Contemplating the iterations of the 1902 uniforms, for research reasons of course and not so I can look at Theo drinking/Clive’s buttons.
Every time I see that drinking screencap, I become more convinced that Theo’s hand is on Clive’s ass.
It’s no secret that my favourite headgear for soldiers (and everyone in WWII) is a cap. (Unless you’re French. Not those caps). This is why the cap/butter-yellow gloves/fur-collared greatcoat of the Ulan officers is my favourite look. *brb having greatcoat feels* And even though red is my favourite colour, I like Theo’s tunic more than Clive’s, because it’s double breasted. I just love double breasted coats. And I prefer it to the Ulan dress uniform because it’s plainer, and the focus is just BUTTONS and red/gold trim. The gold and braid and epaulettes of the dress uniform are too gaudy for me.
I agree. And I think the piping was historically accurate. And it is also similar to the blue piping on Johnny’s uniform which is quasi accurate and swank as hell.
Research is a marvellous thing, but it sometimes kicks you in the teeth when you really don’t need it to. All I wanted to check was what the British called their (pickelhaube-inspired) helmets. (They call them helmets. No imagination).
I wonder when the British dumped the pickelhaube style helmet. Was that ‘02 as well?
Emeric chose the Edwardian era to start Clive’s story for lots of reasons (the Boer war, political changes, Suffragists, COLOUR - he’s all about the colour and liveliness - technological advances, the feel of shrugging off the slight dustiness of Victoriana, but still having a sense of Empire). But 1902 is significant also for the army, because - having gradually adopted khaki overseas in certain campaigns for practical reasons (the idea of redcoats in the desert is a little fallacious, after the end of the Crimean war) - the official ‘at home’ uniform changed to khaki as well. 1902 is the last year Clive could look so splendid in his red. *sob*
There were very practical reasons why they dumped the old-fashioned colored uniforms. Imagine being in a trench in that get-up!
But yes, as a uniform pornographer, I definitely feel the loss. Emeric was such a genius to pick that year, as if everything turned on that point. The army gave up it’s red coats. Suffragettes started smashing windows.
Favourite fact: sometimes the soldiers stained their white pith helmets with tea to blend in with the dust better. [x]
THIS!!!!! Someone has to put this in a fic or a movie or something. That is so cool. I’m a pith helmet fan girl.
In other news: von Ritter is my favourite minor character in Blimp. His jauntiness, his moustache, his scar, his debonair manner.
2ND SECRETARY: It is a very strange sensation to be preparing a duel between two people who have never even seen each other.
VON RITTER: (Carelessly) It happens sometimes. Marriages also! (He laughs again.) By the way, has your man ever fought a duel?
GOODHEAD: No. Has yours?
VON RITTER stands, exchanging a glance with VON REUMANN.
VON RITTER: Between ourselves, Theo does not really approve of duels.
SECRETARY: (Hopefully) Then gentlemen - is this fight really necessary?
VON RITTER: (Very seriously and choosing his words) Sir. There are in a soldier’s life moments when his personal feelings do not count. Oberleutnant Kretschmar-Schuldorff knows his duty very well.
I love so much the way that he reverts to being very formal as soon as the thought of not playing by the rules is brought up. (I also love his very casual ‘Theo does not really approve of duels’. These two are friends.)
Not shipping Theo and Von Ritter. Not shipping it. NOT. SHIPPING.
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