Harris Tweed

**TenorClef** · 05-15-2010, 05:25 AM

I'm a serious Harris Tweed jacket fan

Last count i was up to 9 jackets which is probably as many as i can get into my wardrobe. I tend to match my HT sport jackets up with a pair of jeans or chinos and an open neck shirt and brogues or DM's. My understanding is that their are some 7000+ varieties of HT cloth and Mr Haggis tried in vain to narrow that to 4??? People like choice, 4 is not choice IMHO.

Big fan of the Hounds tooth designs but wear a plain one for church or a check for around town. The orange one i save for my Dixieland gigs. (I play trombone)

**Phog Allen** · 05-15-2010, 05:32 AM

Nice collection!

Regards, Todd

**TenorClef** · 05-15-2010, 05:35 AM

and here's another photo cycling around my local river on a Pashley Sovereign Roadster-

**dklaiman** · 05-15-2010, 05:38 AM

Love the one second from the left. I don't suppose it's a 42R and that you want to part with it.

**TenorClef** · 05-15-2010, 05:43 AM

Sorry would never part with my HT's, i'm a 46 short any way. What I really like about HT jackets is that they stand the test of time and whilst most guys walk around in jeans and t-shirts made in some sweat shop in the far east, i can wear my UK garment with pride. Sorry that sounds like absolute tosh i know but i do like the individuality the jackets project.

**petr** · 05-15-2010, 08:06 AM

These are amazing.

**Pumpkin** · 08-27-2010, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by scottish steve

I will definitely give him a slap! I think his website is harrisTweedscotland or something and when buying any new jacket I will be checking THOROUGHLY that it didn't come from his mill. For all you tweedies out there there's a decent vintage market- try vintagewhistles.co.uk...but hands off the 42 shorts!

Thanks for the pointer towards vintagewhistles

I've just been thinking about looking for a (2nd hand) tweed jacket....was resigned to trolling round more antique shops!

EDIT: That should be thrift/charity shops...I'm too used to looking for other antiques

**scottish steve** · 08-28-2010, 10:52 PM

Thanks! Just make sure you've got someone handy with a tape-measure in case you're proportions aren't quite what you thought they were.

TrebleClef....loooving the Pashley- but what about the weight? I ride a Lemond Fillmore with upgraded pedals, saddle and seatpost, one brake and ride with no lights or mudguards...and just gliiiiide along in bliss. Is the Sovereign not a tiny wee bit heavy?

**Phog Allen** · 08-29-2010, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by TenorClef

Sorry would never part with my HT's, i'm a 46 short any way. What I really like about HT jackets is that they stand the test of time and whilst most guys walk around in jeans and t-shirts made in some sweat shop in the far east, i can wear my UK garment with pride. Sorry that sounds like absolute tosh i know but i do like the individuality the jackets project.

I see this thread has been nicely resurrected. I know I am quoting a post from some time back but I had to comment. No, it is NOT tosh to wear Harris Tweed and take some pride in the UK. I personally am happy to see it. Many of us in the West have allowed our heritage and traditions to be treated as antiquated and somewhat suspect. Pardon my language but bollocks to that. All the isles in the Irish and North seas have contributed much to the world in cultural and fashion ideas. Anyone who doubts this need only research the history of Savile Row and indeed, Harris Tweed in particular.

We have pretty much the same issue here in the States. At times slovenly dress seems the norm. And as much as people always trash U.S. style it is really a misunderstanding. It was not this way till the rowdy sixties came along. In my mom and dad's dating days(1955) you were expected to wear a collared and buttoned shirt and dress trousers if you were going out anywhere near dark of evening. And almost always you would have had at least a sports jacket as well. It was just considered bad form to do other if you were out in the company of a young lady or your parents or other elders. My mum and dad were dirt poor when they were married in 1956. Their combined income was $40 per week, and that is not a typo. Yet they told me many times dad would not have dreamed of going to the theatre or anywhere else in the evening without collared shirt and jacket. Even if they had to borrow things from friends and siblings. Mum would have had a nice dress or knee plus length skirt with collared blouse. They could not go out often but when they did they had a certain pride in not looking like ruffians. What a difference ten or fifteen years made. By the 70's, "fashion" as we know it took a knife to the jugular here.

Sorry for the rant but I suppose it is long routed way of saying good on ya for wearing your tweed jackets and please continue!

Regards, Todd

**Pumpkin** · 09-04-2010, 04:46 AM

Originally Posted by scottish steve

For all you tweedies out there there's a decent vintage market- try vintagewhistles.co.uk...but hands off the 42 shorts!

You're okay...I'm a 44R

**john parker** · 09-04-2010, 05:44 PM

For vintage tweed you might check Bookster1uk on ebay. Has had a nice collection. He also has his own site somewhere, but I failed to bookmark it. Would also mention that Harris tweed comes up in discussions on Ask Andy About Clothes site.

**scottish steve** · 09-04-2010, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by Phog Allen

In my mom and dad's dating days(1955) you were expected to wear a collared and buttoned shirt and dress trousers if you were going out anywhere near dark of evening. And almost always you would have had at least a sports jacket as well.
Regards, Todd

My (late) grandfather was rushed to hospital a couple of years ago, having lost 3 pints of blood. We went to see him two days later, after he was stabilised, and he was on his bed in an ironed shirt, jumper. tie and polished leather shoes. He really was an incredible man, like so many of his generation.

I've been subjected to derisory comments for wearing a felt hat and Driz-a-bone, by a youth in a T-shirt and track suit bottoms.....in the middle of a full on rainstorm! The fact that he was shivering like a drowned rat about to die of pneumonia and I was snug and dry didn't make any difference to the moron. This is how far we've fallen.

**Pumpkin** · 09-05-2010, 03:11 AM

Originally Posted by scottish steve

I've been subjected to derisory comments for wearing a felt hat and Driz-a-bone, by a youth in a T-shirt and track suit bottoms.....in the middle of a full on rainstorm! The fact that he was shivering like a drowned rat about to die of pneumonia and I was snug and dry didn't make any difference to the moron. This is how far we've fallen.

But you do get a smug inner glow, knowing he's trying very hard to remove himself from the gene pool

**MichaeltheRomanHistorian** · 09-08-2010, 08:43 PM

Count me in as another tweed wearer (both Harris Tweed and other tweeds from Scotland, I also haven't tried Donegal tweed from Ireland yet). I even went so far as to commission a dark brown herringbone three piece tweed suit from Bookster (they sell vintage and also do MTO as well).

Now, it does throw people off to see an American-Chinese chap in tweed sometimes but I rationalise it as my being an English trained classicist. Well, mostly as an eccentric academic. :P Plus, how could one not love tweed? The patterns, the texture, and the its longevity.

At present I have two Harris tweed jackets and one non-Harris tweed suit. One of the jackets is Made in England and the other elsewhere, alas. I'm partial to brown tweeds, at the moment. Which drew derision from my brother but I'm the one his lady friends complimented rather than him. ;)

**Doc4** · 09-12-2010, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by MichaeltheRomanHistorian

... eccentric academic ...

= tweed three-piece suit.

**TenorClef** · 11-02-2010, 03:02 AM

I think the tweed thing is addictive, since sporting tweed jackets a couple of years back there are now several of my peers donning tweeds, one chap said he now has 4 jackets in as many weeks!

As for sizing I find Marks & Spencer's Men's department quite good as a tape measure. I'm somewhere between a 46 to 44 short. Whilst recently looking at M&S winter selection I could not help but note the weight of the jackets is considerably lighter than the vintage tweeds i am accustom to.

Here is a snap of M&S's latest offerings, made with Shetland wool and quite nice colours but a little to light for a cold winter IMHO-

**john parker** · 11-02-2010, 02:19 PM

Suspect heavier tweed on the rack is disappearing with the rise of central heating. Probably have to look to bespoke. And isn't Shetland lighter than Harris anyway?

**Rivguy** · 11-02-2010, 02:40 PM

I have had HT in my wardrobe for many years. I have several with the loden green being my favorite.

Regards,

Doug

**Crixus** · 11-02-2010, 07:32 PM

Harris Tweed lover here, too. It appears the talk here is slanted toward coats and jackets, but HT can be made into some fine hats in the right hands.

This is NOT me, but I do now own these two little gems. They have a wonderful silkish lining to keep your noggin comfortable, and the wool keeps cold breezes and mists at bay. I love 'em.