To think Boden shouldn't use "war medals" as a fashion print?

[throwingpebbles]

Got their latest catalogue and was a bit shocked to see lots of prints like this one
m.boden.co.uk/en-gb/womens-new-in/clothing/ww196-nav/womens-navy-medal-jessica-midi-dress

Am pretty sure all my friends who are still serving or were previously would not be impressed.

And so what if they are not? They aren't accurate representations of actual medals and even in the military it seems your right to a chestful of medals is somewhat arbitrary.

The if the boden catalogue is shocking you have had a sheltered life. 😂

I'm not particularly finding anything offensive about having a medal print on the dress. It's hideous and very overpriced so I can't imagine anyway that there will be lots of people walking round wearing it.

I think the issue is that the op has labelled these " war medals " when they are not. They are a medal print some boden designer has dreamed up they are nothing to do with any war. So the basis of the ops objection isflawed
However objection on the grounds of it being a hideous item are justified.

Please get a grip.

Can someone explain exactly why this print might cause offence? Other than that it's unattractive.

I don't mind it at all, I think it's fine.

Here are pictures of all our 'war medals'. I don't see any on that dress.

www.gov.uk/guidance/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility

Both the dress and top are hideous.

Re the top - apparently "you asked and we listened"

Who the fuck asked for that and were they on drugs at the time.

I think there is some confusion between Walt hunting - wearing actual medals to which you are not entitled (left if awarded to you, right if widow/other NOK of person they were awarded to) may be an offence, especially if you seek advantage by doing so - and use of images for embellishment.

i really can't see that this dress or that top would cause offence to veterans (well, not because of the medals). But if they did, it is for thise veterans to to speak first IYSWIM and then for people to decide if they support them or not.

I think it's a little premature and presumptive to make a decision on their behalf. But it's also fine just to decide you think it's tacky (or whatever) and just choose something else without linking it to a group or cause.

Can someone explain exactly why this print might cause offence?

Because military service is so brilliant and should be so revered that even a pattern that looks vaguely like am award that a military personnel may have got shows insufficient gravitas and what the Americans call gratitude for your service, ma'am.

If you are putting those words into my mouth dusty you are off the mark. I am a pacifist by nature (but a realist also) and certainly don't glorify war or have a blind patriotism

But to me those medals signify and remind me of ww2 veterans in particular (albeit this may relate to the significance of where I live). Many of those were conscripted, many very young, and certainly deserve our respect.

It's a hideous print too, and that just makes it seem even less justifiable.

Because it appears as mocking those who have been willing to give their lives and have earned the right to wear medals for gallantry. I do not automatically assume all those who serve deserve respect from all and adulated, but these images are specifically a pastiche of ones awarded for bravery. For acts of courage that none of us are ever likely to understand. To slap a load of these on fashion items is bad taste. You can choose not to agree, and that is the freedom that those who earned the right to wear medals have given you.

Because it appears as mocking those who have been willing to give their lives and have earned the right to wear medals for gallantry.

It appears to mock veterans? Really?

Yes.

Nope, still not getting it. It's mocking the word stylish but can't see how it's mocking veterans.

I don't know if the intention was to mock, but certainly to commoditise.

And for those saying the medals could be "for anything" - the Boden catologue states, in big fancy text, that this season is all about "naval insignia" so that argument doesn't really wash.

soda at "mocking the word stylish"

Definitely agree there!

If anything, it's bugging me that they're not all neatly lined up but smattered all over the shop.

The military thing has been 'done' in fashion before though, and I suppose as so many other 80's monstrosities (ra-ra skirts/neon/nautical tops/that god awful coral colour) have been reborn it was only a matter of time before the ghost of Michael Jackson's military jacket arose once again but this time in a terrible mumsy dress print.

Out of interest, I would like to know if the medals featured are actual medals or simply things born out of someone's imagination.

It's one thing having a 'medal' used slapdash on a print, but using (for example) a Victoria Cross or similar would indeed be a bit crass at the very least.

Stolen valour is not acceptable.
Thats not the same thing as wearing the medals of a relative. When I was younger a friend asked me to carry their VC for them. It had special meaning to do that. I also had a couple of medals from male relatives.
Its like wearing the Star of David from a Jewish relative from WW2. Its a dign of rememberance and respect.

Medals and uniforms are not fashion items IMO. It is at best tacky.

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/womens-accessories/jewellery/ak340/womens-maritime-necklace

They suggest wearing it with a Breton top. I'd suggest balancing the top of a Matey bottle on your head as well.

Matey bottle hat would be the most stylish part!!!

Poor taste in my opinion.