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| Photos by Salt Water New England |
What could be better that a slightly oversized Barbour Beaufort in a vibrant pink wool? Enter Noah X Barbour.
It is the result of a highly anticipated collaboration between Barbour and Noah, released to the public on Thursday which sold out in minutes. Here is a review of one of the pieces in that collaboration that Noah sent to me.
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| For Review, A Comparison of Size 36 Barbour Waxed Jackets in Three Styles - Photos by Salt Water New England |
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| Made in England, John Partridge for Ladies - Kept. Photos by Salt Water New England |
A paddock jacket is a smart, versatile item, perfect for Autumn. Medium-weight, quilted, and designed for riding, it should maintain a sturdy, functional design.
What I look for in a paddock jacket first is fit. It needs to allow for freedom of movement, which means enough room through the shoulders and arms. (Many paddock jackets now on the market are fitted.) And as I no longer ride, I don’t mind my paddock jacket being a bit longer.
Inherently a paddock jacket is not a big, heavy cold-weather garment so I don’t want it weighted down with heft.
I also look for breathability, which is why I don’t like synthetic paddock jackets (or any synthetic quilted jacket), despite their light weight, low manufacturing cost, and the immense popularity of them originating with the made-in-England Husky jackets.
Synthetics fail the snag-test, and the rain-test. Synthetics are not repairable and don’t get better with age and use. I have owned and worn many of these synthetic paddock jackets but have since given all but one away.
I look for paddock jackets made of pure wool, whether tweed or Loden cloth. These breathe, are tougher and can take the errant branch or pricker, and they have a better drape. They will get better with age. Wool is also quiet. The slight added weight over synthetics is a price I am happy to pay.
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| Mercer Shirt, James Bond Tattersall <http://www.mercerandsons.com/swatches_and_pricing-larger-checks-and-plaids.htm> - Photos by Salt Water New England |
A question for the community:
What do we do with much loved and much worn (out) Barbour coats? I received a new Barbour Border last Christmas to replace my rotting and easily tearing Beaufort…but I cannot bring myself to part with the Beaufort. Sending it back for repair would be prohibitively expensive. Need some suggestions.
Hi Muffy,
I’m looking to purchase a Barbour for my wife that she can use casually as well as upland bird hunting and the Beaufort fits the bill.
However, I’ve been looking and it seems all the women’s models are fashion styled now instead of functional.
Is the Beaufort unisex in your opinion? She’s about 5’ 6.5” and 115lbs, and I’m worried the smallest size of 34 will be too large.
Are you or others you know able to wear the “men’s” version or is there another option for the classic Barbour functional jackets?
Much appreciated.
Here is a Gorey musing of how economics, technology, social media, and customer behaviors can kill any great product.
To wit, Barbour jackets:
A is for America's market, not Britain's
B is for Brand creep: wallets and mittens
C is for Chairman and payout, the max
D is for "Designed now so no need to wax"
E is for Emmys, worn there as an item
F is for Fire, a fast way to dry 'em
G is for "Growth!" on employee screen savers
H is for Heirs who are pro sports team cravers
I is for Ironic: high heels and no liners
J is for Joint venture with hip designers
K is for Knock-offs at Penney's and Sears
Hello,
I have a reader question - how is the quality of Barbour jackets these days, especially some of the newer styles that are advertised as lightweight or modernized (example here: https://www.barbour.com/us/barbour-delevingne-showerproof-jacket). Some of them look nice and I like the idea of a coat that isn't quite so heavy, but as I know all too well from your blog, many of the newer offerings from classic brands are simply not the same. Would love to hear what your readers think.
Thank you.
P.S. I love your vintage New England photos - they remind me of photos of my grandparents sailing off the coasts of Massachusetts and Maine!
Ferd Week continues with a comment left by Ferd, September, 2010. Redacted for civility.
First, let me say that I am uncertain how I found your blog. In all events, after skimming so of your posts I am compelled to write. Prep is not about clothing, or schools, or cars, or dogs, or cocktails. It is an attitude. It is wiser, wealthier, more insular. It is oblivious to much of what the remainder of the world considers vital. It is bored. It is aloof. It is ultra cool. It doesn't exist south of Newport or west of Williamstown. If you are writing about it, you aren't it. If you went to an Ivy League school or Andover, Exeter or Choate after 1980, you aren't it. If you use the word Preppy, you aren't it. And, most importantly, if you speak about, write about and rank clothing, you aren't it. Caring about clothing is vulgar. True Prep wears whatever his grandfather left in the closet at the house in Marblehead. My God, woman, are you really suggesting that a True Prep would be caught dead in something from Barbour? Isn't Barbour the company that dresses all those [*****] real estate executives in New York racing for their train in the rain on 43rd street? True Prep wears their son's hockey jacket from St. Marks in the rain or doesn't go out in the rain. And Jesus, Ralph Lauren? Are you high? He is, well, [*****]. Don't [****] wear his shirts? All in all, you are silly and uninformed.
On a recent post, reader Kaaterskill left this comment:
Someday we need to compile a "this, not that" list for SWNE. I'll nominate olive drab, not camo to the list.
So we started a list:
This… |
…not That |
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Navy |
Black |
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Olive Drab |
Camo |
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Side of a group shot |
Center of a group shot |
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Maine |
Nantucket |
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We |
Me |
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UK Made Barbour |
Outsourced Barbour |
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Take your work seriously |
Take yourself (or your social media) seriously |
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Fleece from sheep |
“Fleece” not from sheep |
Two Reader Questions:
Anyone have thoughts as to the classic Sylkoil vs traditional waxed? (Question taken from comments.)
Hi Muffy,
I was wondering what the opinions were of your readers regarding Barbour jackets and finish. Is there an advantage to the Sylkoil finish over the regular wax finish? Specifically I was wondering if you have to re-wax the Sylkoil like you do the regular. If not, that seems like that would really be an advantage.
Thank you!
A reader question:
Dear Editor,
I recently purchased a Barbour Beaufort coat at a local thrift store . The coat is in great condition but when I got it home I noticed it had a peculiar musty odor. I have hung it in the garage and outside for long stretches but the odor lingers. Any suggestions about how I can get rid of the odor?
Thank you.
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| Photos by Salt Water New England |
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| Before (on left) and After (on right) |
A reader question:
At what point is it OK to reject tradition and accept new technology for the sake of performance. For example, I’ll duck hunt in an old Barbour, but not if it going to rain all morning. In that case I’d wear an actual waterproof shell because I don’t want to get wet and cold just for traditions sake.
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| Photo by Salt Water New England |
A reader question:
Hello,
I (50M) have been a long-time reader and fan of Salt Water New England, and thought you and your readers might be a good source of information for my question.
A little background: I discovered the English country clothing aesthetic around 15 years ago. Not sure why it took so long. Anyway, I couldn't do much about it until I got a better job which enabled me to start buying a few pre-loved Barbour jackets directly from England. I kept a few of the better ones and sold others at a profit. My SO also gave me a new Beaufort as a Christmas gift around six years ago. I learned how to proof a wax jacket myself thanks in part to your blog. They can be very useful and have an appearance that's pretty well all their own. They also seem to be a good purchase for someone who wants to buy something once and not have to think about replacing it in a short period of time.
It seems that look may experience a bit of a resurgence with the release of the Hulu series Rivals, based on one of the Rutshire Chronicles books published in the 1980s. Seeing some of the cast posing in their country clothes has me wanting a pair of corduroy trousers. I haven't had a pair since childhood.
So, my question is, where should I shop for a good pair? J. Press and Cordings have some nice options, but I'm not sure I'm ready to spend at that level of commitment yet. L.L. Bean was a clothing mainstay in my younger days and their website shows some options which might be more budget-friendly, but the company's quality reputation appears to have taken a hit in recent years and their offerings may be closer to "fast fashion" than they once were. The local department stores seem to emphasize designer labels that don't mean what they used to and slim fit. I don't need to be trying to wear slim-fit anything. While I used to be more athletic, I was never "slim" even then, so that trend seems more than ridiculous to me now.
Any assistance in this matter would be appreciated.
In The New York Times today:
Hunter was forced to file for... the British equivalent of bankruptcy... [S]ome customers [speculate] that Hunter’s offshoring of production to China had led to stumbles in quality control, resulting in split rubber and sodden toes.
...Similar to brands like Burberry and Barbour, Hunter capitalized heavily on its British roots when it sought to shake off a dowdy reputation and reinvent itself as a 21st century fashion powerhouse.
...Alasdhair Willis, who is married to the fashion designer Stella McCartney, served as Hunter’s creative director between 2013 and 2020...
...Hunter’s intellectual property was sold to Authentic Brands Group[, a]n American company [that] also owns the rights to other once-beleaguered household-name brands like Brooks Brothers.
- Why Hunter, Britain’s Best Known Wellie, Fell From Grace <https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/24/fashion/why-hunter-britains-best-known-wellie-fell-from-grace.html>
A reader question:
Dear Editor,
May I pose a question to the community? Recent rainy weather (and a back to office mandate) have made me realize I need a new coat to wear to work. Something long enough to cover a suit coat and a little dressier than my Barbour which is starting to show its age.
Was thinking some sort of trench coat might do the trick but open to other ideas too. Any suggestions?
Many thanks!
