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.

This House of Bruar link is very amusing, "Oh look at my terribly amusing husband in his Moser raincoat! Rahahahahahaha".

Barbour is cool though. Fact.

babrour is NOT cool
they are just trying to brand it thus

It's harder for women to pull off than men (all the padding, who needs that!?) but I have several very trendy friends who look incredibly cool in a Barbour jacket and 'look'. Obviously helps that they are young and hot but I think it is officially retro chic now.

ah well who am i to argue against the over heated

Belstaff is cooler

They must be cool - Lily Allen and Alexa Chung have them!
P.S. I have 2 Barbours and these boots but no jumbo cords!

what colour cords count as vile please? ahem.

I don't think there's a need for a fashion initiation as such. They just spend most of their time around others of the same ilk and - coupled with a stunning disinterest of all outsiders - they all end up wearing the same stuff.

Must be to do with that wide variety of people you get at pubic school

These upper middlies don't do fashion, even when they're teens they dress like their parents.

Dexter I saw someone in some Boots like those today and she looked both warm and chic. at the price though.

dexter
you must be a sloane ranger with boots like those

Hhmm,eg: " chavs don't do fashion either but dress like their parents - (if they recognise them ) in baggy sweats and anything with Bench or Adidas printed on them etc etc etc " (yawn). What is it about MN that says its ok to have a real go at one set of people and pigeonhole them for ridicule?

thought you were going to say you were at some officer's mess

jumbo cords in a rainbow of colours, along with sports jackets, upturned collars on 'rugger' shirts, and brogues - it's de riguer for the off-duty army officer

arf

They are warm and waterproof which is very useful for trudging through sludgy fields and streams with the dog! Mine were a lot cheaper (£100) as I got them from the Musto outlet at Bicester. Barbours also from their outlet at Portsmouth!
I don't actually wear them unless I am walking the dog!

what is the equivalent term for chavs when talking about the upper classes? I mean, a word with all the same type of negative connotations?

There isn't one, is there.

I don't think there is one that carries as much venom to be honest pointy.

Did not know there was a Barbour outlet at Portsmouth, dp needs decent coat. Thanks dexter.

I thought you must be talking about Kensington, where mustard or red cords with barbour jacket seem to be de rigeur.

The yummy mummies have bootcut jeans, boots, gilets, Italian sunglasses and expensively streaked hair. They are all fabulously slim.

£100 is not bad, do they replace wellies or are they needed in addition to wellies.

I have posh wellies on my Christmas list.

And there have been threads about working class people in sportswear and middle class in boden.

yes, moro. salvo is failing to make a point

.. and she speaks as one with three kids at baording school [wink}
what did they do wrong?!

Portsmouth Barbour outlet is fab - I have this parka which I got for £45 and it is waterproof and warm.
Boots are instead of wellies as they are completely waterproof - I can stand in a stream and still have warm, dry toes! Also they have a proper Vibram sole so they are very comfortable to walk miles in unlike wellies.

I am such a traitor to my class, I look a twat in sportswear. Put me in a wax jacket with bushman hat and I look at home. I must have some posh ancestors somewhere.

oh stop it
i ahd freezing feet.
although rain hadnt been forecast,.

Nye, where was this? [nosey]