B is for Barbour: Virginia Country from A to Z

It had been cold and rainy for two straight days, when a soaking-wet Jennings came in from the garden and called me on the phone, suggesting a field trip to Orvis. 

He was off the fence about a new Barbour.

Folks have been wearing Barbour jackets since 1894.

Don't they look happy?

What could possibly prompt a hundred years of outerwear devotion?  

The 6 oz. waxed cotton jacket is rainproof, thorn-proof, comfortable three seasons a year, and works just fine for making the morning mailbox trek in pygamas, bringing home the Christmas tree, weekend antiquing, or over a suit jacket on the Monday morning commute. 

The rear game pocket on the Beaufort jacket is the perfect size for holding a dead duck, a newspaper, a dogleash, an extra sweater, or for sneaking a split of champagne and two plastic cups into a movie on girl's night out.  I've heard.

The Bedale is the Barbour jacket you will see most around Virginia barns, in part because it is shorter in length than the Beaufort.  Instead of the game pocket in back, it has gusseted double inverted pleat vents to make it easier to sit in the saddle, as the tails will flop over the cantle.  If you are an avid rider (or just want to look like one) then this is the jacket for you.  It has the same double rolled seams, and other nifty features as the Beaufort, and if you like to ride your horse in the rain, you won't get your saddle wet.

The Barbour Liddesdale Down Gillet

The jacket has a distinctive waxy smell when it is new, the same smell, I imagine that it has had for 117 years.  But we're okay with that.

Items found by Barbour in the pockets of jackets sent for re-waxing

Of course, we also like it when the our trucks have that particular hay/wet dogs/hot coffee/muddy Wellies smell too, so bear that in mind.

Interesting then, that Barbours are getting so much fashion press these days.

Who would have thought that the same boxy, functional coat worn by the British royal family to walk the dogs, would one day be considered sexy.

It isn't that people who live in the country don't want to look nice of course,

and this is purely philosophical speculation, but it is possible that with living, growing things all around, and the whole circle-of-life thing happening right under ones nose constantly, that looking sexy seems fairly redundant and quite unnecessary.

In any case, you will need to re-wax your Barbour yearly, or send it back to Barbour and they'll do it for you.  Yes, this is a hassle, but as a very wise man once said to me, most things in life are a hassle anyway, so what's one more thing?

We liked that Orvis is committed to donating to projects that advance research to protect, treat, and cure companion animals, horses and wildlife worldwide.  Dylan, a Golden Retriever, is the Orvis poster dog who has raised $500,000 for the Morris Animal Foundation's program to fight canine cancer.  You can donate online by clicking the link here.

Note:  This post is purely informational for the two or three readers (Hi Mom) who actually follow our blog.  Jennings & Gates received no compensation from Barbour, Orvis, or the Morris Animal Foundation.


Great reading from our library:


            

We think that country life is more a state of mind, than a state of, well... State.

Whether your home is the city, by the sea, in the mountains or Farm town, USA, country life is about how you approach living your day, how you feel about your home, and how you care for yourself and your neighbors.

Virginia Country Life from A-Z is a new series inspired by our homes in Virginia.  It's about some things and people we love, and some ideas for making your life a little more country- wherever you are.

Next post... C is for...

Images: 1.Jennings & Gates 2.-3. Barbour 4. Janet Simon Design, Photographed by Simon Bessler via Traditional Home 5. Unknown 6.-8. Barbour 9. Unknown 10.-13. Barbour 14. Jennings & Gates