Magazine · 6 October 2026
Barbour: the waxed jacket everyone wants
From farm coat to city staple. The story of Barbour, and which model to buy.
Few jackets are as recognisable as a Barbour. The waxed cotton, the corduroy collar and the brass studs have gone from British farms and fishing boats to city streets, fashion weeks and every old money mood board on the internet.
Where it started
John Barbour founded the company in 1894 in South Shields, in the north-east of England. He sold oilskin clothing to sailors and fishermen who needed to stay dry on the North Sea. The company is still family-owned today and still makes many of its jackets in South Shields.
Why waxed cotton?
Cotton treated with wax keeps out wind and rain but still breathes. Over time the wax wears off, so Barbour offers rewaxing and repairs. That is part of the appeal: a Barbour is meant to be worn for decades, and it looks better with every crease and scuff.
The models to know
Bedale: short and boxy, designed for riding. It fits over a blazer and is the easiest one to wear in the city.
Beaufort: the classic shooting jacket, a little longer, with the big game pocket at the back. The most country of them all.
Border: the longest of the classics, made for proper weather.
Ashby and Transport: newer, slimmer and shorter cuts for a more modern look.
How to wear it now
Keep everything else simple and a bit refined: a cashmere crewneck or a striped shirt, straight dark jeans or chinos, and suede loafers or leather boots. It is the same quiet, lived-in luxury you see on Gstaad Guy or in Paul Newman style off duty.
Cashmere zip jacket and suede loafers
Striped shirt and white trousers
Cap, knit and charcoal jacket
Worth it?
A new Barbour costs a fraction of a luxury designer coat and can last a lifetime with a rewax every year or two. If you want one coat that works in the countryside and the city, it is hard to beat.