is there some kind of fashion initiation into the upper middle class in this country

[NyeEve]

and does it in volev quilted jackets, suede loafers on men, strange 1980s haircuts and wax jackets?

oh nad vile coloured cords?

Its like stepping back in time

i have never seen as much quilting in one place.

Vivienne westwood anglomania is stunning on the older lady if you are slimmish.But its v £££

I like Princess Ann, and would like to meet her.
I get the impression she doesn't suffer fools gladly, but yes, she wouldn't be a keen follower of Style and Beauty

I have a male friend who dresses like Mr Toad. He is vair posh.

e
Sorry

I have just bought a barbour hacking jacket

and a vintage belstaff

go on, laugh

I will be the DRY one at pick up though.

Barbour jackets last few seasons have been pretty stylish, so no laughing for you
Better seriously than my old hacking jacket

We never see or meet slebs (except serving Alan Dale from neighbours as a teen) but dh has met Princess Anne.

Does say she looked really good, really slim.

Lots of exercise and fresh air no doubt
Jordan and the likes could take a few lessons from her

Having left London for the country six years ago vowing never to buy a Barbour, I now find myself in the embarrassing position of needing one for the school run.

DS2 goes to the local village school, and I have a 15 minute walk through woods and a field of cows then back again.

Have a feeling the cotton mac or the flared wool number won't cut it in the winter, so would love to know where to get a stylish Barbour from - if that's not an oxymoron.

Sorry for the hijack - maybe I'll start a thread.

Nancy -that was Rupert the Bear surely?!

Am rather drawn to the contemporary Barbour range. Have just ordered a brochure

The girls they've used in their advertising looks extradordinarily like [[http://www.barbour.com/ Kate Middleton]

KM

So fresh faced [sigh]

the man described is my father - minus the mustard cords, though he does have dark green ones

When I moved to the country a few years ago, I vowed not to buy Barbour either.

So far I have managed to stick to it, although I have aquired two golden retrivers, a pair of hunter wellies and a volvo along the way

This is rather nice.

I have to say I prefer the really old knackered belstaff (it smells divine - I carry it around as much as possible )

but the above will be good for school run...and when I don't want to look like i have three rabbits, two guinea pigs, a dozen chickens and a British motorcycle in the garden.

i have got a pair of Boden 'gold' cords...they hardly get worn since I realised my grandad use to wear a pair remarkably similar. They were in the sale for ages...wonder why

Get this though...ds's teacher wears a pair of tweed breeks

so it MUST be coming back in surely. And pearls I think. She's only about 25 afaik. Maybe she has got a pony.

We were told in staff briefing the other day to watch for pupils breaching uniform rules by wearning jodhpurs. I found it very hard to keep a straight face when informing my pupils that no matter how tempting it may be to attend school in your riding gear it was not appropriate.

I can't believe no-one has mentioned Pakeman Catto & Carter yet. 10 - yes 10 - different colours of cords (PS - go to their home page for a snigger):

Pakeman Catto and Carter

Ahh I thought the mustard cords were senior Armed Forces officer attire, so yes upper middle class, I suppose.

The only civvies my old Captain wore were mustard cords with a similar coloured jumper (he also had the most fabulous bright ginger hair and a full ginger beard, so in all his mustard he was basically a walking carrot), his steward told me he had 10 identical pairs hung up in his locker. Was most strange. Lovely bloke though.

Haven't read whole thread, but someone asked about red jeans? Think it's a Guards officer thing. Apparently.

but these were YOUNG people = parents at a sport thing.
hten two kids got into an altercation and dh said htey were BAYING for blood.

it was dire.

winter weekend house party

what are they on?