The other day I went to one of my favorite stores, Bridgham & Cook, Ltd., in Freeport, Maine. For me, it has been a reliable source of authentic British Goods for 25 years, including Portmeirion dishes (which they no longer carry) and Barbour jackets.
Last time I was there, I got a few Lochcarron of Scotland tartan lambswool scarves, beautiful and a value at $29.00. I wore them all last winter.
This trip, the first thing I saw upon entering the small shop was a Camel Toggle Coat, on sale, but not my size. They did, however, have a Barbour quilted waistcoat, in Olive, in my size for half price (as they had changed the pattern of the lining). I put this aside.
Then I looked at the Bronte Tweeds (of West Yorkshire) tartan wool blankets (another value at $55.00). These are thick, warm throws that can be used all winter long, both in the livingroom or for extra warmth on the beds. I also put one aside.
I looked at the Beauforts, but could not quite justify getting another one. Finally, I looked at the University Scarves. These are scarves from the various colleges, including of Oxford and Cambridge. As attractive as they are, I am not sure I would be comfortable wearing the the colors of an institution of which I, or a family member, did not attend. (Although Cambridge's Girton College and Oxford's Balliol College may test that resolve!)
I checked out with my two items, the Barbour quilted waistcoat and wool blanket. I already look forward to going back (or maybe just calling up and having them ship!).
Bronte Tweeds (of West Yorkshire) tartan wool blanket at our home
27 comments:
My family and I haven't been to Freeport in several years. What are the best places to stay when visiting?
I'm going to have to stop in this store the next time I'm in Freeport. Maybe next September.
WOW, great article!
Many interesting points. Barbour is indeed, quite expensive, now. However, the items that I got a long time ago are still like new, and never "go out of style." Barbour has a reconditioning facility in NH, that for a small charge, will re dress the coat, and keep it looking like new. Ergo, cost per wearing seems to be a lot lower than stuff that costs less, but doesn't last as long.
Barbour sells the dressing, and some may be able to do it themselves. However, for the small amount that Barbour charges, I wouldn't attempt it myself. My efforts seem to have a high potential for disaster.
I've always wondered about schoolboy scarves. They are such classics, that I am like Mrs A, and wouldn't wear one from a school that was readily identifiable, that I didn't attend.
However, it as been possible to rationalize wearing one with dy-no-mite colors from an obscure school that no one has heard of. If I'm approached by someone on the street that actually attended that school, I guess, I'll have to re examine my rationalization.
Thank you for posting these photos! I've ordered from this shop in the past but, sadly, have never stepped foot in it. It's great to see the inside.
I love the toggle coat...I see it even has the tartan in the hood. I've been wearing an LL Bean version for awhile now but, boy, I'd love to have that tartan in the hood! :)
Bronte Tweeds are lovely; I have a Stewart on the chair in my room.
Morning Joe...I watch most mornings!
Cheers!
lottie
Bob - While I have never had to find a place to stay in Freeport, what immediately comes to mind is The Harraseeket Inn. It is a well known, well run, and full service establishment. Though somewhat lacking in personality, it does serve local and organic food, is pet friendly, and is well located. I have put out feelers, and will note any other good suggestions here.
Tammy B - This shop is definitely an outlier in a sea of outlets. It is diagonally across from Beans on the main street.
Wharf Rat - You are a wealth of knowledge! I am quite pleased to hear of the NH facility, as I have always rewaxed my own jackets with decidedly mixed results.
Lottie - It is a lovely shop, with nice people, and a surprisingly high ratio of desirable items to square footage. The toggle coat was great!
And Joe Scarborough was especially good at interacting with everyone on a very personal level, even at the cost of significantly postponing his dinner plans.
FWIW,
Barbour Repair
55 Meadowbrook Dr
Milford NH 03055
800 338 3437
A couple of other suggestions:
>They have the ability to completely repair significant damage, such as dog claw tears.
>They will shorten sleeves if needed.
>Strongly recommend a leather binding on the bottom of the sleeve cuff.
Nice lady will always call when they get your jacket, and let you know the exact cost, in advance.
Another FWIW. Freeport is an easy drive from Portland. Plenty of good lodging there,and restaurants along the waterfront are superb, IMO.
Wharf Rat - Fabulous point and information! I agree about Portland, increasingly a destination for food enthusiasts. Some places to stay are The Danforth, The Pomegranate Inn, and the slightly more sterile but right in The Old Port the Portland Regency.
Magnificent web site!
If I ever run into any one in mid-town manhattan that rushes up and wants to sing a few bars of the alma mater of Downing College in Cambridge, I won't wear it again.
Until then, it looks like a winner.
Those are beautiful tartans! I practically grew up with our family's heavily-loved wool tartan blanket that we keep in our car (although, I am not sure if it is a genuine tartan or not!). Speaking of tartans, I took a trip to the Bean store in Columbia yesterday and I must say, we came to the very same conclusions regarding the men's department!
Thanks for another great post!
P.S.: I'm quite jealous-Meeting Mr. Scarborough and Ms. Brzezinksi must have been fun!
Thank you so much for this suggestion! I just picked up two of the blankets to be used as Christmas gifts. I am enjoying your blog!
A reader commented:
I see my alma mater front and centre in your university scarf photograph. Could you wear a Durham scarf if an alumna gave you permission? *smile*
And please reassure your readers that most of us alums would be thrilled to see one of our college scarves walking down the street. If the wearer wasn't an alum, I would simply smile and tell them to visit the best little university in England the next chance they got!
One funny scarf story before I sign off. While I was at Durham, I was walking on Elvet Bridge with a friend who had done his undergraduate degree at University College Oxford. I was in my purple, but he was still wearing his scarf from Oxford. As we passed a group of young men, one of them called over to us in the creamiest of upper class British accents, "Better take off that Oxford scarf lad or I'll hang you from that lamppost with it!"
A reader commented:
As I was busily baking pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner, I had a brain wave as to how you can wear a Balliol scarf - either as an exultant Catholic or a sorrowful Anglican/Episcopalian.
Thomas Cranmer, author of the Book of Common Prayer and founding theologian of the Angican Church was burnt across from Balliol College in 1556. If anyone asks, just say that you are celebrating his feast day in true style!
A reader commented:
You bring up an excellent point in the Bridgham & Cook article...
The whole issue of wanting to wear attractive stripes, but wanting to avoid appearing as a phony, is something that people like us obsess about, but doesn't concern most people.
The men's rep tie issue, makes your point, I think. In the UK, if you wear a regimental tie designating a regiment that you didn't serve in, it would be a major faux pax.
However, in the US, we take the regimental stripes from UK regiments, and wear them with no thought of appearing to be a fraud. Most men that wear rep in US, aren't aware that the origination of the pattern was from a regiment in the Royal Armed Forces. We simply took the stripes that ran from the heart downward, when worn in the UK, and ran them from the right downward, when sold at BB, and JP. For some reason, Ben Silver is about the only vendor who sells reps with the stripes slanted in the UK configuration. (Heart toward right foot.)
For example, the most commonly used regimental colors in US rep ties, come from the Argyle & Sutherland regiment. 99.9% of those that wear the colors here, are unaware of the genesis of the colors, and are not pretending to be anything that they are not. Whoever bought the tie just liked the colors.
The schoolboy scarf thing in the US seems to be a bit more complicated. JP has the best selection of scarfs, from all of the Ivies. As you point out, it would stamp a person as a total fraud to wear one of these, if you didn't attend the requisite school.
The scarves at B&C ltd, however are all from UK colleges, within either Cambridge or Oxford. You mentioned one that appealed to you. It seems to me that you ought to get it, if you like it... I took a chance on one, with the almost certain knowledge that I will never run into any one that thought that I was pretending to have attended Downing College. At least I hope so.
Maybe kind of like the rep tie situation.
Excellent article, at any rate, and I thank you for alerting me to their web site.
A reader commented:
When you take a look at the wide use of Argyle & Sutherland stripes, you see why it is the most widely used regimental stripe in US. BB even seems to use the stripe on boxer shorts. Stripes in US run from right shoulder to left foot, which is opposite to UK direction, but stripe is identical. Wear it in US, and isn't an attempt to establish service in the regiment. Wear it in London, and you would be exposed as a fraud.
Probably the same thing with the stripes on schoolboy scarfs. In US, if we stay away from stripes of readily recognizable colleges, without requisite attendance, it would seem to be perfectly acceptable; we just like the colors. No harm, no foul.
See here.
Yes. But do they sell Marmite?
ADG,
Why yes! Right here! Three sizes of yeast sludge. Good for roofing as well.
Thoroughly enjoyed this post and comments, too. I miss living in New England.
I grew up 20 minutes from Freeport and have loved Bridgham & Cook forever. Used to get marmalade for my British husband there, as well as the McVitie's biscuits and Crunchie bars he was missing.
"My Mate, Marmite...". Say no more.
We've stayed at the Harraseeket and very much enjoyed it and it's Broad Arrow Tavern.
Interesting reference to Balliol College and topics theological in this thread. I took a MA in Political Economy at Balliol in between my undergraduate studies at Notre Dame and doctoral studies at Michigan. I was a Presbyterian then and a Diest now. That Darwin chap was a very bright man!
Love your tartan blanket. I come from MacPhersons on my father's side and yet I do not care for their tartan. Dangit. Just give me Campbell, Gordon, Blackwatch, Royal Stewart, etc. Love all of those.
By the way, it's a long story but I lost my domain name and am back to a blogspot. So you can find me now at tickledpinkandgreen.blogspot.com.
:-)
Old - I just ordered the Balliol. (I don't think I will be mistaken for a theologian.)
Tickled Pink and Green - That's why I couldn't find you! And I agree with you - those are the best tartans.
I am hopeful you will not be Muffy. Although the Anglican clergy with whom I am familiar are a festive lot. Wear the colors in good stead. Godspeed!
I actually found your blog reading this blog post at the British Goods shop! (The owners printed it and posted it in the store.) I also really wanted the university scarves but didn't get one because of the same reason. But it turns out that there's a company that imports scarves for American colleges from the same folks who make the British university ones.
First, let me apologize for my wordiness. I’m not the best at putting my thoughts “on paper”.
I have spent the past few days reading through all of the past posts. One of the main things that stand out for me is quality. I’m developing an appreciation for companies that make high quality goods. Money aside, a company should take pride in their craftsmanship/quality and the loyal customer base that develops as a result. Sadly, when profit is the focus instead, everything seems to go downhill. I’ve come to realize that it’s not about money, it’s about integrity, honesty, loyalty, and quality. Those are the things that we should support with our money. I honestly think that trendiness tempts good companies to dumb down the virtues and quality of their company by producing lower quality goods in an effort to meet trendy demands. When trends change so quickly, why would someone pay $50 for something when they can pay $25 somewhere else? So, what about the quality? Why does it matter when the item will be discarded in a year or two? The vast majority of people aren’t willing pay the price for quality when there’s such a quick turn over rate with fashion/current trends. This is where I’m beginning to see the brilliance of the classic, timeless, preppy look. Not only does it encourage companies to provide their best and improve the quality of their items over the years, it benefits the consumers in the long run. The typical way things are done now only encourages companies to do the least that they can get away with, producing cheap, throw away items. How can anyone take pride in that? Why should I spend my money that way? I don’t want to. Understanding that we vote with our money, I would rather spend my money on quality items from reputable companies, thereby encouraging companies to do their best, growing in depth and quality, instead of the other way around.
I am also enjoying what I see as a frugal way of life, although frugality is not apparent at first glance. Spending money wisely does save money, and having your things last a long time just means that you get to enjoy being frugal while being surrounded by quality. If you stick with a classic, timeless look, as Muffy presents on her blog, spending more on quality items really is an investment vs. a waste of money, not to mention the issue of landfills and general waste. If you are not changing what you wear based on current trends, or not paying for items that wear out after a year or two, you actually spend less money over time because you have pieces that last 10, 20, 30, or more years. I had a difficult time in the past buying something that cost a lot more because I knew it would be out of style in just a year’s time, so it truly did seem a waste of money. When you take trendiness out of the equation, it changes everything.
This lifestyle also seems to connect a person to their immediate surroundings, including nature, neighbors, and support of local businesses when possible. Also, the generational history provides stability in individual lives, assuming that the foundation of the family is healthy. Hmmm…seems like that could be a good comparison to quality companies who maintain their identity generation after generation.
Overall, I get the impression that the goal is to live a mindful, intentional, good, high quality life in every aspect of your life without the annoying habit of “showing off”, flaunting, or trying to prove yourself to others.
I am so glad I found this blog. I feel like I am learning so much. Please, feel free to correct me and/or fill in any holes you feel necessary. Thank you for listening to my ramblings.
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