Fed up of all the gorpcore

[needmorebooks]

Is it just me? It’s everywhere. Look around a city centre and there’s just puffer jackets cropped and long and brightly coloured Rab or Patagonia jackets. Basically everyone dressed for climbing in the Peak District for a trip to John Lewis or Coffee1.

I own outdoor wear but it’s for well, long walks in the forest, going to the coast or going up mountains. Why has it become so ubiquitous? And it’s all ages and classes seemingly. I don’t get it.

It’s just boring and scruffy too imho. I want to see people looking nice in wool coats and looking like they take a bit of pride in their appearance. Sorry if that’s controversial, maybe this should be in AIBU? I hate feeling like I’m overdressed when I just have a long wool coat on, I hardly see others in the same. Just fed up of the sea of gore-tex and hiking shoes.

Anyone else?

I complete agree with you. Not many seem to care anymore.

I absolutely agree with you. And surely sheep are ok in the rain? I don’t get why people keep saying it’s too wet for wool? I genuinely need to understand this

Throughout my childhood all coats were woollen. They were heavy and they absorbed rain water, making them even heavier and more uncomfortable. You needed an umbrella, which isn't something I could be bothered with. They didn't necessarily keep out the cold winds because of the button fastening.

Yes a hood can be more practical but I like wool coats more. They make me feel good and, in winter, I wear one whenever I can. (No it's not always possible.)

I can live with 'Queen Mother' just as I can with 'middle aged auntie' jibes.

Editing to add that I also walk a lot.

@Devonshiregal , sheep's wool is oily but wool coats aren't.

I wear a wool coat most of the time and definitely if I’m going into town or to the theatre or something. I also use an umbrella and have never heard of anyone getting poked in the eye by one. You move it out of the way when you have to pass close to someone. You can’t look at your phone while carrying one. Is that the real issue?
I agree with the previous poster who said it all seems a bit dystopian where everyone looks the same (and drab too) and there is no beauty in it.

That's absolutely fine. I have no problem with you wearing what you want, when you want and with whatever accessories you want.
I'm not the OP! 😂

Wool on a sheep has a greasy outer called lanolin which is impermeable.

Wool clothing is made from the inner layers of wool which are finer and susceptible to water.

I wear a black Rab coat during the winter. Standard length.

I wear a coat for function. I want to be warm and dry. I’m not going to waste money for a coat for every occasion.

Ahh I see. I need to look into this more. Surely they can add oils in? Or maybe the puffer coats could just be make less ugly? And they just scream mass produced, un environmentally friendly fast fashion. Unnatural colours. Logos everywhere. And op is right that the majority of wearers are not actually going out into the hills walking.

They don't have to be. Maybe they just want to be warm and dry when they go out in the cold and rain/wait for a bus/pick up the kids/go to the supermarket.

Also, unless something is "hand crafted" it's likely to be mass produced.

Yeah this is where they lost me. I don’t care what other people are wearing. Sometimes I dress up. Usually I won’t unless I’m on a date or it’s much nicer weather . But I wouldn’t bat an eyelid at someone else who is in a wool coat or whatever. Just do you.

I think it’s ugly and boring.
I can't think of anything more ugly and boring than criticising and policing what other people wear.

Barbour is also for chavs where I grew up so... Crack on I guess?

This. Spot on.

Depressed soggy dog walker!

Please help.
im not a great shopper but i do need expert advice on purchasing a waterproof long coat (at least to the knee) that is warm and practical. I’ve been very ill with shingles and neuralgia, and bedridden for 8 weeks and I’m finding it hard to face going out in the watery windy elements in my current short RAB puffer jacket, or my thigh length, waxed green coat that has lost its hood , and just gets soggy.
Because I’ve been rather low, I don’t particularly want to stick to dark earthy colours, but might enjoy a change, even pastels. I’d like to be able to walk my two dogs for an hour in rain if I want to and be happy and DRY.
I’m currently looking at Brobe coats by Beachbum.
any thoughts on these and other recommendations would be greatly appreciated
thank you
lisa

A) allergic to wool, B) wool isn't waterproof

Then why are you both posting in Style and Beauty?

That would be like me posting on threads in The Litter Tray saying “I’m not really that into cats so don’t get why you care”.

(Actually, I love cats, but not the point.)

Thomas Burbery started his mac business because he realised that the front of a shepherd's smock became waterproof after picking up lambs all the time.

Part of the wool processing is fulling, where they remove the oils (and any dirt), traditionally with fuller's earth.

It’s “style and beauty “ not “judgement and style police”

You are 100% right.

People no longer take pride in anything.

See also people who don’t keep their gardens and leave them overgrown with weeds.

would never have happened in the 50s

Why would we not post in style and beauty? Not following your logic here.

I am interested in style and beauty and love that people have their own styles!!

My point is that it’s a bit pathetic the OP can’t just wear what she wants without being annoyed that other people are dressed differently.

The OP reminds me of a man I know who asked "why don't ladies wear those thin tights and high heels any more?".
He thought women looked more attractive like that.

@Devonshiregal, The oil is lanolin. Some wool clothes are quite oily e.g. Women's Oiled Wool Beerenberg® Pullover.

I have a long wool coat and a fingertip-length wool peacoat. I wear them when weather permits and they work with what I'm wearing underneath; it would never occur to me to feel overdressed in these! But contemporary "affordable" versions of these are largely synthetic (although they'll describe themselves as "wool" - or even better "heritage wool" - even if it's only a tiny amount) and are neither warm nor weather-resistant nor durable. They don't even look good after a season's wear. Inexpensive versions of ski jackets or puffers are nicer-looking, cheaper, longer-lasting, and substantially more functional than cheap or mid market versions of winter cloth coats (or of actual leather/fur).

As for shoes, it's always hiking boots for me when it's slippy. They just work the best, unless you're in Yak Trax territory.

Setiously though if you’re in town it’s car to shop to shop to car. Not much outside needed.

We're in the later days of a potentially catastrophic climate crisis. The assumption that someone is travelling by car is actually the most archaic idea on here! But also, long wool coats are notoriously incompatible with driving or even being a passenger in a car. That's why shorter length wool coats were originally introduced as "car coats".