Tweed & Fair Isle - fusty or feisty? We can all be geography teachers now

In my recent sort through my wardrobe I came across a Fair Isle pullover that I'm pretty sure I bought in as a teenager in the early seventies from the long-missed Kensington Antique Hypermarket (there were a number of similar markets at that time that were treasure troves of sixties clothing).

I've hardly ever worn it, but it has missed the attention of our particularly voracious moths, so, influenced by the recent BBC Young James Herriot series, I thought I'd try it on (above).  The tweedy Fair Isle look reminds me of the clothes my teachers used to wear at school (yes, the geography teachers did wear tweed jackets with leather elbow patches).

Photo BBC

Photo BBC

A man of my age might be worrying about tweed and Fair Isle being too fusty* (see below), however, the look has been taken up seriously by the fashion industry, led by designers such as Ralph Lauren.  What do we think?  Fusty or no?

Here are some photos found on the web, sorry I don't know whose they are -

* fus·ty adj. fus·ti·er, fus·ti·est
1. Smelling of mildew or decay; musty.
2. Old-fashioned; antique.
[Middle English, from Old French fust, piece of wood, wine cask, from Latin fustis, stick, club.]
fusti·ly adv.
fusti·ness n

(From The Free Dictionary)

Vintage clothes for the older man? A Harris Tweed coat

Being willing to buy vintage clothes opens up a world of possibilities, as a browse of eBay or a charity shop will show.  In my search for style as middle-age tightens its grip I thought I'd give them a try (only to discover, of course, that my wardrobe is littered with clothing now considered to be vintage).

I'd seen this photograph of Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer and loved the look of the tweed coat containing them both, with its oversize leather buttons.  I found this Harris Tweed coat on eBay and bought it.  It turned out to be old and a bit moth-eaten, but some tender care had made it wearable - I think!  Here it is - and no, I couldn't find a Hollywood star to share it with me for this shot!

This shot gives a better idea of the tweed's colour - the two large dark brown buttons are the originals, unfortunately I had to change them as one is missing:

Leather buttons - how our memories influence our tastes in style and fashion as we age

A sense of style, fashion or taste is inevitably bound up with childhood memories.  I remember being fascinated as a small child by the leather buttons on adults' tweed coats and jackets.  This memory has stayed with me and has no doubt influenced my taste in clothes as I've moved into middle age.

Grey Fox photo

I have always wondered how such buttons are made and was about to get out my Swiss Army knife to take one apart (in true boyish style) when I thought it might be less destructive to use Google to find the answer.  It appears that the genuine articles are braided from leather thongs.  Here a link to some instructions should you wish to make your own!  Unfortunately many are now made from moulded or braided plastic.

My love of of tweed is enhanced by these wonderful buttons, sometimes called football buttons because they resemble an old-fashioned stitched leather football.  I have seldom seen them used with any  fabric other than tweed, although they are used on Aran knitted woollen clothing.

I recently bought a vintage Harris Tweed coat with huge leather buttons about 3cm in diameter with leather shanks, similar to those on the coat below containing both Audrey Hepburn AND Mel Ferrer.  The buttons are thick and generously domed, unlike newer buttons which have thin metal shanks and are much slimmer in profile.  

Grey Fox photo