In British fashion, we have many kinds of clothing styles and looks. Some of these fashion trends come and go, but there’s one that continues to stand the test of time. We’re talking, of course, about the British country clothing style.
You may have heard of this before, but what exactly does it encompass? What do we mean when we talk about British country clothing? More specifically, what features or elements are we looking for when defining a certain type of clothing as this style?
It’s an iconic part of British fashion, and here is what we typically consider British country clothing:
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Steeped in tradition
We can trace the roots of British country clothing back to the 19th Century. Here, we started to see people with big country estates wearing a particular type of clothing. There was a lot of tweed on display, wax jackets, all-weather boots, waistcoats and so on.
All of the clothing was designed for the lifestyle these people led at the time. It was made for the great outdoors, meaning it didn’t feature loads of quirky style elements. The British country’s clothing style is very traditional in the sense that it hasn’t changed over the years. You see very basic colours – like browns, blacks and beiges – and extremely simple pieces. In fact, for something to be considered this style today, it should look like it could be worn back in the 19th Century without anyone batting an eyelid.
A blend of practical and comfortable
Following on from the above, this specific clothing style has always been about blending practicality and comfort together. Think about the people who started this trend: rural residents a couple of centuries ago. They lived in the countryside on large estates, meaning much of their life was taken up with traditional outdoor activities.
This included walking around the estate, hunting, horseback riding, etc. So, the clothes they wore needed to be practical – they had to be suitable for outdoor living. As such, you see things like wax jackets or walking boots that are designed to be water and weatherproof.
They’re made to last as well – as the people of old needed to rely on this clothing for many years. At the same time, the practical elements needed to be comfortable. You could spend hours on a traditional British hunting trip in the woods, so you couldn’t afford to feel uncomfortable in your clothing.
Modern British country clothing continues this trend today: you will find pieces that are wildly practical, yet extremely comfortable and well-fitted.
In summary:
it’s not too difficult to define this particular clothing style. Primarily, it is timeless in its traditional beauty; the items look like they’ve been taken from the past, yet remain stylish to this very day. Moreover, there is a big emphasis on practicality and comfort – if you don’t nail both, then it’s not part of this fashion style.
Feel free to shop for a range of high-quality British country clothing right here at John Partridge if you’re looking for some inspiration after reading this blog!
