"Best uniforms: WSS vs WAS vs SYW? vote" Topic

this has always been my question: which is the best period to wargame according to the beauty of the uniforms?
I did with my papersoldiers the following battles:
1) Battle of Turin 1706 WSS
2) Battle of Madonna dell'Olmo WAS
3) Battle of Leuthen SYW
Uniforms changed a little in period, above all between WSS and WAS but some details can make the difference.
It is also true that it depends on which troops you are going to remake; so for example I like very much (WSS) the variety of the French Hussars at the battle of Turin, while Austrian and French had the same colours. But Prussian give that touch of blue. Cavalry red (Piedmontese) etc.
Battle of Madonna dell'Olmo less colours (all white, Piedmontese, French and Austrians and Spaniards) with touch of yellow with Spanish hussars
Leuthen: blue for Prussians, light blue for Bavarians, white for Austrian but a very beautiful touch of colours for the Hungarian Regiments (turquoise, red blue);
so my vote goes for SYW . And yours?

link

I have been known to call WAS Grenadier uniforms "bathrobes with nightcaps".
WAS uniforms are downright homely and ugly.

Next question? 👎😄

which one hence the best? WSS or SYW?

SYW.

7YW by a country mile, for me too!

SYW my vote but I game with WSS 25/28mm miniatures.

SYW

SYW

D) Huh, they're different?

Confession time: I've only ever played these periods in other people's games in 15mm, so they all look like interchangeable tiny dudes in tricornes to me.

In 28mm, I love my FIW!

Seven Years War had more detailing with a more refined cut to the uniforms. Still, the whole period is very colorful.

WAS for me every time, although FPW if a free choice. WSS too loose fitting and a bit scruffy, SYW too pettifogging.

SYW – there is nothing like a little lace and a well trimmed tricorne to add a touch of class to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl

WSS uniforms just seem like they simple threw robes on everyone and hoped for the best.

SYW

SYW – No contest.

SYW, though some of the WAS uniforms aren't bad (ad were still worn in 1756). Don't know enough to judge the WSS uniforms, but weren't the WSS uniforms designed by the Colonels Commandant and/or their wives and/or their mistresses and/or their mothers?

All the "Lace Wars", and I include the Napoleonic era, were elegant! How can one choose??

But probably SYW for the win in a close vote.

I do these periods in 2mm, so from my pov, they all look exactly the same.

Thanks for your votes. I see SYW is by far the winner at the moment. Yes WSS uniforms were still not that evolved, nontheless they were already provided by colonels by already under supervision on the State i.e. of the King (for example the Piedmontese army was following a fix pattern of colours as well as the Prussian or the Austrian).

I try to aswer one by one
@Martin Rapier: well at 2mm they maybe look the same but in real size the differences were huge. Plese vote, thanks

@Piper after XVIII century I will cast a vote for XIX Century (Splititng the NApoleonic period in 3) then we will do the XX and XVII century and then the finals

@John the OFM: I think I agree. So please vote between WAS and SYW. Thanks

FPW is for which war?

Seven Years' War/French and Indian War, for sure. I agree with the OFM about the WAS and WSS uniforms.

WAS is an evolutionary period between WSS and SYW. I consider turnbacks on the coat a key feature between the bathrobes of the WSS and the more finely tuned British and Prussian coats. Oddly enough, I consider the French lagging behind in sartorial elegance. The French couldn't decide.
Just my opinion, but I consider AWI British uniforms a step back from the SYW uniforms. The red breeches. Chef's kiss!

SYW, but WSS is much easier to paint

WSS all the way. I like Marlborough a lot more than Freddy plus kevin smoot is right.

I second the motion to salute red breeches!

"Les pantalons rouges sont France -- ET ANGLETERRE!" (I fixed this famous quote.)

(Except for Royal regiments, of course, and parvenus in the artillery.)

Thanks guy for expressing and voting as well; let's wait some more vote and then verdict

The lack of appreciation for the idiosyncratic uniforms of all the emerging light troop types in the WAS period seems odd, I have to wonder if those voting SYW know enough about the earlier period to judge. WAS is poorly supported in Anglocentric circles because we lose most battles to the French, and I guess the Outlander effect may also prejudice some.

BTW FPW is Franco-Prussian War, hence the comment about preference if it was a free vote.

@BillyNM
As a Piedmontese I agree with you. The Piedmontese Army in the WAS was absolutely astonishing, well dressed and trained (and in fact defeated the French ans Spaniards)

@paperbattles
It was a series of contemporary prints of Piedmontese soldiers of the period, like thaht below, that got me into WAS. The uniforms are more shapely than WSS and not yet aping the parsimonious Prussian approach.

have to wonder if those voting SYW know enough about the earlier period to judge.

Of course I do! And it's rather presumptuous of you to suggest that not liking WSS uniforms is based on ignorance!
Harrumph to you, Sir! Again I say Harrumph!

John it's never presumptuous to wonder.

Please Sirs, let's enjoy the vote… being all here Gentilhommes, comme il faudrait …. at the end we are speaking about "La guerre en dentelle". Let's keep it this way, please. Thanks. Grazie

I have to wonder if those voting SYW know enough about the earlier period to judge.

I have the opposite problem: my recent Jacobite Rebellion project has taught me a lot about WAS uniforms, but I still know next to nothing about uniformology changes preceding or following that war. I haven't voted because I can't really say I have a "favorite".

The only thing I can say for sure is that I've seen no uniform in the 18th C. that would dethrone Napoleonic hussar uniforms as my favorite of all time.

Real soldiers wear tricorns!

The only thing I can say for sure is that I've seen no uniform in the 18th C. that would dethrone Napoleonic hussar uniforms as my favorite of all time.

Have you seen SYW hussars uniforms? Napoleonic ones are a mere copy.

It would depend on which country; but WAS by a Mile!!!

I see WAS is increasing its supporters.. . still I hope some more votes