Welcome back to the Gentleman’s Gazette.
In today’s video, we’ll be sharing 8 outfit ideas you can wear with a waxed cotton jacket.
Now before we dive into these 8 great outfits you can wear with a waxed jacket, let me first
share with you the history of what a waxed cotton jacket is.
Now the 15th-century mariners would coat the sails on their boats with fish oil and with
grease.
This was done for more efficiency and weather and kept the sails light in wet weather.
Now did you know that the worn-down remnants of these sails were cut down for capes to
keep the mariners dry?
These are the beginnings of the fisherman’s slicker.
From 1795, Francis Webster Ltd. was one of the best at adding linseed oil to flax sails.
By the mid-1920s the fabric was sent to Websters to be woven and then it would be sent to Lancashire
County to be dyed in black or olive green.
Now this produced the cloth that was water-resistant, breathable, and didn’t have a yellowing
effect as it aged.
Then it was sent to London to be treated with copper ammonia afterward the fabric is sent
back to Lancashire County for waxing.
In 2005, refined hydrocarbon waxed was developed to better replace the copper ammonia treatment
which is causing a really strong scent.
Over the years we’ve seen a large interest in waxed cotton coming from the commercial
shipping industry.
J.Barbour and Sons was an early adapter in the outdoor industry.
They made the waxed cotton jackets for farmers and for gamekeepers.
Belstaff gained a lot of popularity as motorcycles arose as a means of transportation.
Waxed cotton was adapted as the first choice of waterproof clothing for the British Armed
Forces in World War II.
Alright, now that we’re up to speed with the history of waxed cotton, let’s dive
into some great outfits you can wear with a waxed cotton jacket:
Outfit number 1: Patterned pants with a neutral shirt.
The boldness of the patterned pants draws immediate attention however the neutrality
of the shirt and the jacket brings balance into the entire outfit.
Now adding something quirky is just a little bit out of the norm to your outfit is just
a great way to add new life into your waxed cotton jacket.
Outfit number 2: Gray pants with a patterned shirt.
Now, gray pants aren’t an easy choice for many to want to wear because of the ease of
both blending it to casual or professional attire.
The patterned shirt will bring something new and refreshing to the viewer as the jacket
and neutral pants could repair other blends on their own.
Now it’s beneficial to consider a color choice that compliments both jacket and pants
in this outfit.
The charcoal gray dress pants that I chose works well in the entire outfit and keeps
it elevated and professional looking as opposed to wearing chino or a pair of jeans in this
particular setting.
The small checks within the pattern of the purple shirt are not too busy or too whimsical
and although they allow for visual interest, they keep things professional as well.
Now our third outfit: Dark wash denim with a lightweight sweater.
Now wearing a dark wash jeans is a great way to maintain the casual appearance of the entire
outfit and help bring out the casualness of the waxed cotton jacket as well.
Now try to remember to keep your denim choice free of too much whiskering or seam details;
this will take away from the clean look of the entire outfit and also will take away
from the timelessness of your entire outfit.
Now the lightweight sweater has the capability of elevating and also brightening the entire
appearance of the otherwise outdoorsy waxed cotton jacket.
Now once you remove your jacket, the sweater and the denim will be able to complement one
another effortlessly.
The bright color I chose to wear today complements the dark denim very well and it also provides
a nice contrast to the dark jacket I chose to wear.
Outfit number 4: Chino pants and a patterned sports shirt.
Chino pants are convenient pant options to own especially in colors like stone, tan,
green, or even navy.
Now as the waxed cotton jacket I’m wearing today is black, for contrast, I chose to wear
tan cotton chino pants and the patterned shirt I’m wearing also complements the chino pants
once the jacket is removed as well.
Outfit number 5: Dark turtleneck sweater and neutral dress pants.
Now wearing a turtleneck over a casual jacket or a blazer is not a new concept but the juxtaposition
of wearing an outdoorsy jacket like the waxed cotton jacket with a turtle neck blends together
wonderfully then adding the neutral dress pants elevates everything and allows everything
to look complete.
The turtleneck is not too thick and therefore is comfortably worn under the jacket without
looking or feeling too bulky.
The neutral colored dress pants that I chose to wear have a very small check pattern inside
of them and its soft color helps brighten the rest of the outfit as the shoes, jacket,
and turtleneck are all quite dark.
Outfit number 6 is going to be a V-neck sweater with a dress shirt, tie, and also dress pants.
Now, this is the harmonious way we’ll be able to blend a business casual outfit with
a rustic outwear element.
Depending on what your waxed cotton jacket looks like in terms of length, color, and
different embellishments, you may decide you prefer to not wear a tie or to wear a different
sweater or no sweater at all.
It’s always best to keep an open mind but in the end, do what’s best for you in your
outfit.
In this outfit, you can confidently enter a workplace and not feel too underdressed
due to the outerwear.
The waxed cotton jacket provides insulation and water resistance.
The multiple layers worn in this outfit help add a little more depth to the overall outfit
and the tie I chose to wear is from Fort Belvedere.
For some other great tie options which you can incorporate in your own outfits, check
them out at the Fort Belvedere shop.
(link in description box)
Outfit number 7: Wearing a patterned sweater or a denim shirt.
Now the denim shirt and patterned sweater combination will add warmth to the entire
outfit.
Try adding a favorite watch or a ring to further personalize your outfit.
The light sweater I chose to wear happens to have a lot of shades of blue and some gray
woven inside.
All different neutrals would have would all help complement the dark washed jeans.
Now, this outfit can also be worn with off-white denim, tan chino pants, and a bold earth tone
colored green pants as well.
Last but not least, our 8th outfit: a denim shirt, with off-white pants.
This outfit is great for a casual outing especially if you’re wearing a black, navy, gree, or
khaki cotton waxed jacket.
The tone of the light denim shirt will brighten up the tone of your outfit especially when
worn with a black or an olive green waxed jacket.
The off-white pants option also helps brighten up the outfit especially when paired with
a nice boot, or cap of your choosing.
Now that we have reviewed some amazing outfits you can wear with a waxed cotton jacket, let’s
look at some of the best times of the year to wear this jacket:
Cooler temperatures always provide the best time to wear a waxed cotton jacket.
The reason is, spring, fall, and the beginning of winter depending on your location is always
going to provide you the best opportunity to take advantage of the water resistance,
and the subtle insulation these jackets provide.
Certain brands and styles offer more padding and insulation than others and some may provide
more of a shell to provide against moisture, for example, when out fishing.
Three popular styles from the Barbour brand happen to be the Barbour Ashby Waxed Jacket,
the Barbour Classic Beaufort Waxed Jacket, and the Bedale Waxed Jacket.
Now the waxed cotton jacket is essentially a three-season jacket but depending on your
intention and needs.
While shopping for your jacket, it’s important to keep temperature and style in mind.
Now will you be actually wearing your jacket for outdoor activities or will you also be
wearing this as more of a fashion statement and to pay homage to a timeless style?
Once you have answered those for yourself, make sure you shop around and find the best
quality and find the best jacket that fits you.
Remember, if you’re uncomfortable with what your wearing, it is going to show.
Remember, don’t feel the need to wear a particular jacket from a certain brand simply
because of its popularity.
Finding what works best for you is always ideal whether that comes from a vintage shop
or a high-end store.
Alright, now that you have style ideas and you know what best season to wear your waxed
cotton jacket, what color should you be purchasing?
Typically, what many of us think of when we envision a waxed cotton jacket we think of
black or dark olive green.
And although this is correct in terms of many, many factories will produce, we are now starting
to see more options in terms of color -- we see tan, navy, and sometimes even plaid.
Now if you’re new to the world of waxed cotton jackets, it’s important to probably
find something that will offer more stability in your outfits like a green, or black option.
However, if you already got something good foundational colors like that in your wardrobe,
feel free to go ahead and have some fun and experiment with a different color, or perhaps
a pattern.
Now here are the three don’ts of waxed cotton jacket ownership:
1.
Don’t dry clean.
This can damage the pressing and heat involved and also, a lot of the different chemicals
that might be used at the dry cleaners usually won’t cooperate to well with the wax.
2.
Don’t machine wash your waxed cotton jacket.
Now a good alternative to cleaning your waxed cotton jacket would be to wash it by hand.
Over time you might also find that you should be reapplying a cotton wax on your jacket.
3.
Do not wash your waxed cotton jacket with warm water.
The reason that this is important is that in doing so, you’ll be releasing the protective
coating on your jacket.
Now, how do you best care for your waxed cotton jacket?
It’s important to know that waxed cotton jackets usually need an annual re-waxing.
Over time, the friction of consistent wear will cause the wax to break down.
Re-waxing is best performed during the summer months due to the naturally warmer temperature.
It is, therefore, much easier to spread around due to how soft it is.
Now when the wax is warmed, you can then apply it to small areas with a soft cloth.
Although much time has passed since it’s creation, many of the original ways of how
it’s first enjoyed are still enjoyed today.
The resurgence in recent years has a more classic style, offers a great opportunity
to re-introduce this element of style into our wardrobes and this element offers many
different benefits that will last for years to come.
Now the bold, gingham patterned shirt that I’m wearing is navy blue and white, and
I love the fact that the neutral colors in this shirt complement the jacket so effortlessly.
This shirt can be tucked in or left untucked for a more casual approach.
And the all-black Chelsea boots that I’m wearing help finish off the entire outfit
and pair nicely with the jacket.