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Shooting

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.

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.


Bonhams' Fine Sporting Gun Sale

Filed under: Auctions, Sports


If you missed out on one of those $100,000 Asprey shotguns we told you about that were auctioned off at Christie's in May, not to worry - Bonhams is holding its own Sporting Guns sale in London on July 30 where you can bid on some extremely fine pieces at a fraction of the cost. In actual fact, the highest priced guns at the Christie's sale were made by Holland & Holland, and there are several fine examples of their craft in the Bonhams sale. For instance, a 1947 12-bore 'Royal de Luxe' sidelock ejector shotgun with foliate-scroll engraving and gold inlays (above), est. $32,000 - $40,000, in its original leather case.

Also on offer: A fine lightweight 1934 12-bore over-and-under shotgun by J. Woodward, in a leather case, est. $40,000 - $50,000; a 10-bore 'Premiere' single-trigger over-and-under shotgun by E.J. Churchill, est. $20,000 - $30,000; a 1905 12-bore self-opening sidelock ejector gun by Purdey, est. only $10,000 - $14,000; and several fine vintage guncases including one stunning example executed in crocodile skin, est. only $400 - $800. See the gallery for pix.

Last Shotguns Ever Made by Asprey Fetch Over $100,000

Filed under: Auctions, Sports



Two of the very last shotguns ever produced by 200-year-old London luxury goods firm Asprey were sold at Christie's in London Wednesday for over $120,000. The exceptionally exquisite firearms, included in the auction house's Fine Sporting Guns and Rifles sale, "mark the end of a tradition of impeccably executed gun craft," Christie's notes. Asprey, supplier to the aristocracy and longtime holder of Royal Warrants, closed its gunrooms for good in 1996 shortly after these final pieces were made when the company was acquired by Prince Jefri of Brunei. Prince Charles and George Bush both own Asprey shotguns similar to the ones featured in the sale.

Although Asprey guns are a thing of the past, Asprey scion William Asprey is carrying on the family's sporting tradition at his new firm, William & Son. As we reported previously, he is not allowed to use the Asprey name in trade. William opened his own gunroom at his company's Mayfair premises and is now selling equally impressive pieces. Also hammered down in the Christie's sale were a pair of 12-bore double-barreled shotguns made by Holland & Holland in 1976, for $118,000; a 1969 .375 magnum double-barreled rifle, also by Holland & Holland, for $94,000; a double-barreled 1906 sporting rifle by Purdey, for $31,000; and a modern 12-bore Beretta shotgun, $16,000, all with beautiful engraving and woodwork.



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