It’s a style staple beloved by the Brits: An iconic Barbour coat is beloved by everyone from Kate Middleton to King Charles and, as of late, it’s been making waves well beyond the U.K. (Rosalia recentlypaired hers with jeans and a T-shirt in Paris; Claire Foymade hers couture thanks to crystal embellishments at the Met Gala in New York earlier this month.)
Its spring collection is decidedly standout—and while, yes, it’s a brand that epitomizes countryside chic (i.e. it’s the kind of thing Queen Elizabeth II donned for a weekend shoot at Sandringham), it’s also got quite the range. Let’s just say, after my recent in-store try-on, I was overwhelmed by the choices, not to mention how easy they’d be to work into my everyday attire. (Everything from gingham to quilted to trench coat styles abound.)
Still, it’s the history of the brand and its signature collection (the Beadnell is most popular when it comes to the royals) that I love. The brand originally launched in the late-19th century, catering to fishermen and sailors, but became a status symbol in the 1980s when the likes of Princess Diana (and anyone else embracing the Sloane Ranger aesthetic) began donning the design.
Back to my recent try-on session at the brand’s Madison Avenue location on the Upper East Side in New York. Yes, I wanted to experience the full scope, but as someone who is on the shorter side (I’m 5’2”) I was also eager to see how the spring collection worked for petites.
