Want to dress like a country gent this winter? Our style tips are here to help
As the temperature and rain start to fall, it’s time to finesse your winter wardrobe. Here are six must-have items, offering style that endures for the rural-dwelling gent
By Ernest Richardson
Winter may not be the cheeriest time of year in the countryside, but there are plenty of reasons to relish its arrival.
| ...it’s time to get your winter style game on. And, as ever, Just Recruitment is here to help,... |
For a start, it’s a chance to dust off your winter wardrobe and enjoy wearing thick jumpers, scarves and cosy jackets.
Appropriately attired, you’re then in a position to enjoy all the fun of the season: crisp country walks, strolls around Christmas markets, and cosy fireside suppers in quaint rural pubs.
All of which means it’s time to get your winter style game on. And, as ever, Just Recruitment is here to help, with six wardrobe essentials for the winter country gent.
1. A decent coat
Buy a quality coat and it will give you years of faithful service. The trick is to choose one that’s enduringly stylish.
A classic Barbour jacket like the ever-popular Beaufort will never go out of fashion – largely because it’s never really been in fashion. Wear it and you’ll send a statement to the world: you’re prepared to pay for quality that lasts, and you’re not worried about following the latest fashion fad.
What’s more, the waterproof waxed cotton just gets better with age: the more you wear it, the nicer it looks.
2. Jumpers
As with coats, so with jumpers. Buy wisely and you’ll still be enjoying your winter woolly in your twilight years.
Nordic knitwear has enjoyed something of a renaissance of late. But as with all trends, it’s likely to pass. So if you want this vibe, go for a high-quality style that won’t age, from a specialist such as Dale of Norway.
A decent Dale jumper will cost you around £250, but it won’t look passé when the high-street chains have moved away from snowflakes and dancing reindeers.
Joseph Turner’s knitwear range is also worth a look. The Yorkshire-based company offers a wide variety of high-quality jumpers, with a particular favourite being the Fair Isle slipover: perfect for bringing some personality to a cords-and-jacket ensemble.
| Try experimenting with some colour in your corduroy wardrobe. |
3. Corduroy trousers
Did someone mention corduroys? Sometimes (unfairly in our view) associated with middle-aged fogeys or ruddy-faced land-owning aristos, the classic cord is a sartorial gift that keeps on giving.
Try experimenting with some colour in your corduroy wardrobe. Russets, greens, bright blues and even the occasional mustard will all bring some zing to your appearance.
Choose either a classic straight-leg corduroy slack like the beauties on offer at Cordings or, for a more contemporary style, go for Crew Clothing Company's cord jeans.
4. Winter shirts
Most shirts are four-season items, right? Apart from short-sleeved or linen efforts, you should be able to wear them throughout the year.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t merit in stocking up on winter-specific shirts, however. A thick Tattersall design like Musto’s Classic Twill Shirt will soon become a winter favourite, offering warmth and style in equal measure.
Alternatively, check out online specialists like Charles Tyrwhitt and TM Lewin. Time your shopping spree right, and you’ll find you can get an awful lot of bang for your buck thanks to their high-low pricing policies.
5. Tweed jacket
In the olden days, this item would have been called a “sports coat” – designed to be worn while enjoying winter pursuits like hacking out and shooting.
Nowadays, a tweed coat is a wardrobe staple for any style-conscious male. You can wear it with a shirt and tie for smart occasions, but it looks just as good slung over a weekend shirt and jeans for a trip to the shops or a casual cappuccino.
Either way, it’s worth spending on a quality weave and planning to keep it forever. Bucktrout Tailoring of Yorkshire supplies a range of well-designed Harris Tweeds. Its Callum Utility Jacket is an especially interesting twist on the genre.
Wherever you shop, be sure to choose a tweed coat with a generous enough cut to age with you, and a pattern that blends with any shirt-and-trouser combo.
6. Shoes
There’s no point investing in a high-quality winter wardrobe unless you’re prepared to buy some decent shoes. Choose wisely and your feet will be comfortable and protected from the elements, as well as being sheathed in style.
We like the Scandinavian vibe of ECCO’s range, offering waterproof and breathable performance and astonishing levels of comfort with classic products like the brilliant Track 25.
If you prefer a more traditional approach to cobbling, check out Tricker’s Country Shoes. At more than £400 a pop, they’re not cheap. But with timeless styles including an array of smart brogues, it’s fair to say these thick-soled behemoths will last a lifetime.
© Copyright Just Recruitment 2019
Published: 27 November 2019
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