The Camel Brigade

Camel cavalry were used long ago by Achaemenid Persians fighting Lydian Assyrians in the Anatolian deserts of nowadays Turkey. A little further east, Desert Battle Dress Uniform, aka Cookie Dough Camouflage, was used by the US in the Gulf War. Its base pattern of light tan, overlaid with broad swathes of pale olive green and wide two-tone bands of brown is scattered with black-on-white spot clusters. Iraqi olive-grey combat patterning, viewed up close, reveals pixellated Space Invader shapes.

Givenchy AW09/10

The silhouette spoke of sharply-tailored warrior-women or a more sensual harem-style seductress, who quite possibly had a dagger concealed in the folds of her sarouel-trousers or jet-jewelled belt....The largely monochromatic palette was punctuated with dramatic gowns and trousersuits in a flesh-tone silk crepe, emblazoned with red and green spikes, cones and studs. Hilary Alexander on Givenchy's Bedouin inspired AW09/10 haute couture collection.

There's not much desert-camo on the camel catwalk this season. Rather, sophisticated tones are blocked together. Fashion pundits agree, camel is classic and versatile, easily paired with black or denim and playful hints of cinnamon, gold or turquoise. It's a colour to invest in as like good camouflage it will adapt with the seasons.

The term camel is from the Arabic جمل, ǧml, derived from a root signifying 'beauty': giving pleasure to the senses, ephemeral and impossible to pin down, just when you think you've caught it, you open your hands to find it was a trick of the desert light.

Catwalk/Sidewalk

L to R: Michael Kors AW10/11, Ocabini cashmere poncho, Seven for All Mankind denim skirt, Missoni beanie, Diane von Furstenburg scarf, Top Shop gloves, Repetto ballet bumps, Alexandra Beth leather camel snakeskin bracelet.