A cultural history of the uniform from the late Middle Ages to the First World War. Until the introduction of camouflage uniforms, the "colourful skirt" dominated the appearance of Western armies. Originally designed for economic reasons, uniforms in the Baroque era served to abolish the individuality of the soldier and to create an esprit de corps bound to the association, to distinguish the soldier from the civilian community, as well as for princely representation. However, pre-modern manufacturing practices, from the possibility of dyeing fabrics uniformly to the processing by different tailors, undermined this ideal of a uniform appearance of the military just as quickly as the demands of a campaign, in which uniforms had to be worn out and supplemented by all kinds of garments. This book attempts to illuminate the history of the colourful skirt from its origins to the present day from various perspectives, asking about its materiality, its function, the limits of uniformity, the softening of a uniform character, the symbolic character, fashionable forms of expression and influences and much more. It is a cultural history of the uniform that goes far beyond fashionable aspects.
