Barbour by David Wood

Some weekend gardeners are adopting the look of the English manor for yard work, exchanging ratty jeans and rubber clogs for trim trousers, sturdy jackets and hunting boots that look to be straight out of "Downton Abbey."

Whether it's waterproof utility jackets from J. Barbour and Sons Ltd., English riding breeches from Ariat International Inc., or leather and rubber Wellingtons from Dubarry of Ireland and Le Chameau, the items are seeing sales and popularity surge, and in some cases scoring prime berths with retailers. Other chains are selling the look, if not the authentic brands.

Many people who garden enter a creative fantasy mind-set, even while pulling weeds and digging flower beds, and they want to dress the part. It's worth remembering that gardening is a hobby done in full view of the neighbors. "Everybody's secret wish is to transport themselves to a more romantic era and have Mr. Darcy call them while they're picking the flowers," says Danny Hulse, general manager of Dubarry's U.S. arm.

We walk many a mile in our lives, our shoes are almost part of us. Our choice of footwear is a representation of our personalities, they are us. I used to have quite the shoe collection, mostly dominated by worn out cowboy boots, my favourite choice for many years. But they’re a bit showy and impractical in my line of work, so they’ve all gone bar one pair. What I wear now is all about hard-wearing practicality. Handmade. Leather

The way I’ve treated my old worn out boots, is similar to how we tend to treat nature. We take and take and really give little in return. I know I go on about this but it’s the undeniable reality. It’s something visible to even the untrained eye. Our houses are filled with stuff, all made with natural resources as the base. This computer I’m typing on used natural resources. The clothes I wear, natural resources. So that makes all these things all the more precious. Instead of discarding items when they seem less useful, appropriate or out of fashion, is it not better for us to retain them, to wear them out completely before replacing them? This is what I ask myself. This is what I end up thinking about when I’m rubbing bee’s wax leather treatment over my worn out boots. I wish I didn’t think so much about this stuff, just shut up and polish the damn boots Rohan.

Over the last few months, we’ve been either selling or giving away many of the items in our house that are not necessary to us. Other people can get some use out of them, as long as they’re not discarded to trash. One thing that can’t be discarded is these old boots. With a little love they’ll serve me many a year. And as I age so too will my boots. They will scar as I do, they will tell stories as I will and eventually like me, they will outlive their purpose and be returned to nothing but mere particles in a world that is forever changing and recycling itself, towards the inevitable. But for now these old boys are now ready to face the new day.

Warm blood hits my boots, the wall, the cone. The bird will wriggle. The last bit of living electricity exiting the body then falls limp. It’s a kill, there is no bullshit about it. Some TV shows talk about the humanity of the dispatch but the reality is, you’re killing another animal in order to balance your omnivorous diet. I don’t deny that.

It’s just the same as me catching a fish, shooting a rabbit or quail on the run. It’s us animals killing another animal to get that essential protein that our bodies have evolved to expect. The sad fact is that process of a kill is nowhere advertised or communicated to the billions of people that eat a chicken subway, Macca’s burger or a million processed chicken nuggets consumed every day. That pisses me off. I lament that we have lost that connection with how meat is produced. So much so that when I show someone how to kill a chicken they predictably cry. Tears will slide down cheeks as they hold the neck of the bird, blood starts to flow and the animal dies by their hand. It’s bloody and gory and it’s something every meat eater should know or they should stop eating meat. Opinionated? Bloody right I am.

You imagine for a minute if there wasn’t that John Smith working on the killing floor at the factory that kills your animals for you. Would you still eat meat? I asked myself that question years ago and find myself here. Taking care of the dirty work myself. It doens’t make me a better person. It just means I’m a true omnivore.

If you're more of a country boy than a city type, you'll be looking forward to stomping through woods and cuddling your labrador by a roaring fire. 

Even if you are a city slicker, nothing screams "I'm so wholesome and manly! Care to join me for a roll in the hay?" like a Barbour and boots. 

Collared jumper - ASOS £35, Cords - Crew £65, Waxed jacket - Barbour £200, Chocolate shearling boots - Hunter £295, Hipflast - Amazon £3, Damson gin - B&G £15, Merino & cashmere scarf - Barbour £60

If you're going anywhere remotely green or muddy this Autumn you'll want your snuggly cowl neck jumper (which looks much more expensive than it is), your cords, waxed Barbour, Hunters (lined with rich chocolate sheepskin - hello cosy wriggly toes!), your scarf for a pop of colour and your hip-flask  filled with Damson Gin. 

Heading back to the city is another matter entirely. 

Whether you're heading for cocktails with colleagues or a hot date with a knockout, this next look will have you feeling like the cats pyjamas. 

Items found in Barbour jackets sent in for repair in England. The contents hint at customer lifestyles – from dog biscuits to toy cars, party poppers to plane tickets.

In this picture, I'm wearing: skinny jeans, riding boots, a ruffled blouse, and a Brooks Brothers sweater. I really like the androgynous jacket and sweater, but the feminine details of the blouse delicately emerging from the collar and the sleeves. (And I live in my riding boots.... live in them.)

  As far as styling a Barbour jacket goes, I really think that anything goes! It's not something to really over-think. Wear with leggings (gasp!), hunter boots, and a chunky cable knit sweaterfor a super relaxed casual (and cozy) look. Or simply throw on over whatever you've planned to wear for the day! Somehow... it will just work.