hetalia | [Discussion/question] Military Costumes

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[Discussion/question] Military Costumes

Lets get some back-story out of the way first. I am from America but go to a con in Canada. Its my only con since I am a poor poor person, and I like to look nice for it.

Last year I went as Canada, Casual for both ease of transport and the reason that I bring this up (more on that in a moment) and I felt a little out of place. I was impressed and overwhelmed by the awesome cosplays for hetalia. (so much so I went a little stupid on the second day but lets not get into that *embaressed* ) This got driven home when I was told the "better' canada was looking for me. So I vowed to impress my host next year with a better outfit.

Anyway time turns and season pass and it comes time for me to save up for con and arrange my outfit. I of course wanted to do a Military canada (that is the little brown bomber jacket the googles ect.) and told my friends so (who admitedly aren't biiiiig on hetalia, but a couple are and the actual reaction was similar).

There reaction was shock and horror.

I guess I should explain that when I live the military is an honourable and respected institution and that to wear a military out fit of any kind unless you are a) reenacting or b) part of the actual military, is considered wrong and disrespectful. I have to admit In the back of my mind I have the same feelings at times, and I prefer casual cosplay and historic cosplay. I guess it was kind of ingrained.

Back to my issue though: I want to know if I should attempt to get Canada's out fit or stick with one that's less likely to stir up controversy? Suggestions for how to differentiate?

p.s. not part of the problem but I might just Play America if I can't go as canada.

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That is a good idea, and it certainly helps. I will probably do just that. Canada's outfit is kinda simplistic, I just need a base jacket I would think. Thank you so much for responding.

For as far as I'm aware (may be wrong though) Canada's uniform, like the uniforms of all hetalia characters, isn't exactly like any official uniform, only "look more or less like" some of them. ((Don't know any Canadian uniforms so maybe I'm wrong.)

If this is the case I don't see any problem. I get the same gut feeling you get when I see someone cosplay a "real" uniform. Somehow I feel they didn't "earn" the right to wear that uniform and neither are they paying homage to the ones who did.

But if your going to make/buy something that isn't a real uniform I don't see the problem.

Okay A) I was unable to read your post at first because I was staring fully at your icon and loving it to pieces. B):
I gave the same argument to my friends but they seemed to be in agreement that if its intended to be seen as a military uniform, even faux military, then its on dangerous grounds.

I agree I don't see the problem but I you know... I want to have fun and not insult anyone.

Hi there, your post is missing tags!

A) I know, Jack is awesome ^^

B) Well first, I only have the problem when it's about real, existing uniforms. (I've done FMA but those uniforms don't look anything like any real ones I know so no problem there.)
Second, as long as there is no way anyone could think it's a real uniform I can't see how they could be offended. I don't think kids dressed up as Rambo would offend anyone... and you'll be doing pretty much the same...

Mah it is, sorry! I have never gotten the hang of tags. Lets see Cosplay discussion right?

A) *nods*

b) True I never thought of it that way. Thank you! I think I just might try military canada.

good luck ^^

I can't honestly see it being a problem unless you walk into or past an armory. If you're going to be just going to a con, it should be fine! I'm from a (Canadian) military family, and personally I don't see any problem with it, at least as long as you don't try to pass yourself as actually IN the Canadian military.

...But to be honest, Canada's costume doesn't look much like a Canadian military uniform (especially not the recent ones).
If people get uppity, you can come find me and punch me in the face (depending on which con you're going to - I'm going to AN as Prussia :D)

TBH, a few years ago people started wearing combat pants and boots and jackets all the time (usually just one piece at a time), just casually, and no one kicked up a fuss.

There is no law in uniform code for the military against wearing RETIRED military uniforms. Just like people can freely make reenactment or costume (for Halloween) uniforms from the Revolutionary/Civil War without (obviously) ever being in those wars, so long as the uniform is no longer in use, it is not against military/civil law.

As for morality and tact, some people do not like seeing people in uniform from the past 80 years on people even if they are formally retired from their country's military. However, I know people who wear surplus British WWII uniforms as well as wear boots from their relatives who were in Vietnam, etc., etc, but at the same time, find it tasteless and rude (as do I) to wear SS uniforms or officer hats from Soviet Russia (more like it makes people uncomfortable...). I highly doubt you'll cause controversy with Canada's "canon" military outfit since the current Canadian uniform does not look like it and it's been very many years since they vaguely looked like it (Army WWII uniform for Canada was Britain's uniform essentially and I believe the canon version of his uniform is for those of the Canadian Arctic Air Force(?) from back in the day but I could be wrong.).

I don't know why your friends looked at you in horror, unless they thought you were going to be wearing the Mountie uniform, in which case would be illegal, because you'd be "impersonating an officer". I've seen much worse at cons and stuff that was offensive (If I see the girl who wore the SS symbol on her lapel again, we're going to have a problem), but I appreciate someone trying to respect the military uniform history and it's laws.

Good luck and have fun! I wouldn't worry too much.

I don't see it as being a big problem (from what I know we had Military!Canada in cosplays often at conventions around here [near Ottawa] and people don't see that as a problem). I think it's because Canada's military outfit isn't at all like our army current uniforms and it's old fashion anyway. So you might just offend some WW2 war veterans (why would they be at anime conventions I don't know... :/) There shouldn't be a huge problem. I hope that was hopefully somewhat ^^;;

Oh no! I wouldn't do that.

I thought not, I remember trying to do research and I found a whole bunch of outfits that didn't look anything like Canada's outfit. Except for the mountie uniforms and all I could find for those were like the sexy Mountie uniforms that consist mainly of a strip of fabric and a Stetson. (though at my con there was a wonderful Mountie uniformed!Canada. It was cute :D )

Ah no I don't go to A.N. and I would never punch anyone in the face anyway. I know opinions vary I just wanted a general consensus. I really don't want to walk in and be obnoxious or stupid looking. I really want to make a good impression.

I noticed that. Never got in to it, but I always liked the barrets.

Thank you. This makes me feel much better about my choices.

Most of them are from Military families, and it almost seems like it being connected with "kids stuff" is the insulting part. As for the Mountie uniforms... .////. well I could never pull those off anyways and besides I don't want to be impersonating an officer.

Your mention of the SS symbol is part of the reason I made this topic, I know sometimes in the sake of accuracy people step too far so I wanted to check myself against the consensus.

I will, thanks and I always worry to much!

It was thank you. I was looking to the Canadian Community for opinions just as much as those in the Military community. I really respect and honour your countries Military and culture and ultimately just wanted to know how you felt. So thanks. Its nice to hear that its okay.

I don't know... WW2 vets pop up in the strangest places. I had one in my shed once....

I'm from a partially military family and they actually sprang to help me patch a bomber jacket to make it accurate and were telling me all the palces I could go to get older uniforms when I expressed the interest (I did this before hetalia, but most people like to see kids expressing an interest in it either way). Yeah, never do a mountie uniform. There was an outcry in the furry community when fursuiters had begun to wear their BDUs while in fursuit at cons and that's strictly against the uniform code, and the people doing this WERE/ARE in the military. So you just have to be a touch careful.

Yeah, but some people lack tact, too. Someone who has enough common sense to know it might be insulting, likely won't be insulting in the end because they're concious of it.

Lol I want to actually try America though since there was like ONE person there last year. It might be my secondary cosplay. Bomber Jackets are just so expensive....

Fur suiters? wow thats... wow.

Really? I found a real leather bomber jacket on eBay for $25. Just gotta look through vintage stuff, because it was the "in" thing to wear them after the pilots of the Asian Theater made them popular so many companies produced military knock offs of them.

Well, understand there's a very large military presence in the furry community and grey muzzle (older furries) presence, so it's not surprising they want to show it off in some form...they just do it in the wrong way sometimes.

Oh geeze! If I could find something like that I could do it. All the ones I have been finding are like 400 dollars! I am poooooor. the pants and boots I think I could find but the jacket was my issue.

Mh I was in the Furry community for a while, in fact still maintain a fursona though I no longer go to cons, part of it was because of the expenses and part was because of the drama that goes on. I knew there was a large military presence but I never heard about this.

I don't think it's that much of a problem, reasons mentioned above. There's no rule for you not to wear it, and much more: It's not the real thing. I think Canada's uniform is some kind of mixture between pilot (goggles) and winter uniform... so it's really costumized.

It would be something different if it was a real nazi uniform. But I hope there's no one here who really wants to cosplay that, especially on a con.

*nods* thank you. And yeah I have noticed that.

-3-; I would hope not as well but you never know.

@_@ While let's say it's not likely for them to be at anime conventions ^^;; And you're welcome ^^

So...what happens if you cosplay Canada and your bear is the one in the Mountie outfit? My Kumajirou came from Build-a-Bear and they sell a mountie outfit (http://www.buildabear.com/shopping/productDetail.jsp?productId=prod81065&categoryId=cat110082) that's endorsed by the RCMP, so I've never seen it as a problem, but now I'm curious what other people say.

I saw somewhere above a comment about America and the expensive bomber jacket! I dunno if this will be too helpful considering you might not do america anyway, but my biggest advice with that would be to check thrift stores. I got an old Army-issue leather bomber jacket from my local goodwill for $24.

As for the thing with uniforms--my usual thought is just, when in doubt? Don't. That being said, Hima's designs are 9 times out of 10 not completely accurate.

tl;dr that was completely useless because of every other post on here BUT GOOD LUCK ANYWAY sob

Not completely useless! Any comments help. plus

$24? wow mabye the america cosplay would be cheaper XD

I don't cosplay so this might be a moot point, but it seems to me if you're going to be uncomfortable wearing a military uniform, don't wear the military uniform.

The Hetalia uniforms aren't exact replicas of actual military uniforms (at least America's isn't. I assume the others are the same...) and I've seen other cosplayers make it using other clothing. If you don't want to do that, Canada has outfits other than his military uniform, so if you don't want to go casual, then just go as Olympics!Canada or Children's Day!Canada or something.

I was considering that but I can't remember the outfit (or find) reference pics for Children's day canada. As for Olympic canada the cons in the summer and I nearly died as Casual Canada much less a full snow suit.

http://www.horror-vacui.net/hetarchive/images/images/himaruya_art/character_refs/09-05-05-6.jpg

If you're still thinking about it. :)

Oh I could do that.

I second this idea. Especially since the proceeds benefit Mountie supported charities.

I think it all depends on whether you feel comfortable. If you are uncomfortable or worried about it, don't do it. If you have found a way to be comfortable, then go ahead.

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