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Barbour

by Lady Charlotte Lynham

Barbour has long been recognised as the quintessentially British clothing brand of choice for hunting, shooting, fishing and all country pursuits. So when Qin and I were invited to deer stalk with Cornish Game and Cornish Grill in Cornwall, we knew that there was only one essential clothing brand required for such a jaunt.

Established in 1894 and now a fifth generation family-owned business, Barbour is a modern brand offering a complete wardrobe of beautifully made, classically designed, functional clothing. Founded by John Barbour, a Scot from Galloway, he established himself in the burgeoning port of South Shields in the North East of England supplying oilskins and other garments to protect the growing community of sailors, fishermen and dockers.  These first weatherproof items quickly established Barbour’s reputation for innovation and quality.

A staple of the collection, the Bedale Wax Jacket is robust, built for longevity and prepared for the elements but is also comfy, well tailored and chic.  When I spoke to Barbour about our plans for the Cornwall Trip they suggested the Bedale Jacket straight away; for deer stalking one has to be as quiet as possible and therefore a jacket that will not make any sounds is perfectly suited.  The jacket is also waterproof, warm, has numerous pockets for all those hunting necessities and is lined with the iconic Barbour tartan.  Qin and I wore our jackets on the cold, windy moors of Bodmin and they stood the test, we were warm, weather proof and very stylish, even though the deer were the only audience for said fashion sense.  The Bedale is available in Black, Navy, Olive, Rustic and Sage and in sizes 30-52 RRP £ 199.00.

Barbour also provided us with two Scarlett Shirts; tattersal patterned shirts lined with complementary liberty print under the cuff , placket and back of neck, available in Pink/Purple, Fuchsia/Stone and Purple/Navy and in sizes 8-18 RRP £69.95.  Very classic with the check print but with a fun and flirty twist with the flowery lining, comfortable, surprisingly warm and easy to convert from hunting on the moors to dinner in the evening in a rustic country setting.

Now the best thing about Babour and their clothing range is that not only is it wonderfully suited to the country but equally works in the city.  The clothing choice of the Sloane Rangers in the 1980’s, it is still today equally as chic sported on the mean streets of Chelsea or indeed in my neighbourhood, the City of London.  Since returning from Cornwall, I have tested this theory in all the fashionable locales in London; from dinner at Dukes to drinks at The Dorchester, my Bedale Jacket looked as stylish as on the windy moors of Bodmin.  Whether over my Scarlett Shirt and jodhpurs in the country or my evening dress in the city Barbour is seamlessly interchangeable between locations and dress code, my new wardrobe staple – one is ever the Sloaney afterall.

Barbour is available in stores across the country and online.

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