French Zouave Infantry Uniform View 1

French colonial zouave infantry uniform, 1914. The infantry from French North African colonies known as zouaves were famous for their colorful uniforms before the exigencies of war made the switch to more practical uniform a necessity. The jacket or shama was made of blue wool with red wool designs. The extremely baggy trousers or sarouel were the trademark of the zouaves. A vest was worn under the jacket along with a cotton shirt. They wore a cylindrical shaped wool cap called a chachia.

Front view