Tweed. It’s impossible to say the word without perfect elocution and slightly raised eyebrows. It’s a material that instantly makes you think of days out shooting grouse, riding a horse, hacking away with a golf club (in the days before bad taste became de rigueur) or being worn by a nineteenth-century crime-solving genius and resident of 221B Baker Street. What is peculiar about this particular material is that it is associated with upper- and middle-class luxury yet is relatively coarse, unlike most luxury fabrics which are noted for their smoothness, softness, beauty or sheer amount of hard work required to craft it.

The clue to tweed’s popularity among society’s elite is in the activities for which it was worn. Outdoor pursuits in the British cold seasons required just enough wrapping up to beat the harshest chills, remain flexible and maintain one’s manliness, and the tweed jacket fitted the bill perfectly. The material originated in the Scottish borders, where a warm and reasonably water-resistant fabric would have been required by anyone venturing out between late autumn and early spring. But such was the faith that people placed in the insulating qualities of tweed that early mountaineering expeditions often relied on tweed jackets to cheat the freezing winds, often with tragic results.

The image of tweed eventually would lead to its adoption by the great unwashed, perhaps originally with irony but latterly with more of a sense of style. Tweed jackets made an appearance as a purely fashion item during the 1980s among the “Sloane Rangers”, upper class types who certainly would not have been seen halfway up a mountain, but quite liked passing themselves off as outdoor types, as long as “outdoor” happened to be in Chelsea. And inevitably the look would filter through to all of society as riding chic took hold in the same decade. (Out in the countryside the toffs looked on aghast and picked up the phone to call their nearest waxed jacket supplier.)

As a fashion item, the tweed jacket really holds its own, quite literally. Its coarseness is key to its ability to maintain its tailored shape whatever is thrown at it, and that’s pretty much a guarantee of popularity in some quarters. The resultant smartness and the iconic tweed twine still conjure up images of the sporting life, and for experts in juxtaposition this makes it perfect city wear. If you really want to push the boat out, it is essential that the jacket has leather patched on the elbows and shoulders, although designers have had plenty of fun with these original features and the patches can now be found in all manner of colours, patterns and materials.

So whether you’re looking for the authentic Harris tweed blazer or a modern urban interpretation, the past century will offer many a fine example of ingenuity and style. Vintage clothing stores are a good place to start looking, and if you can pull off a clipped English accent without laughing, you’re going to pull off the look no problem.

Harris tweed jackets for men have been around for years. The attraction of tweed jackets is the same as for other vintage clothing items, timeless style and old world charm. James reviews vintage styles and fashion trends for a number of websites and outlets.

Harris tweed jackets for men have been around for years. The attraction of tweed jackets is the same as for other vintage clothing items, timeless style and old world charm. James reviews vintage styles and fashion trends at http://www.rokit.co.uk/ and other retro clothing outlets.

Author Bio: Harris tweed jackets for men have been around for years. The attraction of tweed jackets is the same as for other vintage clothing items, timeless style and old world charm. James reviews vintage styles and fashion trends for a number of websites and outlets.

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