I love old clothing catalogs. For the kind of damp, cold weather we’ve been having, here’s a throwback Barbour catalog from the autumn of 1962 – printed back when the company still offered country suits and shoes. Those shoes used to be made by John White, a Northampton firm that has sadly gone into steep decline (I don’t believe they’re actually even made in the UK anymore). Those, of course, have been discontinued from Barbour’s line, but what remains is what Barbour has always been most known for: outerwear.
Here you’ll find Barbour’s Thornproof coats for hunting and fishing; iconic belted International jackets (which back then was sold as part of a suit), and rubberproof riding coats. I actually spent a bit of time last week searching for a riding coat online, after having read this post at A Suitable Wardrobe. One seller I found described it as “something great for historical re-enactment.” That admittedly gave me some pause, but probably won’t stop me from eventually buying one. I’ll wear it to costume parties.
Another favorite is the anorak you see in the second-to-last photo below. Made from a densely woven, light fawn Gabardine, this piece featured an attached hood, a single Kangaroo pocket, and two flapped hip pockets. Internal wind cuffs helped keep the chill out and a drawcord waist helped give the garment some shape. If it were made today, I’d mostly certainly buy one.
