Thursday 15 December 2011

Get hooked on these shirts/jackets



IF anything screams motorbike with a real touch of class to a classic look then the Motorbike black shirt jacket form the Barbour x Tokihito Yoshida range does.

The jacket maintains the classic motorbiking tradition of Barbour but with a twist, its silk finish and reduced pocket number is sublime. Zip front, stud buttons and one chest, side and two hand pockets give it a cleaner line than other jackets by Barbour.

It corduroy collar and tartan lining give it more of hunting outdoorsman feel.

Coming in flyweight wax finish, it is a very lightweight garment with four air vents it even comes with a hood, but you probably won’t be using that if you are out on your bike will you. The jacket also has a softer feel that others in the range and is perfect for the street.

Next up comes the Mount shirt, which comes in a waxed olive and has a feeling of the ultimate rain coat. Based on a similar style of finishes as the Motorbike shirt, with hidden pockets zip fastened, stud buttons and a waist adjustor.

The two zip front pocket, along with two bottom pockets, it also ha one back pocket and sports the tartan inner. Delicious just like the rest of the To Ki To collaboration range.

Almost makes me want to get my bike out … oh er missus.

Big in Japan and in England as well




Japanese designer Tokihito Yoshida may be a keen fly fisherman, well if only a novice, but I refer to the Spike Millgan view of the sport/past time, it is complete and utter madness.

Unlike the jackets that the fishing mad Jap has designed for Barbour as part of the To Ki To collaboration which is simply the greatest jacket I have seen this year and is known as the Spey Fishing jacket in black.

The multi-pocket four vented jacket, which boasts its own front chest fishnet is simply divine and surely far too good to be worn at some crappy fishing lake.

The navy jacket waxed lightweight jacket, which funnily enough is waterproof has the classic Barbour cut, dipped in at the waist with a five button zip fastened front and felt collars. This is like something from another planet, bells whistles and a few more things beside.

Good work me thinks and is part of seven jacket range that is pushing back boundaries.

For the other jackets see other blogs, I feel that something this good deserves its one blog.

So read on …

Monday 14 November 2011

The perfect Union: Grenson x Barbour






THE Union Flag was born to symbolise the best Great Britain had to offer, and in the latest joint venture between Scotland and England the world of the working and stylish shoe is something to behold.

The Grenson X Barbour effort which offers a fabulous range of brogue based shoes is a tag team that would put Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks to shame.

With a complete outdoor flavour the Marske tan calf shoe is like a brogue covered 4x4 for your feet, combining a commando sole with a brogue upper in tan and green. The lace up shoe with metal eyelets has a brown leather toe and heel sat against a green quarter.

The calf leather with waxed cotton is a wonderful finish and really should be a stand out product.

But with this new range it is difficult to find a shoe/boot that is stand out, they all are.

Seconds out round two: The Egton green full brogue is a five metal eyelet lace up shoe but without the commando sole, instead it offers a red brick dianite sole with added grip. This is a lovely shoe and as I stated cannot really be compared to the Marske as it has its own particular qualities.

Now for the third and final round the Acklam brown rusti grain boot, which comes with a mixture of grain leather with waxed cotton.

The boot utilizes its colour panelling really well, a subtle combination of browns and the beige sole evoks images of yesteryear and really is something to behold.

With these two companies you always know what you are going to get, and knowing they boast the moniker Made in England proudly is a thing not to be sniffed at.

This range gets my stamp of approval and it won’t take much for them to surely work their way into any sensible man’s wardrobe.

Friday 14 October 2011

Out in style



OK, so they are not the same jackets at all, but it just seemed right to put them in the same blog.

Read on, it will all make sense ...

The new Barbour Enduro Steve McQueen jacket is something special. As a part of the lifestyle collection after one of the most stylish men of all time, the leather jacket, with Barbour red tartan inner, with an original McQueen print adorning the lining.

The slim fit jacket with buckle neck fastener and zip and button front, with pleated bellow pockets. The jacket ouses style, and comes in a variation in the waxed charcoal Greenham jacket.

Not as premium as the leather, the Greenham is a lot of jacket for the price.

With a Steve McQueen inner print, the waxed coat has two bellow pockets on the front, with a zip chest pocket on the left.

The neck fastener is a racer detail, with double stud fastening, along with a logo on the left arm. The jacket is also part of the McQueen lifestyle collection.

So on to the down Explorer coat, the link was only weak as I consider someone like McQueen to have been a bit of an adventurer/explorer himself, pushing back boundaries, the Explorer seemed to fit right in alongside that.

This full length quilted jacket boasts a detachable hood, button and zip fastening on the front, where four pockets, two chest, two bottom with large flap covers.

Sporting branded buttons throughout, the detachable/adjustable hood gives the coat a two-use style with a contrast inner.

Also part of the Lifestyle range but not the McQueen one, this coat along with the others are something special, timeless you could say.

Becoming synonymous for this timeless style as much as his films, McQueen also symbolisesPersol sunglasses and can be easily tied into labels such Common People and Penguin.


Well he isn't the King of Cool for nothing is he ...

Barbour - Back with a bang




CLASSIC stylish, simply superb, that’s Barbour jackets and the new Liddesdale andInternational jackets are no different.

The patchwork Liddesdale is part of the Heritage range is from the basic country collection, slim fit heritage style, the coat sports corduroy collars and pocket trims.

Two front pockets, with a nice slant styling and a button front fastening, along with studded side vents make this normal coat a lovely piece.

The black Union Jack International is a motorcyle coat, with superb Union Jack lining, it has zip and button storm fly front it has stud adjustable collar and sleeves, with the deliious buckle belt fastener on the front as well.

This jacket has remained since its original concept in the 1930s and just one look at it tells you why.

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

The jacket has that ‘must have one of those’ feel to it, or 'Something to aim at', as the late British road cyclist Tom Simpson would have said, the International harks back to days of holiday motorcycling posters while adding a modern touch that ensures it will be around for a similar time period.

The Chelsea quilted jacket is in the same line as the Liddesdale, preffering a high buttoned collar to the corduroy touches of the other, is comes a in lovely light grey, with front pocket flaps and a zip pocket above the righthand front pocket.

Slim fit, this is a lovely version on a theme.

Nice

Barbour back with a stylish bang




CLASSIC stylish, simply superb, that’s Barbour jackets and the new Liddesdale and International jackets are no different.

The patchwork Liddesdale is part of the Heritage range is from the basic country collection, slim fit heritage style, the coat sports corduroy collars and pocket trims.

Two front pockets, with a nice slant styling and a button front fastening, along with studded side vents make this normal coat a lovely piece.

The black Union Jack International is a motorcyle coat, with superb Union Jack lining, it has zip and button storm fly front it has stud adjustable collar and sleeves, with the deliious buckle belt fastener on the front as well.

This jacket has remained since its original concept in the 1930s and just one look at it tells you why.

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

The jacket has that ‘must have one of those’ feel to it, or 'Something to aim at', as the late British road cyclist Tom Simpson would have said, the International harks back to days of holiday motorcycling posters while adding a modern touch that ensures it will be around for a similar time period.

The Chelsea quilted jacket is in the same line as the Liddesdale, preffering a high buttoned collar to the corduroy touches of the other, is comes a in lovely light grey, with front pocket flaps and a zip pocket above the righthand front pocket.

Slim fit, this is a lovely version on a theme.

Nice

Monday 10 October 2011

The Latest A/W 2011 Barbour Jacket Collection





Another season and another range of cool mens jackets - compliments of Barbour heritage of course. After scouting the many select website and stores that stock Barbour Jackets, our vote has to be with Stuarts London.

Why ?

Well the answer is simple they stock more Barbour than the Barour Store does itself. They got all the latest Barbour quilts , Barbour International jackets. Coolest handmade knitwear and this season the new launch of the Steve McQueen Barbour styles.

If that doesn't get you excited then don't forget to check out the latest Barbour Tokito Yoshida collab styles from Japan.

To be honest if you're a real Barbour Fan then Stuarts London is the destination to go to, prices are reasonable and if your not in London then checkout the website StuartsLondon.com.

Over and Out :))

Wednesday 23 February 2011

I'm a man, bag





AS an addition to the To Ki range,which Barbour has rolled out so successfully this spring, let's face it, who saw that one coming.

The camel rucksack, which is a lovely piece, is a 10oz waxed bag, with three pockets and two netting pockets (outside) allowing for full 'map' newspaper or whatever carrying.

I can not imagine many of these will be making the transfer form the city to the countryside, so more than likely a copy of your favourite penguin paperback more like.

The buckle fastening has a magnetic clasp to ensure ease of access and security, along with an adjustable inner zipped pocket.

A useful rear handle a draw string closure of the main bag body make this remain on the useful but also very stylish tip for Barbour.

A real stand out piece for me and one that I may well be investing in ova the coming weeks.

Not quite in the 'man bag' arena, the rucksack is a stand alone when is come to the remaining range on offer, which are right on the money for smart, useful attire around town, be it under arm, over shoulder or slung over your back.

The style of bag has become a mainstay for summer, with the likes of Beckham and Brad Pitt seen adding a dash of bag to their outfits.

With an adjustable shoulder strap, the buckle fastener, which boasts two front pockets. The Union Flag donned on the front and back panel, which denotes the Heritage touch for the collection. A more flagrant usage of the national flag come sin the form of the two buckle fastened dry fly bag, which is made entirely of the flag print in waxed cotton. Two from pockets, with leather adjustable straps make this a more classic line than the black Union Flag bag.

'enjoying life beyond the city' is how Barbour describe themselves and their bag ranges, but the waxed leather olive Tarras bag is pure man about town, with two bellows pockets on the front, this rounded edged bag is refined and understated with a waxed leather lid providing a dull quality finish, just right me thinks. Once inside, the tartan lining might cause a stir though, you have been warned.

The last of the MB range comes in the shape of the Thomproof Tarras waxed bag, remain along the lines of the 'classic shoulder bag' the 10oz waxed canvas bag with brass buckles, two outside bellow pockets, with stud fastenings.The Thomproof is more workman like than the other bags, with the water resistant outer proving this.The olive colouring has amore workman like feel to it as well, so if you like your bags authentic, this may be the perfect choice.

You can see this bag being carried down the gang plank of a ship or thrown into a helicopter before a period of RnR, the classic 'holdall' bag is a rarely seen, but pure design bag.

Waxed cotton, leather tom bag with two handles and a two-way zip along the length of the bag has a base b word and studs for extra sturdiness and sadly does come with a detachable shoulder strap, I say sadly, because I feel you should be made to carry a bag like this in the same way it was originally designed, but that's just me being a purest. This bag is a definite head turner and deservedly so.

The wheelie holdall bag is more your 'standard' travel bag, with some nice finishes, such as the two tone colouring, which highlights the leather straps against the bags olive finish.

The 10oz cotton bag is fitted with wheels and a retractable handle with large front pockets and two interior lined ones as well. It also comes with a webbing shoulder strap. The 'wheelie' is the top of the range price wise and really is a lot more bag for your money, it is a bag designed for the job, whereas the others in the range serve both as a great addition to a look along with practicality, with the wheelie the practical side comes first.



Tuesday 18 January 2011

Barbour turns Japanese




TIMELESS classic design is what John Barbour based his original creations on, when he launched the famous outerwear company, but time is not on your side when it comes to the latest range form the northern clothing icon.

Having teamed up with Japanese designer Tokihito Yoshida to produce a Limited Edition capsule collection.

The To Ki To range is inspired by Barbour's rich archive and lorded technical innovations and modern fit and if they don't turn your head and cause your jaw to drop, you are probably dead.

Kicking off the range is the Bonded Blouson in stone. The three play fabric jacket, vented at the back shoulders, is based somewhat on the classic trench coat, with four front pockets, two high on the breast and two lower. The angled shirt collar and large zipper tag stir up images of both classic and modern at the same time.

The stunning vents at the rear side and back of the upper arm are practical as well as adding some nice lines to the outer body shape.

The hooded Summer Bicycle jacket with superb tartan interior and stone colouring outside is a parka style jacket with two large chest pockets, high button/zip neck and two bellow pockets. The fish tail style back hangs lower to provide splash coverage for cyclists, but let's face it is not going to be worn while cycling all whimsy down some countryside lane.

This jacket, with the typically japanese white strip at the back of the hood will be sported in and around cities and rightly so.

Oh you really could fall in love with this range.

The Motorbike short jacket tips a wink to the international and motorbike ranges from Barbour, comes in a wax finish and boasts a nice angled breast top front pocket along with two hip flap pockets, along with a rear one just in case you need somewhere to store your newspaper. Well actually it's for maps, but well, yea, you know what I mean. Coming in olive this jacket is a classic tight fit design and is simple nice as in Jazz Club way, you know it, nice.

The stone or olive Sporting Quilt jackets are a more traditional Barbour look with suede shoulder plates, elbows and corduroy collar, with cracked wax finish, this is a combination of the the Liddlesdale and Country Keeper jackets with the iconic vertical quilted body.

A five button fastening front with nice sports jacket turns at the bottom make this a real mark for the range.

I have really got to get me ones of those.