View photo galleryIt’s mid-February, which means it’s time to start thinking about your spring style. In colder climates, February, March and even April still mean jacket weather, although not the heavier winter coats currently in use. Instead, you need a lighter jacket that keeps you warm, but adds in some additional style that’s many times absent in your winter collection. And that’s where the Barbour Heritage Collection comes into play. It’s a lineup of jackets, sweaters and shirts that will help you perfectly usher in the start of the new season by not only keeping you warm, but by keeping you looking great.
But before I go any further, let me tell a bit about Barbour, for those of you unfamiliar with the brand. Based out of South Shields, England, Barbour is a fifth generation family owned business, with roots tracing back to 1894, and they describe their lineup as a marriage of “wit, grit and glamour.” Look at their jackets, and you’ll instantly see why. Barbour jackets exemplify cool – a combination of classic style with modern touches – and they’ve been worn by everyone from submariners in World War II to motorcycle racers in the International Six Day Trials to “The King of Cool,” Steve McQueen. But despite their cool factor, Barbour jackets are the epitome of functional, as the brand has become synonymous with waxed cotton construction – a process pioneered by Barbour that makes their jackets waterproof, windproof, and if properly cared for, capable of lasting a lifetime.
I picked up my first Barbour jacket a few years ago – a waxed cotton variant that Barbour has become synonymous for in a style reminiscent of a classic 50’s biker jacket. And ever since my first Barbour purchase, I’ve been absolutely in love with the brand.
Adding to my immense affinity for Barbour, my most recent Barbour acquisition is the Wool Fishing Jacket, a member of the Barbour Heritage Collection designed in collaboration with Tokihito Yoshida. It’s the jacket you see pictured, but unfortunately it sold out almost immediately after I bought it. It’s a gorgeous jacket, featuring a herringbone wool outer construction, a rollaway hood and numerous fishing details. I’ll be honest – I don’t fish, but the jacket looked great so I bought it anyways. As is the case with virtually all Barbour jackets, the Wool Fishing Jacket is multi-pocketed, featuring two large chest pockets (one with a fishing net bag), two Napoleon pockets and two upper pockets with side entry zips (perfect for smaller items such mobile phones).
And while the Barbour Wool Fishing Jacket isn’t available, there’s some other great looking options in the Barbour Heritage Collection that are. Personally, I’m a huge fan of the Barbour Blast Jacket in Red (made from Barbour’s trademark wax construction), the Barbour Motorcycle Shirt Jacket (also boasting a wax construction) or for a more rugged look, the Barbour Vintage Cotton Hunting Jacket. There’s also some great lighter weight spring options, including the Fisherman Crew cotton sweater and the Keegan cotton zip shirt.
As I came to learn, however, no matter which piece of Barbour style you’re looking at, you need to act quick. Barbour pieces sell out remarkably quickly, so whatever jacket you’re considering, act quick before they disappear, as my wool fishing jacket did.
To learn more about Barbour and their full lineup of jackets and spring fashion, head over to the official Barbour website, or you can check out my Barbour Wool Fishing Jacket in the gallery below to see what makes Barbour’s style so special.
