A Single Serving Of Spring Outerwear

Since spring is, well, spring you're not going to need too many pieces of outerwear.  In fact, if you play your cards right you can pretty much get by with just one.  You may already have this one perfect piece of spring outerwear, but if you don't I'd like to make a case in favor of the Barbour Liddesdale.  This lightweight yet warm jacket can take a beating and holds up great in any spring weather short of a monsoon.  Style wise it's pretty much as on point as anything Barbour designs.  There is a corduroy collar, snap closure side vents (most commonly seen on Barbour's Bedale model) and comes in a ton of colors.  You can grab something subtle in a neutral color (i.e. olive or navy) or go bold in some of the bright options for S/S 2011 (i.e. orange, red, royal blue).  Now, on to fit.  Most people I know, and myself included, have sized down.  I pretty much wear a medium in everything and a size small Liddesdale fits me perfectly.  It's easy to layer over or under my tailored clothing and other casual jackets I have for spring.  For example, this weekend I threw it over an old Engineered Garments field jacket.  The Liddesdale also features something so many other jackets fail to capitalize on - trim sleeves.  Overall, you're getting a ridiculously versatile jacket that is going to be your go to all season long for, at most, $150.  In my mind, it's the perfect single serving of spring outerwear anyone could ask for.

[Last two images courtesy of The Sartorialist.]

-L.A.S

Grave Robbing Vs. Saving 20%

"That jacket's really cool, but kinda smells like a dead guy."

"It's a Barbour and I got a great deal on it."

"That's usually what happens when you buy stuff from a dead guy."

The above is an exchange I had with my brother after I got my first Barbour off eBay.  Whenever you buy something used you run the risk of any potential issues left by the previous owner.  It could be some structural damage or maybe that signature grandma's attic/death scent.  This wont always be the case, but it's something to take into consideration.  You never know.  In some instances Febreze and soapy water (see: cleaning instructions) will fix everything.  In other cases it will not.  If your aversion to buying used gear has prevented you from securing that first or next Barbour, you may want to head over to Raleigh, North Carolina clothier Nowell's.  Right now they are offering 20% off all Barbour outerwear when you use the coupon code "FALL" at checkout.  Color and size combinations are pretty hit or miss right now, but with a little bit of effort you should be able to find pretty good options in your size.  The sale is no longer being advertised so there is no telling how long it's gonna last.  Both the iconic Beaufort and Bedale are accounted for, but not much else, so let's take a quick second to differentiate between the two.  While they look virtually identical there are some striking differences.  The Beaufort was, and still is, a hunting coat, while the Bedale is made for riding.  The Beaufort is ventless due to its nice sized game pouch across the bottom half of the jacket.  The Bedale, on the other hand, has side vents with snap closures to aid in a rider's movements.  They both look great and either one is a fantastic F/W option, but you already knew that.

-L.A.S

A Few F/W eBay Tips

I don't consider myself an eBay aficionado by any stretch of the imagination.  Some guys just posses a knack for auction wizardry and I am not one of them.  However, I have been buying gear on eBay for a long time so there are a few truths I hold to be self evident.  I'd like to share a few of those with you today.  I'm not going to waste your time talking about sniping services or how to properly low ball sellers.  Instead I'd like to quickly do my best to point you in the right direction of a few F/W staples that are always better on eBay.  What do I mean by better you ask?  In this case, better means cheaper.

Let's start with L.L. Bean boots as they are my favorite thing ever in the history of the world.  When I want a new pair I head straight to eBay.  For starters, there are more Bean boots than you can shake a stick at living on The Bay.  If you are unfamiliar with Bean boots let me tell you right off the bat that the sizing on these babies are very peculiar.  They can often run up to a size and a half too big (depending on your feet of course) and are very wide.  What does this mean for you?  Well, lots of people have bought Bean boots over the years that straight up do not fit.  They also don't take advantage of L.L. Bean's best in class customer service and instead of exchanging them put them up on eBay.  Their loss is your gain.  You can easily find a fresh new pair of Bean boots (in many different styles, both new and vintage) for less than half price.  And if you don't have a problem wearing someone else's used boots (I mean, you're gonna be wearing socks anyway, right?) you can easily grab a pair for like $30 or less.

Shipping costs aside, eBay UK is also a great resource, especially when looking for one of Barbour's many classic styles.  Barbour is practically a lifestyle across the pond, which means a lot of guys are constantly unloading their old jackets.  I know most of you guys probably want to break in your own jacket, but I also realize most of you don't have upwards of 400 bones to drop on a brand new joint.  For all I know your entire clothing budget for F/W is around that much.  I've seen used Barbour's sell in the $30-$180 range depending on the wear/tear and the popularity of the model (i.e. A Beaufort will run you more than a Border).  If you can find a Barbour being hawked by an independent seller (aka some random dude in Northampton), as oppose to a vintage "shop" on eBay, you can easily save around $300 plus dollars.  Buy some wax, put a little effort in on a Sunday afternoon and you've got a great classic jacket for fall.  Happy hunting.

-L.A.S

Trim And Quilted

If you've ever owned a traditional puffer/down vest you already know the pros and cons - the thing is insanely warm and functional, but it also makes you look about 20 pounds overweight.  It's a form vs. function argument at its very core.  Fortunately, there is a middle ground for someone trying to reconcile both of these attributes.  What normally seemed reserved for higher end European brands (i.e. Cucinelli) has slowly, but surely found its way to a cheaper demographic.  I'm talking, of course, about trimmed up quilted outerwear.  It keeps the insulation of your puffer intact, while streamlining things for an even greater versatility.  Instead of being limited as an outermost layer, outwear of this variety can easily work as an intermediate layer too - wear it under your jacket on a frigid day or utilize it as your outermost layer during the first signs of fall.  There are lots of styles to choose from depending on your aesthetic or wardrobe needs.  From tailored waistcoats to shirt jackets, there are a good amount of options floating around.  I personally like Barbour's options (keep in mind that they have been doing this kind of thing for a long time so they've pretty much perfected it at this point), but that's just me.  You shouldn't have too many issues spending under $100, but there are also middle of the range pieces for those of you with a tad more disposable income (see: Wings + Horns F/W 2010 I talked about the other day).  The idea of keeping your clothing trim isn't necessarily new for a lot of you, so consider this nothing more than a reminder that your quilted outerwear can be just like the rest of your wardrobe - streamlined, stylish and, most of all, functional.

-L.A.S

A Trend I Can Get Behind

Barbour for the ladies - done and done.  Beautiful contrivances? Form over function.

[Picture via Gawker.  Not pictured: A paparazzo wearing Red Wings.]

-L.A.S

Attn: Barbour To Ki To

 

[Pictured: Barbour To Ki To Bicycle Jacket available for $475.00 at Oi Polloi.]

Some pieces from the super exclusive Barbour Limited Edition Collection by Japan's To Ki To are now available for purchase.  The collection is a contemporary take on the classic brand offering updated pieces in a modern fit (wow...contemporary, updated and modern used in one sentence...surely I've outdone myself).  Oi Polloi says the stuff is "slim and neater than classic Barbour" and all fit aside these bicycle jackets just flat out look amazing.  As you all know, exclusivity comes at a steep price and this gear is no exception.  Read more about the collection in an old post from ACL and let a little piece inside of you die when you realize you're probably never going to get your hands on any of this.  In fact, I feel completely empty after writing this...

 

 

 

 

  

-L.A.S

Bikers vs. Motorcyclists, Barbour vs. Belstaff and Steve

Yesterday's post dealing with my affinity towards red motorcyclist jackets contained a few inaccuracies.  Thankfully I have readers much more knowledgeable than myself and I was able to clear up a lot of stuff and fill in a few holes.

First, I must make the distinction between "bikers" and "motorcyclists".  While both are surely rebel characters in many respects, the latter of the two should be distinguished for his elegant sportsmanship.  This "distinct breed" of gent was an athlete whose thirst for danger and competition set him apart.  When talking specifically about motorcyclist jackets, such as the Trialmaster and who wore them, we are talking about motorcyclists.

Next, it should be noted that when I made the assertion that Barbour was for "the hunter and the outdoorsman" I failed to mention their own motorcyclist jacket, the International.  In fact, in the iconic picture (see below) of Steve McQueen at the 1964 International 6 Day Trials he wears a Barbour International and not a Belstaff Trialmaster.  Despite this documentation of McQueen in Barbour his feelings on Belstaff were actually quite fond.

It has been said that despite McQueen wearing the International at the '64 Trials in Germany, he actually preferred a Belstaff and wore that whenever he, himself, biked.  In 2007, Belstaff even released a special edition Trialmaster (see below) as a "Steve McQueen Celebration." 

 

I hope that sufficiently takes care of everything and serves as a kind of mini history lesson. Thanks to all the readers who helped me get my facts straight and who participated in the initial discussion.  When Sart Inc is "getting its forum on" I couldn't be happier.

-L.A.S

Stumbled Across: O'Connell's Clothing

James actually stumbled across O'Connell's Clothing, but he told me to run with it and do a write up since he is busy with lots of real life, actual work.  Established in 1959, this Buffalo, NY clothier is family owned and operated.  "Uncompromising quality, unquestionable value, and exceptional service" appears to be the name of the game and the Huber family is proud to offer goods made in the USA, Canada and the UK.  The online shop is pretty impressive and is stocked with a ton of lust-worthy goods (Alden, Quoddy, Bill's Khakis, Baracuta, Barbour and O'Connell's own brand).  Talk about a great find right as holiday shopping kicks into full gear.  Head over to the website or make the trip to Buffalo to scout out all the goods.  Last I checked, Santa's elves don't make blackwatch plaid watch straps.  Thankfully O'Connell's has 'em in stock.  Peep some personal favorites below...

-L.A.S