Embracing the great outdoors

Last Wednesday I excitedly penned a post covering the launch of the Joe Casely-Hayford for John Lewis collection. After obsessing about this collaboration ever since I first heard the news late last year I was all too eager to see the thirty piece capsule collection hanging on the rails of John Lewis' flagship store on Oxford Street. Recognised for his innovation and ability to produce definitive future classics, Casely-Hayford's range celebrates the best of British sartorialism through a series of unique collaborations with some of the UK's leading heritage companies. As I excitedly dashed from rail to rail my only problem was deciding which pieces to get and I have to confess that I actually had to leave the store for a few hours before returning with my hard earned cash and my mind made up. Shoe fiend that I am, the Pukk leather brogues made by Cheaney have captured my imagination and my feet are crying out for a pair but alas these are not currently available. So, I invested my money in the wax cotton navy blazer...

A closer look at the Joe Casely-Hayford for John Lewis wax cotton blazer...

Exclusively designed by Joe Casely-Hayford and made by Barbour, this jacket is something special. I've not owned a Barbour jacket since I was ten. However, I can still remember the smell of that wax cotton and oil mix filling my childhood hallway and whenever I catch a whiff of my new purchase, the memories came flooding back. Dog walking, my inability to climb even the most accommodating tress and sitting in pub after pub watching my parents drink and smoke as I sipped my panda pop and played on the fruit machines. Oh happy days! You might have noticed that Barbour have enjoyed something of a resurgence in recent years. You are as likely to see a trendy London Fields lothario sporting one as you are an archetypal Sloane Ranger and I for one am pleased that the brand is becoming more widely worn and appreciated. Barbour wax cotton has long been the the quintessential fabric of a stylish outdoor life. A genuine original woven from 100% long staple cotton treated with their secret formula of oils and wax. It is quite simply one of the toughest and most durable fabrics available. I can recall a BBC documentary where a farmer abused his Barbour jacket with the sole intent of demonstrating how touch the fabric was. The jacket barely had a scratch on it even though it had been littered with a few shotgun rounds, run over and dragged throughout the countryside. In fact, many people believe that they improve with age. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not much of a Great Outdoors type of guy but as I was escaping London for a quiet weekend by the Kent coast I had the perfect opportunity to give my latest investment a try...

Wax cotton navy blazer worn with white club collar shirt from Bespoken, olive jumper by Maison Martin Margiela and purple Uniqlo jeans.

Barbour clothing has been made in the north east of England and just over the borders of Scotland since 1894. If there's one feature that distinguishes Barbour jackets more than any other, it is their almost legendary durability. Barbour is a true functional classic. With a worldwide reputation as the one of the finest British country casual brands it has long been a staple of the more discerning clothing aficionados on the terraces and Sloane rangers alike. I've admired the brand for some time but not until now has one of its products appealed to my own personal taste. This blazer combines the tough outerwear that we all know and expect from Barbour with a British tailoring tradition to create a whole new silhouette.

Wax cotton navy blazer worn with white club collar shirt from Bespoken, olive green jumper from Maison Martin Margiela, purple jeans from Uniqlo and Kudu brogued boots from Lodger.

Throughout the entire thirty piece capsule collection, Joe Casely-Hayford has offered a new take on classic designs and breathed fresh life in to a selection of my favourite British heritage brands. However, it is no more obvious or successful than this wax cotton navy blazer. After a few test wears by the seaside I could not be happier with my purchase. Now, I just need to save a few pennies for those Pukk leather brogues...