Back to Crimea

Current news from Ukraine has brought Crimea back into the news for the first time since the mid-nineteenth century. The Crimean War, remembered now from Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade," was fought between 1853 and 1856. The combatants were Russia on one side and an alliance of Britain, France, the Ottoman Empire and Sardinia on the other. Russia lost.

It was in the Crimean War that Florence Nightingale distinguished herself as the epitome of nursing--the classic "Lady with the Lamp." And, it was the Crimean War that gave names to three articles of clothing: the balaclava, the cardigan sweater, and raglan sleeves.

Raglan sleeves (in which the sleeves flow in an unbroken line to the collar) are named for Lord Raglan, Fitzroy Somerset, who wore a coat in this style. Raglan was overall commander of British forces at Crimea.

The balaclava, which has become an essential garment for winter adventurers and terrorists, was worn by soldiers in the bitter Crimean winters. It takes its name from Balaclava, where the Light Brigade charged.

And the cardigan, favorite garment of Perry Como, Mr. Rogers, and grandfathers everywhere, is named for James Brudenell, Earl of Cardigan, who, with other British officers, wore such a sweater--but not when he led the ill-fated charge of the Light Brigade in the Battle of Balaclava, as directed by Lord Raglan.

Fashion news from the front.