Tweed jacket instead of Barbour for SF look?

CB0012

While browsing I came across an interesting piece on The Suits of James Bond presenting the idea of JB wearing a tweed hacking jacket in place of the Barbour jacket we've all come so find of.

I love the Skyfall look myself but I tend to lean for more practicality than SA and I just wouldn't have a realistic need for a Barbour but the I idea of a tweed jacket intrigues me.

Thought I'd toss it out here for thoughts.

canoe2

Given Barbour's long history with British sporting culture and its status as a true heritage brand, I think the To Ki To was a perfectly viable option for that setting and for Bond to wear. Besides, I don't really see Craig's Bond as a "tweedy" kind of guy

Chriscoop

I can see how a tweed jacket would fit, many who game shoot wear them instead of a wax jacket, though will often regret this when the rain starts. But isn't that coat supposed to be his father's? In which case in Scotland while out shooting the Barbour seems most apt

HalfMonk HalfHitman

Above and beyond any narrative sense of where it came from, it needed to look "Scottish countryside" while also looking tactical. So a tweed jacket would have been a little dandyish for the scene, imo.

Chriscoop

HalfMonk HalfHitman wrote:

Above and beyond any narrative sense of where it came from, it needed to look "Scottish countryside" while also looking tactical. So a tweed jacket would have been a little dandyish for the scene, imo.

What I meant is that I can see how a tweed jacket would work with the cords and jumper as an outfit, not for diving around Skyfall lodge shooting bad guys

welshboy78

Chriscoop wrote:

HalfMonk HalfHitman wrote:

Above and beyond any narrative sense of where it came from, it needed to look "Scottish countryside" while also looking tactical. So a tweed jacket would have been a little dandyish for the scene, imo.

What I meant is that I can see how a tweed jacket would work with the cords and jumper as an outfit, not for diving around Skyfall lodge shooting bad guys

Or falling into lakes

walther p99

The Skyfall lodge outfit was the most British looking Craig's Bond has ever looked, perhaps even out of all the Bonds. It's a perfect outfit in my opinion.

Zingari

As a British Army Officer if you didn't have a tweed jacket you'd be seen as the odd one out The Royal Navy might have a different view )

Every well dressed man should have a bit of tweed in his wardrobe

Bond44

Zingari wrote:

As a British Army Officer if you didn't have a tweed jacket you'd be seen as the odd one out The Royal Navy might have a different view )

Every well dressed man should have a bit of tweed in his wardrobe

Absolutely dear boy could not agree more! Tweed and moleskin for the Army
I hear for the RN it's a reefer coat and oilskins equivalent

Cheers :007)

Asp9mm

Barbour did a tweed version of the Commander jacket. It's really nice.

Bond44

Asp9mm wrote:

Barbour did a tweed version of the Commander jacket. It's really nice.

And about as waterproof as a tea bag

The Bond Vivant

Keep an eye open for my next video for The Bond Experience with David Mason. Could be a Connery/tweed-related project coming up...

Miles Messervy

I think a tweed jacket would have worked equally well, but I love the outfit they chose. I always theorized that the jacket was Bond's. Something he kept in the DB5 for a rainy day. Although it's equally satisfying if it belonged to his father.

canoe2

Purely coincidence: this arrived on my doorstep this morning ....



Have a smile on my face because it is definitely rainy season here! So it's going to get tested immediately!

CB0012

canoe2 wrote:

Purely coincidence: this arrived on my doorstep this morning ....



Have a smile on my face because it is definitely rainy season here! So it's going to get tested immediately!

It is a gorgeous jacket and this tempts me to waive my practical thoughts and just go ahead and get one lol. Congratulations!

canoe2

CB0012 wrote:

canoe2 wrote:

Purely coincidence: this arrived on my doorstep this morning ....



Have a smile on my face because it is definitely rainy season here! So it's going to get tested immediately!

It is a gorgeous jacket and this tempts me to waive my practical thoughts and just go ahead and get one lol. Congratulations!

Well I've wanted one for 5 years and it was a pretty good deal, so it felt like the timing was right! Plus, James Brosnan's review helped push me over the edge a little )

James Brosnan

canoe2 wrote:

CB0012 wrote:

canoe2 wrote:

Purely coincidence: this arrived on my doorstep this morning ....



Have a smile on my face because it is definitely rainy season here! So it's going to get tested immediately!

It is a gorgeous jacket and this tempts me to waive my practical thoughts and just go ahead and get one lol. Congratulations!

Well I've wanted one for 5 years and it was a pretty good deal, so it felt like the timing was right! Plus, James Brosnan's review helped push me over the edge a little )

Hey, hey, hey , hey! Congratulations my friend! I'm so happy for you, to see you finally grabbed one. I remember when I first got mine, I would suit up and just walk around outside on cold nights for hours ) I don't get to use it much, but that only makes thenocassions that I do, so much more special. So happy for you man. Wear it in good health. It's a jacket to be passed down from generation to generation. {[]

canoe2

Thank you, my friend! Nice to be part of the club! Now back to the discussion of tweed vs. waxed cotton!

Compromise: the Barbour, but with dark brown tweed trousers instead of the cord jeans he wore!

Matt S

canoe2 wrote:

Thank you, my friend! Nice to be part of the club! Now back to the discussion of tweed vs. waxed cotton!

Compromise: the Barbour, but with dark brown tweed trousers instead of the cord jeans he wore!

Tweed trousers do exist, but they need to be very, very heavy to keep their shape. They wouldn't work at all for Bond today because there's no way tweed trousers can be updated without them being fake tweed, which wouldn't be tweed. This is why Bond has rarely worn tweed trousers or tweed suits.

canoe2

Matt S wrote:

canoe2 wrote:

Thank you, my friend! Nice to be part of the club! Now back to the discussion of tweed vs. waxed cotton!

Compromise: the Barbour, but with dark brown tweed trousers instead of the cord jeans he wore!

Tweed trousers do exist, but they need to be very, very heavy to keep their shape. They wouldn't work at all for Bond today because there's no way tweed trousers can be updated without them being fake tweed, which wouldn't be tweed. This is why Bond has rarely worn tweed trousers or tweed suits.

Matt, while I completely understand that you're a fan of tradition and a stickler for details, I think this is one time when you are taking things too literally. Something like these trousers from Balenciaga could have worked in that scene



Are they 100% authentic Harris or Donegal all wool tweed? No. But I think using them (and calling them "tweed") would be acceptable to most people. It's about the same as having a U.S. designer emulate traditional British tailoring to dress Bond or pretending that a recent Barbour jacket model has been hanging in a closet in an all but abandoned Scottish estate for 40 odd years.

Matt S

canoe2 wrote:

Matt S wrote:

canoe2 wrote:

Thank you, my friend! Nice to be part of the club! Now back to the discussion of tweed vs. waxed cotton!

Compromise: the Barbour, but with dark brown tweed trousers instead of the cord jeans he wore!

Tweed trousers do exist, but they need to be very, very heavy to keep their shape. They wouldn't work at all for Bond today because there's no way tweed trousers can be updated without them being fake tweed, which wouldn't be tweed. This is why Bond has rarely worn tweed trousers or tweed suits.

Matt, while I completely understand that you're a fan of tradition and a stickler for details, I think this is one time when you are taking things too literally. Something like these trousers from Balenciaga could have worked in that scene



Are they 100% authentic Harris or Donegal all wool tweed? No. But I think using them (and calling them "tweed") would be acceptable to most people. It's about the same as having a U.S. designer emulate traditional British tailoring to dress Bond or pretending that a recent Barbour jacket model has been hanging in a closet in an all but abandoned Scottish estate for 40 odd years.

I'm not opposed to Tweed-like trousers, but out of respect for the makers of true tweeds and for what tweed actually is, I don't like throwing around that word. It's like the difference between gold and brass.

Zingari

This thread made me think about my 'passed on' tweed suit made the same year as Dr No - 1962

It's had 'several' repairs over the years but has that olde world charm about it B-)


As it's a Huntsman perhaps more 'Kingsman'?

canoe2

Matt S: fair enough. As I said, I understand (and I should of added "appreciate") your position on many of these things. {[]

But there are many companies today doing trousers in lighter weight, genuine Harris tweed in slimmer cuts. I still see it as a viable option.