Photo by Muffy Aldrich
THE THING BEFORE PREPPY

Monday, March 2, 2026

A Reader Question: "Favourite item of British Clothing"?

 A reader question:

Hi Muffy,

I would like to ask a question if I may.

What are the readers favourite item (or items) of British clothing and why?

Kind regards

27 comments:

  1. I am leading off with what will probably be items most of us have in common. Holding down the top spot would be Shetland crewnecks and Fair Isles. My favorite source is Bosie. Ancient, a little beat up, but still a stalwart, the venerable Beaufort comes in at number two. Following would be the comfort of a very old Aquascutum when rain arrives. However, it is probably tied with shearling gloves and slippers from Draper for just plain old cold days. Finally, I don't always wear socks, but when I do they are Pantherella merinos. I could have included ties, especially bowties, but more often than not my favorites are made in the good old USA, doubtless from imported cloth. I think I have just listed all of my British items. If I love something enough to look beyond my MiUSA sources, it is most likely to be British. Although not clothing per se, Anglo American P3s are essential gear.

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  2. Barbour Beadnell Waxed Jackets, but I also like their quilted styles.

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  3. My Barrie shoes. Indispensable and, alas, unreplaceable.

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  4. Oxford MA gown and hood.

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  5. Dege and Skinner melton hunt coats.

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  6. Ryder & Amies schoolboy scarves. They are the real deal, handmade in Cambridge, extraordinarily warm and can be customized in any number of cheerful colors. And a comparative bargain, even with shipping and tariffs added on!

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  7. Favorite items of British Clothing?

    Difficult to choose because I’m a total Anglophile when it comes to what I like to wear. Anyway, let me count the ways …

    First of all, I think would be my tweeds from Cordings: House Check Field Coat, Bark Follifoot, Jackets, country suits, trousers, plus twos, etc. Timeless class.

    For keeping warm, my cozy Arthur Beale Beerenberg and Erebus sweaters are my winter favorites, and for milder times, I prefer the colorful Bosie and Cordings lighter weight sweaters.

    I could go on, but I’m grateful that the British are still making wonderful clothes when everywhere else in the world seems to be going down in quality.

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  8. My Baracuta G9 windbreaker

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  9. Hands down favorite would be my old made in England Savile Row eyeglass frames. I wear them every day and everywhere.
    Tom

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  10. I'll second the vote for schoolboy scarves. Colorful, long, and they add a certain dash to almost any variety of cold weather over- or topcoat.

    Kind Regards,

    Heinz-Ulrich

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  11. Ancient Madder ties with neat patterns. I have 2 from H.N. White (who unfortunately scaled way back after COVID), 1 from H. Stockton, and 1 from J. Press. All "Made in England". Don't wear ties often anymore, but do so when possible.

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    1. I really enjoy wearing ties with any coat or suit. It’s fun to be a stubborn curmudgeon.

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  12. A tie worn with a v-neck sweater seems to me a good fit for a casual but dressy look.

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    1. I wore a green v-neck with a striped tie under a dark sport coat, at a recent industry Christmas/Holiday event. Got friendly compliments from two attractive younger women. One looked me up and down, smiled approvingly and said I looked really "put together". The other said now that we have RTO (return to office) we should implement RTT (return to tie). I think I might custom-order some RTT lapel pins.

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    2. What a great idea! There are so many beautiful ties out there I cannot understand why people wouldn't want to wear them

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  13. At this point in my life I wear a tie only at formal occasions. It’s a change. I wore a tie my whole life, except when I was in college. Even working in a grocery store when I was a teenager we wore ties. I do occasionally wear a tie to a party. And on Sundays when I sing in the choir, where the scenery is very good, I’m accompanied by just one other male voice. We both wear a tie. The v-neck look works, according to the other choir members.

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  14. A beautiful Drake’s tie that draws compliments every time I wear it.

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  15. My 86%wool and 14%cotton Keepers tweed hacking jacket is my every day English jacket .

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  16. Le Chameau boots. They are made in Morocco by a French company but I'm pretty sure they count as British.

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  17. My "Relax" T-Shirt from the Freddy Goes to Hollywood tour 1988.

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  18. That's "Frankie Goes to Hollywood." Welcome to the Pleasure Dome" was a better song than "Relax". "Oh-Ha, shooting stars will never stop even when they reach to the top".

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  19. Connock &Lockie Double breasted navy blazer, Barbour Beaufort waxed jacket and Cordings cords. If we include American retailers, a BBs Scottish cashmere sweaters circa early 1980s.

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  20. Navy Bosie turtleneck sweater which has been wonderful for this traditional Maine winter.

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