A Military Makeover

By Jeremy Caplan

Don't call them trend chasers. For the first time in 22 years, the U.S. Army is updating its wardrobe. To better disguise soldiers hustling among desert, forest and urban environments, as they must do in Iraq, the Army is spending $3.4 billion on new multipurpose fatigues. The revamped uniform of muted camouflage shades, below, replaces the standard green, above, as well as desert and cold-weather fatigues. The new duds substitute Velcro and zippers for buttons, which used to snag on gear. Those are just some of the 22 changes the Army has made. The soldiers' favorite updates so far: the $85 getup is looser, machine washable and wrinkle free. --By Jeremy Caplan