bought them based purely on the image I got from watching the video, thinking "this must be it." I remember wearing them out completely and going back to buy a second pair.
Mike Vallely: Public Domain (1988)
https://youtu.be/w3QqCkKwa50
＜Digression＞
The VIDEO where I discovered Dinosaur Jr.
Mike Vallely: Speed Freaks (1989)
https://youtu.be/SwNSpHdyYeQ
Dinosaur Jr – Freak scene.
https://youtu.be/5eO6up9Gpv0
What was your first military item?
Military fashion, which has somehow become a part of fashion and is deeply connected to music and movies, is interesting to explore a bit by digging into the military items around you!
Thank you again for reading LINER NOTES VOL.4!
See you next time in LINER NOTES VOL.5.
Here's an introduction to an item that could be called WIZZARD's Battle Dress Uniform.
I'm wearing it myself this season, and it's highly recommended.
It features a design that combines elements of a mod coat with a stand-collar coat. By using functional materials, this piece not only offers fashionability but also practicality and functionality in daily life.
＜DOCKING HOODED COAT＞
A docking layer coat made with BREATHTEC fabric.
BREATHTEC is a special three-layer material with a microporous polyurethane membrane structure that offers excellent performance in terms of waterproofing and breathability (preventing stuffiness from sweat).
The 130-micrometer fine pores in the polyurethane membrane prevent water from passing through, while conversely allowing moisture trapped inside to be released to the outside, making it a high-performance material.
It is ideal for sports use as well as for protection against rain and other water.
The hood vest is reversible, made of BREATHTEC and polyester melton.
When the hood vest is detached, it can be worn as a stand-collar coat.
The waist pockets are detachable with zippers and can also be docked with this season's layered pants.
Inside these waist pockets, there's also a dedicated AirPods pocket.
VOL.3 https://wizzard.stores.jp/news/61aa2ef8b91b75549afa7abd
VOL.2 https://wizzard.stores.jp/news/61a07134b91b75123e2cd5d2
VOL.1 https://wizzard.stores.jp/news/61b9cd652ee5c27732582351