From the archives

Comfort Media: 1961 Barbour Catalog

Under quarantine, I’m consoled by livestreams of apartment concerts with Ceceile McLorin, free access to Met Opera broadcasts and Blossome Dearie playlists on YouTube. Soundtrack secured, I’m browsing comfort print catalog content and ephemera via Google Books, Flickr Commons and the Library of Congresss Digital archives. Beyond that, I’m turning back the clock to a …

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Shopping From the Past Shopping From The Present

Filson Italy People

This Fall, the Filson catalog rolled out a steady stream of gents (and a few women) jumping snowmobiles, fighting fires and toying with chainsaws (a far remove from the old glass plate snaps of early 20th century Filson-garbed lumberjacks posing beside an almost apologetic axe gash). Tech fabrics are now actively mixing it up with …

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Shopping From the Past

Shopping from the past: Barbour jackets

Aspirational layering (zippers, webbing, waxed cotton and wool) For a little winter cheer, I’m reprinting pages from my favorite Barbour print catalog from the early 1990s. Compared to current offerings, the catalog presents a minimalist collection of jackets. Each has a specific, distinctive feature making it unique to the line. Once you memorize this catalog …

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Wishful Filson

by Lesli LarsonI’ve been wishful holiday shopping for discontinued Filson plaids. In Japan, you can purchase a classic Mackinaw cruiser, vest or matching hat in blue x black buffalo plaid, a fabric that was discontinued by Filson years ago. When I emailed Filson to ask about a custom order in the blue x black plaid, …

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Archival Finder: Barbour Tweed Endurance Jacket

Recently, I’ve been receiving email requests from readers trying to track down clothing items from the recent past that they regret not buying. The most recent request came from Markley, a reader trying to track down the Barbour Endurance Tweed jacket he declined to purchase from the Upland Trading Company in 2003. Markley likes the …

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