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Fall Sporting Style, Starring the Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Filed under: Apparel, Spirits, Timepieces, Sports, Men's Style


Photographed by Adrianna Ault for Luxist

Click above for high-res images & full credit info.

For us, fall in the country always evokes a sporting aesthetic which has its roots in England but is not necessarily strictly limited to the UK. Country pursuits pursued with panache as hunting and shooting are in England easily translate to picturesque parts of the States, while retaining elements of the sporting tradition that transcends fads and fashions. As Bernhard Roetzel remarks in his brilliant book Gentleman: A Timeless Fashion, "We have to thank these once feudal and even today only partly democratized pleasures of rural life for a style of dress that continues to demonstrate its timelessness," evocative as they are of "traditions that stretch back for generations and epitomize the English countryside."

As Roetzel notes, one does not need to be an enthusiastic hunter to take pleasure in certain pieces of clothing that were originally conceived for shooting; nor does one necessarily need to trek all over the countryside merely because one has purchased an SUV. However it is well worth putting both the SUV and the clothing to its original purpose, if only as Roetzel notes to "show them in their original environment just once before they become mere quotations in our everyday wardrobe." We are not quite so despairing of the fate of sporting authenticity, but even if your pleasure in such items is purely vicarious we feel no one of style can not be inspired by classic designs such as the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Barbour's British country clothing and even a fine Italian shotgun.



As followers of The Classicist will recall, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class debuted back in 1979, and has been an automotive design icon known as much for rugged good looks as versatility ever since; what other vehicle after all can lay claim both to having won the famous Paris-Dakar Rally and being deemed a worthy means of transport for the Pope? The model featured here is the top of the line G55 AMG (you can read all about it here). Famed British clothing company J. Barbour & Sons, known for their iconic waxed jackets which are as practical as they are stylish, was founded in 1894 and holds Royal Warrants from HM Queen Elizabeth II, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and HRH The Prince of Wales. The jackets shown here are from their great new fall collection.

As for some of the other elements featured herein, these include the amazing Apex from Caesar Guerini, makers of fine Italian shotguns; a chronoscope by Swiss watchmaker JeanRichard; classic handcrafted rubber hunting boots from Le Chameau, founded in France in 1927; the Classic Malts Selection, the prestigious portfolio of single malts from Scotland's six distilling regions; the Leica D-LUX 4 Safari edition digital camera; the latest model sunglasses from Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana, both available at Ilori, and Cinzia Designs; and items from Ralph Lauren, Loro Piana, Beretta and others. As for the setting, the picturesque Northern Catskill Mountains provided the backdrop. See the gallery for full details.

William & Son Granted Royal Warrant

Filed under: Handbags, Jewelry, Timepieces, Celebrity Shopping


William & Son, the luxury goods emporium located in London's elegant Mayfair district founded by William Asprey after his family's business, Asprey of London, was sold off back in the '90s, was recently granted a Royal Warrant to HM Queen Elizabeth II. The firm (which we wrote about last year), offers high-end jewelry, silver, watches, leathergoods, china and crystal, as well as custom-made shotguns and other bespoke services. The Royal Warrant is awarded as a mark of recognition to companies who have regularly supplied goods or services for at least five years to members of the Royal Family. Warrants have always been regarded as a mark of excellence and quality, and are highly prized. Other firms holding the Royal Warrant include Asprey, Swaine Adeney Brigg, Barbour and Laphroaig.

The Classicist: True Brit - Barbour's Best for Fall

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style, The Classicist


Classic British outerwear company Barbour has come out with a brilliant collection for fall building on the brand's heritage while updating traditional designs and adding subtle new takes on sporting classics. Inspired by the best of British varsity wear and Barbour's own rich lineage - the firm, founded in 1894, holds Royal Warrants from HM Queen Elizabeth II, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and HRH The Prince of Wales - there are new additions to each of Barbour's collections: Heritage, Contemporary, Classic, and Sporting.

Fall ushers in a bold, visually appealing and tactile re-interpretation of Barbour's authentic style. This season sees an expansion in new styles in the company's outerwear, knitwear and shirts ranges, as well as a brand new, full trouser collection with formal, casual and jeans options for both men and women. One standout is the Union Jack International motorcycle jacket (above left) with a super cool British flag lining. Key items feature Union Jack patches and Barbour badges as well, such as the Durelli International jacket with an integral waistcoat. Other trends in the autumn/winter '09 collection include: (continued after the jump)


Barbour Waxed Cotton New Utility Jacket

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style

barbour waxed cotton jackets
For its Spring / Summer collection which we previewed back in March, famed British clothing company Barbour has come out with an updated version of its classic waterproof waxed jacket. While this time of year usually calls for seersucker, the weather just isn't co-operating so waterproofs are de rigeur. The New Utility jacket (above), part of the company's Contemporary line, features slimmer proportions, cargo-style pockets and a smaller collar. Lined in classic Barbour Tartan, the jacket is made of the company's classic mediumweight 6 oz. Barbour Sylkoil waxed fabric. Barbour, which was founded in 1894 and holds Royal Warrants from Queen Elizabeth II, The Duke of Edinburgh, and The Prince of Wales, is further expanding on tradition with artfully updated designs like this one.

The Classicist: Barbour Goes "Britprep"

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style, The Classicist


Last month we told you about the super-cool new collaboration between Japanese designer Tokihito Yoshida (aka To Ki To) and famed British clothing company J. Barbour & Sons, known for their iconic waxed jackets. For spring / summer, Barbour, which was founded in 1894 and holds Royal Warrants from HM Queen Elizabeth II, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and HRH The Prince of Wales, is further expanding on tradition in the form of a new "Britprep" collection. They hope to evolve as a lifestyle brand appealing to a wider customer base with the development of more contemporary products focused on rugged tailoring and fit.

With the collection Barbour "brings authenticity to a look that defines the lifestyle of a British summer." Layers for men and women are "worn with character and wit to create an individual style." As befits a company with such a rich history, Barbour's heritage, which continues to inspire these new designs and developments, lies at the heart of the new collection. So what exactly is "Britprep"? According to Barbour, the look is not quite as clean and crisp as American Preppy. Simple, stylish, and contemporary, the collection "pays particular attention to fashion, color and tradition capturing the essence of 'Britishness.'"

Barbour has never really gone in for logos, but with the Britprep collection (above) they're employing a new crest. Unlike designers who invent crests, it's an authentic bit of heraldry deriving from the original Barbour family coat of arms originating in Galloway, Scotland. It is seen in a few variations throughout the entire collection, from subtle prints on inside jacket linings to the bold emphasis directly on the chest of polos, rugby shirts, a blazer, and even a version of Barbour's classic quilted Liddesdale jacket (pictured above left and in the gallery).


To Ki To x Barbour Ltd. Edition Collection

Filed under: Apparel, Sports, Men's Style



Classic British outdoor clothing company Barbour has teamed up with Japanese designer Tokihito Yoshida to launch a new limited edition capsule collection for Autumn Winter '09. J. Barbour & Sons, known for their iconic waxed jackets, was founded in 1894 and holds Royal Warrants from HM Queen Elizabeth II, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and HRH The Prince of Wales. A graduate of Kuwasawa Design School, Tokihito previously designed for companies including Blades Savile Row in Japan before founding his own brand, To Ki To, in 1997. Consisting of five waxed and three waterproof jackets for men, the inspiration for the new To Ki To range came from Barbour's rich archive, which goes as far back as 1908, along with technical innovations and a modern fit.

Tokihito is renowned for the detail that he adds to his garments and he has taken Barbour's distinctive style and added his own signature design to create a unique collection that includes a wax Trench Coat, Bicycle, Horse Riding (above), Motor Riding and Driving jackets. Special features include zip on/zip off detachable helmet-style hoods, detachable padded vests, water-resistant map pockets, and integral storm skirts. On the trench coat, the vent and the front of the jacket combine to make a pair of "culottes" with the button features. Pricing has not been announced but Michael Williams at A Continuous Lean tags it at about $799 - $999 apiece.


The Quilted Riding Jacket That Stops Bullets

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style


We've long been fans of the quilted riding jacket, as popularized by the classic British outerwear company Barbour. Now Miguel Caballero, the Colombian designer known as "The Armani of Armor", has introduced a totally bulletproof version (above), which manages to not sacrifice anything in the way of style. Since many devotees also wear this kind of jacket for upland hunting, it's practical even for those who aren't princes, presidents and out-of-favor oligarchs in fear of their lives, as some of Caballero's best customers certainly are.

Enough anti-ballistics to stop an Uzi or a .44 Magnum - never mind some birdshot - doesn't come cheap of course, but at about $10,000 the jacket is more bang for the buck so to speak than Caballero's $12,000 bulletproof polo shirt. Plus it's waterproof, with an optional stab-proof lining. Caballero's only retail location outside of South and Central America is Harrod's in London, but the company takes special orders directly. They'll even make you one of these in cashmere if you insist (we asked).


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