Friday favourites: Scott Fraser, Jacamo all sizes, next week Buy British Day

Scott Fraser London-made jackets

I haven't featured Scott Fraser for a while, but he's been busy designing his range of British-made menswear and has now added the reversible, zip-up, shawl-collared Campus Jacket. 

They are manufactured to order in London and are made from a variety of short-pile velvet, Melton wool and denim. Inspired by the Ivy Leaguers' blouson/windbreaker/baseball/golf/bomber jacket/Harrington of the 1950s, they would suit any age, worn with jeans or chinos, brogues or penny loafers, button-down shirt and tie.

The jacket's available in navy blue velvet/denim reversible, ochre velvet/blue denim reversible or red velvet/wool check reversible. See Scott Fraser's website for more information and to buy.

Jacamo - a brand for all sizes and ages of man

I receive a lot of questions relating to style choices from men for whom standard clothes sizes don't work and have recently posted advice about this from stylist, Sarah Gilfillan, on these pages. 

I recently went to the launch of the flagship Jacamo store in Oxford Street, London and have found a retailer aiming to stylishly cater for all sizes and shapes of man. To underline this the store was opened by the England fast bowler, Fred Flintoff who assured me that his height and muscular build didn't prevent his getting a suit off the peg at Jacamo.

Chatting to the tall (I'm 6ft), but still Jacamo-sized, Fred Flintoff at the Oxford Street store launch

I noticed that a row of men's suit trousers ranged in size from 34" to 54" and I believe this may shortly include 32" waists as well, so Jacamo must be the first port of call for the larger man.

Buy British Day - Next Friday, 3rd October. 

To mark Buy British Day next Friday and Best of Britannia at the end of next week, I'll be having a Best of British Menswear and Accessories week next week. I've had to select a few brands from the hundreds available (see my list of Made in UK menswear), but I hope it will encourage you to explore the creativity and skills available in the UK. 

Why not buy menswear sustainably and locally, rather than cheaply from abroad?

Buy British Day

Best of Britannia

'Brutus' - Photo Grey Fox - taken at Private White VC in Manchester

Grey Fox Models 4: grey hair fashion advertising - well done Baracuta - video

Congratulations to Baracuta. These video and still images comprise the fourth of a series of fashion advertisements and celebrate a company that recognises that style doesn't disappear in middle age.

The Harrington jacket was developed by Baracuta* (see footnote) in the 1930s and has become a style icon, worn by Elvis Presley, Steve McQueen and Frank Sinatra, among others. The company was recently sold, but it seems the jacket's future is assured.

Clothing with such history and tradition can be worn by any age - new mods and originals - so is by no means the preserve of the young. Well done Baracuta!

Synonymous & Antonymous (long version) from WP on Vimeo.

*My original text repeated information on the web that said that Grenfell was one of the originators of the Harrington jacket. I've been contacted by a reputable source who tells me that there is no evidence of Grenfell's early involvement. I'm happy to change this if anyone can produce a 30s manufactured Grenfell Harrington jacket.

Staying dry naturally and stylishly - Barbour, Ventile, British Millerain, Grenfell

Spending a few days in the wild and woolly north disclosed a few gaps in the Grey Fox outdoors wardrobe. I have plenty of clothing suitable for climbing mountains and rambling along country footpaths, but these are mainly made artificial materials such as Gore-Tex. I have no problem with that, they are the best materials for extremes of weather. However, if the going is not so tough, they are rarely as comfortable as natural materials such as wool and cotton which are softer and more breathable. Furthermore, I don't really want to rustle like a paper bag as I walk a country path. It scares off the wildlife and makes me feel like a jolly anorak-clad rambler on a Sunday outing.

So, as autumn approaches, what is available that is stylish, breathable, quiet and made from natural materials to keep off the worst of the weather? Many of the traditional rainproof garments, made from fabrics such as cotton, were first developed here in the UK by Barbour, Belstaff, Ventile, British Millerain and Grenfell among others (many still going strong in the UK). Could this have been something to do with the British weather and our love of being outdoors walking, climbing, shooting, fishing or sport? This long practical heritage has appealed to British explorers and mountaineers, royalty and the quintessentially cool (i.e. Steve McQueen).

Here are a few examples of outdoor clothing made from natural materials (cotton or wool based) that offer stylish alternatives to more technical artificial fabrics.

[Edit: 2016 - I'm pleased to say that the Grenfell shooting jacket, a vintage example of which is shown below, has been recreated by a revived Grenfell, see here].

Barbour Sapper wax jacket

Hilltrek Ventile windshirt

Joe Caseley-Heyford at John Lewis Ventile mac

Orvis Everest Jacket - Ventile and Scottish tweed

Grenfell original Harrington jacket 

A vintage Grenfell outdoor/shooting jacket - no longer available!

Boden Biker, British Millerain waxed fabric

Boden Reefer, British Millerain waxed jacket