Packing from Archival Clothing

by Lesli Larson

I'm preparing for a brief field trip up to Seattle. I'll be visiting friends and checking out Blackbird's pop-up Ballard store, The Field House.

Rather than packing the usual uniform (Levi's, loafers and St. James sweaters), I'm sourcing my wardrobe from garments and accessories previously featured on Archival Clothing. Although I'd love to say that I'm bringing all USA-made goods, my selections for this trip are mainly UK brands . My hypothetical wardrobe features shoes by Crockett and Jones, perfectly tailored blazers and knickers from Holland & Holland and jackets by Beretta, Barbour and Hoggs of Fife (a jacket for every Northwest weather condition). At the moment, my shopping options for top quality, nicely fitting shirts for women is limited to my paper doll Holland & Hollands and a thrifted JCrew haberdashery shirt (not pictured). Please send along future packing suggestions for Gitman Bros. or Our Legacy type shirts sized for women.

Inspired by this 1919 demonstration of transformative wardrobes, I'm trying to identify a single clothing item that would generate multiple travel outfits (from Thursday through Sunday).

From formal clothing to sports wear in no time (Nationaal Archief)

Here's what I've packed so far. I still need to edit my selections down to a single jacket and carry-all:

Barbour Urban Transport jacket

Hoggs of Fife & Beretta Maremmana jackets

Holland & Holland knickers, blazers and shirting

Crockett and Jones lace-up ankle boots and brogues

Brady & Hunting World travel bags

For some reason, one of my favorite travel bag brands, Bertram Mann, lacks a web presence and produces zero results in a Google image search. I'll leave this space blank to illustrate the Bertram Mann weekender bag I'll be using to pack up these outfits.

Archival eBay: Holland & Holland game bag

I've always enjoyed Holland and Holland's larky treatment of outdoor clothing and shooting accessories via aspirational scenes of country living.



My H & H catalogue collection is pretty scattered so I monitor ebay for use-case photographs of H & H bags and clothing. My favorite photos feature products removed from country estates and plopped down under the brights bulbs and white sheets of an ebay auction photo shoot.

Holland and Holland tweeds on ebay

Unless Holland & Holland is underwriting all of the historical manufacturing industries in the UK, it's hard for me to endorse the 827.00 Buy It Now price for this recent vintage hunting bag . But I love how the auction lets me inspect, close-up, all impeccably executed design features.

Ebay auction item 220502582016 (sale price: 827.25)

Vintage Sportswomen

Suede jacket ("a dozen uses in its warmth and lightness")

Safari in sneakers

At the Duchess County show

Golf and Yachting

Watching the trotters

Upland shooting attire

Carrots to her horse

Archival Pageant

Campwear ("following a code and creed of dress")

Sweater, shorts and loafers

Holland and Holland

Here is Marion Taylor's report on some 1920 shopping options for the sportwoman looking for country clothing and attractive accessories (apologies for the June in January focus of her article).

Aside from Filson, Barbour and Beretta (and for a privileged demographic, Holland & Holland), who is minding the store for the current generation of archival sportswomen?

In the area of footwear, I'm happy to report that British Sporting Ltd still carries a scotchgrain boot for women by Crockett and Jones. Full country clothing selection, including Crockett and Jones, and Barbour, available here.

Crockett and Jones Barnwell boot