Spartan warriors wore bright red cloaks into battle specifically so their enemies could not see them bleed, which sounds incredibly badass until you realize the logistical flaws.

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Spartan warriors wore bright red cloaks into battle specifically so their enemies could not see them bleed, which sounds incredibly badass until you realize the logistical flaws. The terrifying military culture of ancient Sparta heavily emphasized maintaining an image of total invincibility. Wearing crimson dye masked the horrific battle wounds they inevitably suffered, demoralizing the opposing armies who thought they were fighting unkillable super soldiers. However, the dye itself was extraordinarily expensive, derived from thousands of crushed sea snails, meaning the Spartan state was spending a massive chunk of its budget just to look intimidatingly fashionable. Furthermore, bleeding heavily under a heavy woolen cloak in the blistering Mediterranean sun usually led to passing out from heatstroke or dying of sudden blood loss anyway, but at least they maintained their impeccable brand aesthetic while doing it