Essential Double-Breasted Sweater

Sweaters of Splendid Stock

A double-breasted sweater (or cardigan) will make a spiffin' addition to your classic wardrobe. Smart enough to be worn as an alternative to a sports jacket, the potential for mixing and matching is really rather considerable. Consider a button-down shirt with silk scarf tucked inside; a tattersall shirt with a hunting tie patterned with pheasants or dog's heads; a striped cutaway Bombay stripe shirt with a plain knitted tie. You can even wear the sweater as a layer under something like a cotton drill jacket as above. The true measure of a man is what he does with a sweater.

The true measure of a man is what he does with a sweater

The Spencer from Ross Bar is the non plus ultra of double-breasted sweaters. It's based on a Regency woollen version of the mess jackets worn by British military officers, named after George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer. George had the tails removed from his tailcoat after they singed by the fire, so legend has it.

Singed tailcoats

George is a relative of Charles Spencer, 9th Earl. Charles Spencer has written some cracking history books. I enjoyed the one on the Battle of Blenheim, so perhaps we'll cover it sometime. Remind me if you're keen. Charles' To Catch a King on the manhunt for Charles II is out soon and looks equally good.

The Spencer is made from Scottish fleece that is spun and dyed in Yorkshire and knitted in Leicestershire. The buttons are made from English pine. The labels are made in Derbyshire. The packaging is made in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. The results of a sterling effort to ensure the authenticity and provenance of Ross Barr sweaters. (If an Irishman were to buy one of these sweaters, it would be like reuniting the bonny bunch o' roses.)

I like the navy with the light buttons as it looks a bit like a blazer. Would I put some of the world's best blazer buttons on it?  Do you know, I just might.

The burgundy has an elegance all to its own too. This chap knows how to wear one. He needs a tumbler of whisky in his hand. Imagine the burgundy sweater with fawn cavalry twill trousers.

You can't fail with either of these colours.

Our Kind of Chap

Ross Barr-Hoyland started Ross Barr in 2015. It's a young company with a young MD and a clear objective. Ross wants the clothes produced in his name to be 100% British, 'to celebrate and demonstrate the true beauty and quality of the British manufacturing industry'. He's winning plaudits and support from the likes of the Campaign for Wool. And now The Tweed Pig — if that means anything.