Ladies and Gentlemen of Exeter,
There’s something very individual about the way an Exeter student wears their Barbour. We’re not in the country, so it’s not aimed to protect you from mud and grime (even though we do often comment on how ‘useful they are for a lovely, long country walk’). Similarly we’re not in London so it doesn’t need to be worn with leather trousers to be fashionable. We wear it with simplicity and with pride. A certain lengthy swag and casual air circles a Barbour babe. You can sling a Barbour over almost any outfit and it’s bound to compliment without shining too brightly. But, underneath this inner confidence it isn’t unusual to feel a slight restlessness.
Imagine for a second… It’s raining. You know you have the perfect waterproof and windproof coat to help you weather the storm. It even has fleece-lined pockets you can tuck your chilly hands in to. It’s in a neutral colour so it compliments every outfit. You may even have a chosen a Liberty or Union Jack lining just to spice things up a little. It’s just… you’re getting quite bored of it. You wear it every day, and you know you look the perfect mix of stylish and practical, but you wear it so often people are starting to wonder if you wear it as a pyjama top. You want the rain to stop hanging in the air, and turn up a couple of degrees just to you can let give your Barbour a breather and let your wardrobe shine. Well, here are some tips to help you become Barbour-licious once more.
1. Pretentious doesn’t suit a Barbour. Never boast, it’s distinctly uncouth and your fellow students will cringe. You may have got a new Barbour, but pretend you didn’t. You got it ages ago and found it in the cupboard. You must never hop, skip, or jump in a Barbour. It’s breathable and flows like a second skin, but it isn’t produced for an overload gaiety. Be… cool…
2. Slinging a Barbour over anything is the best way to be delicious. But, the Barbour a very discerning coat. Don’t wear leggings and trainers if you’re not going to the gym. Don’t wear riding boots if the last time you went riding was when you were bucked off as a six-year-old. And, most importantly, don’t cut your Zara / CountryWearLtd label and stitch a Barbour label in. We see straight through people like you.
3. You know how when you first write an essay it’s shiny and new and you’re so over the moon you’ve written it you can’t think about a second draft? It’s all on the page, and that’s what matters, so you leave it for a little while under the illusion it’s perfect. You then look deeper at the details and realise it needs a slight rework, so you keep the initial structure and ideas but improve the details. It’s the same with a Barbour. They need to be reworked every now and again. They need a little TLC – reproof it to restore the initial shine and keep their hard wearing potential. Maybe add a fur collar or a different lining to the cuffs to make it feel special and adored. Possibly take inspiration from Burberry and stitch an Aztec print onto the pocket – edgy.
4. Buy another coat, that isn’t Barbour. I know, radical. They’re such good all-rounders! Believe me, your love is going stale and you need to play the field a little. By having the option to choose another coat you will fully realise what a good companion your Barbour is, how it is something to fall back on in times of need. A pea coat gives a very different vibe to your dependable wax coat, but it will merge well with a style that you have slowly grown to work around your Barbour. Ladies go for a structured pea coat that accentuates your curves in a way no wax coat could, and gentleman go for a short pea coat to pair with nice scarves and loafers. You will soon find that your love never faded, you just craved excitement when you really needed steadfast love.
5. Ladies, layer. Wear a quilted barbour jacket underneath with a dress and thick tights. Rather than opting for jeans and Barbour with a jumper that’s unseen unless you unzip, go for a dress and tights that either match the colour of your Barbour or are a complimentary shade, for instance green Barbour with thick navy tights and a navy flower dress and navy quilted jacket. If you renew the way you wear your Barbour, it will be given a new lease of life.
Your Barbour is your faithful friend. It’s quintessentially English, and shows that you’re a Tory without the hassle of political discussion. Never doubt the power of a Barbour. But, beware, a Barbour needs some love, care, and attention to keep its careless appeal.
By Emily-Rose Rolfe
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