BARBOUR DIY

THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE FINDING AN OLD, WELL USED BARBOUR. THE PATINA AND WEAR IS HALF THE CHARM OF THESE OLD GIRLS. THAT BEING SAID THEY CAN ALSO BE THE STINKIEST, FUNKIEST, MOLDIEST THINGS EVER. I HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT OF THE HOUSE ON A FEW OCCASIONS WEARING ONE AND TOLD TO HANG IT OUTDOORS. THIS LATEST FIND WAS EXACTLY THAT (STINKY) AND I COULD NOT BEAR TO SEE ALL THE LIFE (GREAT GREASY-LEATHERY FINISH) BE TAKEN OUT OF IT BY SENDING IT OFF FOR ODOR REMOVAL AND REPROOFING. (THIS WOULD USUALLY BE DONE BY NEW ENGLAND REPROOFERS WHO ALWAYS REWAX THE JACKET AFTER-MAKING IT LOOK LIKE NEW) SO, I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY REMOVING THE MOLD AND MILDEW MYSELF.

 WHITE MOLDY SPOTS

I USED A 1/2 CUP OF BORAX  DILUTED IN ABOUT 2 QUARTS OF WARM WATER AND SPONGED THE INTERIOR (JACKET WAS INSIDE OUT) UNTIL DAMP. THEN I MIXED ABOUT A LITER OF WHITE DISTILLED VINEGAR WITH A 1/2 LITER OF COLD WATER (DILUTED VINEGAR WILL KILL AT LEAST 83% OF MOLD AND I HAVE USED IT STRAIGHT TO SUCCESSFULLY CLEAN MOLD OFF MY DRYING PANCETTA) I THEN SPONGED THE SOLUTION OVER THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR OF THE JACKET AND LEFT  IT ON A LINE TO DRY. THE JACKET HUNG ALL DAY IN THE SUN. AS YOU CAN SEE BELOW IT WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS. ALL THE MOLD CLEANED OFF AND A GOOD 85% OF THE TOTAL FUNK SMELL DISAPPEARED. AFTER ALL AN OLD BARBOUR NEEDS TO SMELL A BIT LIKE AN OLD BARBOUR.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEDALE OBSESSION

THE ORIGINAL BEDALE WAS DESIGNED BY CHAIRMAN DAME MARGARET BARBOUR AS AN EQUESTRIAN JACKET IN 1980. I LOVE THIS MODEL. IT HAS TWO FLAP CHEST POCKETS (INSTEAD OF THE LATER HAND WARMERS) AND TWO ROYAL WARRANTS, ONE FROM QUEEN ELIZABETH AND THE OTHER FROM THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. (PRINCE CHARLES DID NOT APPLY HIS UNTIL 1987). THERE ARE SOME SUBTLETIES I LOOK FOR WHEN DECIDING ON A VINTAGE ONE FOR THE COLLECTION. (YES, IT SEEMS IT IS BECOMING A COLLECTION) PATINA AND WEAR ARE THE FIRST THINGS I LOOK AT AND FOR. I LIKE A BIT OF WEATHERING AND FUNK. A GREASY - LEATHERY FINISH IS A MUST. SOME EARLY ONES HAVE YKK ZIPPERS AND OTHERS HAVE THE BARBOUR PULL. I ALSO LOOK AT THE CORDUROY COLLAR, THE LIGHTER IN COLOR THE BETTER. I ALSO CHECK OUT BUTTON WEAR AND LOOK FOR BRASSY FINISHES.

(NUTTY I KNOW) 

I OWN TOO MANY TO MENTION AND MY FAVORITES ARE IN GREEN BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE BLUE ONES FOR GOOD MEASURE. IT SEEMS THAT BARBOUR HAS VARIED THEIR SIZING OVER TIME AND SOMETIMES A 36 FITS LIKE A 38 AND VICE VERSA. THE REALITY IS YOU HAVE TO TRY THEM ON. THE LARGER 38/40'S I USE IN THE COLDER MONTHS, LAYERED WITH BIG SWEATERS OR HARRIS TWEEDS. WHEN I DO REPROOF THE VINTAGE ONES I ONLY USE NEW ENGLAND REPROOFERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THEY CAN FIX, (GET OUT THE FUNK THAT WON'T BUDGE) REPAIR, AND TAILOR ANY BARBOUR-TALK TO AL.

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(MY FAVE)