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#1 2008-04-10 10:39:45
- Marc Grayson
- Member
- Posts: 8860
Barbour Birthday
http://www.vogue.co.uk/vogue_daily/story/story.asp?stid=51905
"‘The sense of being perfectly well dressed gives a feeling of inner tranquility which even religion is powerless to bestow." Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Looking good and dressing well is a necessity. Having a purpose in life is not." Oscar Wilde
#2 2008-04-11 11:45:12
- Tony Ventresca
- Member
- Posts: 5132
Re: Barbour Birthday
There seems to be an inverse relationship between the quality of a brand's ware and its use of past glories in marketing and brand awareness exercises. The more that Barbour's products suck, the more they push their "history" and "heritage" in their marketing.
#3 2008-04-11 13:55:46
- Coolidge
- Member
- Posts: 1192
Re: Barbour Birthday
^ I agree, this is often seen as well in the car industry. Though Barbour's not totally shot yet, I guess, unlike Chrysler.
#4 2008-04-11 14:10:46
- mafoofan
- Member
- From: Chicago, IL USA
- Posts: 328
Re: Barbour Birthday
Hmm. Has Barbour's quality really gotten worse? My jackets have all held up nicely and seem well-made.
#6 2008-04-11 23:17:33
- Horace
- Member
- Posts: 6433
Re: Barbour Birthday
""This is probably the last Deb season...because of the stock market, the economy, Everything..." - W. Stillman.
#8 2009-01-22 14:46:01
- Kingstonian
- Member
- From: sea to shining sea
- Posts: 3205
Re: Barbour Birthday
I have always hated Barbours and waxed jackets in general.
They were a fashion with wannabes in the UK in the 80s. I like a lot of country stuff - but not Barbours or green wellies.
Wannabes rarely tested the garments in adverse weather. Drizabone stockmen's coats are equally unnecessary for urban types but they were not as big a fashion.
#9 2009-01-22 16:01:15
- formby
- Member
- From: Wiseacre
- Posts: 8359
Re: Barbour Birthday
"Dressing, like painting, should have a residual stability, plus punctuation and surprise." - Richard Merkin
Souvent me Souvient
#10 2009-01-22 16:10:29
- Film Noir Buff
- Dandy Nightmare
- From: Devil's Island
- Posts: 9345
Re: Barbour Birthday
I like them because they offer water resistance without warmth. Good in a city setting. And the black, navy and other urban colors are useful.
#13 2009-01-22 18:45:09
- Marc Grayson
- Member
- Posts: 8860
Re: Barbour Birthday
Just from a functional/water repellency standpoint, Barbour is antiquated, but, stylistically, their jackets are unique and beautiful in their own quirky way, IMO.
"‘The sense of being perfectly well dressed gives a feeling of inner tranquility which even religion is powerless to bestow." Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Looking good and dressing well is a necessity. Having a purpose in life is not." Oscar Wilde
#15 2009-01-22 19:00:11
- Marc Grayson
- Member
- Posts: 8860
Re: Barbour Birthday
"‘The sense of being perfectly well dressed gives a feeling of inner tranquility which even religion is powerless to bestow." Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Looking good and dressing well is a necessity. Having a purpose in life is not." Oscar Wilde
#16 2009-01-22 19:48:16
- AQG
- Member
- From: The Sticks
- Posts: 1306
Re: Barbour Birthday
Interesting posts. I agree with Kingstonian that Barbours are unstylish. I also agree with Grayson that they are beautiful in their own quirky way. Cognitive dissonance? Perhaps. My Barbour is old, beat up and seriously in need of mending if the sleeves are not to fall to tatters. I love the thing. Tony excepted, the division of opinion here seems to come down to an English v. American split. For the English, Barbours have lots of cultural baggage attached to them. There's the whole Sloane Ranger thing, imitation, etc. For Americans, they're just stinky, sticky green jackets. We're free to wear them in ways the English are not.
As to recent stylistic developments, they are a mixed bag. The stuff by the Japanese designer looks kind of questionable; all baggy and puffed out. Not my cup of tea. On the other hand, some of the recent leaner, cleaner stuff looks great. Last year, I bought the four pocket utility jacket for my wife. It is contoured, feminine and has a cool, Mandarin sort of collar. This seems like a good direction for the firm.
#17 2009-01-23 03:11:53
- Moose Maclennan
- Ivy Inspiration
- From: Hernando's Hideaway
- Posts: 4577
Re: Barbour Birthday
Still, waxed cotton coats are the only ones that will hold up well to dog slobber and mud. The generic ones always seem fine to me, I once had a Partridge jacket which was no better or worse. One of mine's in the shed, one's in the car.
#18 2009-01-23 05:54:54
- John Rotten
- Member
- Posts: 1051
Re: Barbour Birthday
I like the one on the left here, from TV's link to ACL:
http://acontinuouslean.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/barbour_horse_driving.jpg
#21 2009-01-23 07:50:24
- Tony Ventresca
- Member
- Posts: 5132
Re: Barbour Birthday
I have had several over the years, so I agree they are handy and useful. But they are nothing more than a corporate exploitation enterprise. Kingstonian made the important point, that this brand was "old news" about 20 years ago. Now that every middle class American & Brit has at least two of these in their closet, people who's idea of the outdoors is a walk in Central Park during lunchtime, the brand are truly dead. The only reason people are still buying into them is that Target isn't selling them (yet) and the "historic" marketing.
It is weird that those who denounce brand-obsession in the iGents will put all that aside for Barbour. I and others have stated time & time again that they are just a tired brand doing the usual "revival" thing like Baracuta, Burberry's, Hunter, you name it, the list is increasingly endless. We have a thread here with dozens of alternative no-name models which are just as good, cheaper, but admitedly have no brand cachet.
You are being exploited. Do not waste your money on this brand. I mean, $650 US dollars for a Barbour? Fuck off, just go to one of those no name farming supply places and get one sent here for 1/3 the price. It will actually be more genuine than Barbour.
Stop supporting this type of thing.
#22 2009-01-23 08:00:23
- tripchauncey
- Member
- Posts: 568
Re: Barbour Birthday
AQG -- true true,, me thinks it the museum set who watched The Queen who is most purchasing of late.
TV -- even ol Target is now selling their own.
http://www.target.com/Merona-Cotton-Barncoat-Oxford-Ivy/dp/B001EQ0H3Y