The London Lounge

Here is Ian Jack being a curmudgeon in The Guardian about Christmas present, and finishing with a coda about Nigel's coat:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... ter-lazier

Deeply curious. I saw the Christ figure last Wednesday. I was crossing St Mary Axe and Camomile Street and he was waiting at the pedestrian lights opposite. He gave a smile, a real warm and genuine one and it left me feeling unsettled as I was at the time a seething ball of anger on my way to throw my resignation on to my bosses desk. But on reflection maybe it was because I was dressed like Farage (see 'Excuse Me, Sir)

I'm too young to properly remember Thorpe and I've always quite liked covert coats. The proper poshos wore them at our office in the late 80's when us oily rags started to adopt Barbours. I do recall however one Cargo Underwriter who persisted with a Beaufort and made a point of carrying a couple of shotgun cartridges in his pocket just to make a point to us. Coverts have always given me the impression of a touch of class.

I dislike camel Chesterfields. Too much Arthur Daley. Too much football manager. And I have a dread of checked suits. When I was a young man I brought a rtw pow double breasted from Dombie & Sons (remember them!) and wore it to the office thinking I looked very sharp. Within 5 minutes of arriving for work the MD strolled out of his office, looked at me and bellowed 'You boy..... this is a Insurance Brokerage, not a ****ing bookies'. Left me scarred for life.

The Guardian is reliably repulsive...

I too like coverts, though in the City I´ve always worn a dark grey one (just never lose your coat check ticket at a City function, you´ll force the cloakroom attendant to find a needle in a haystack...).

I liked the "checked suit" story, C&A.

I am a great fan of the covert. My first was bought for me by my dear old mother in law about 25 years ago from the late lamented Carters in Salisbury. The kindly gent in the shop steered me away from one with a velvet collar on account, he confided, that it might convey an 'unhelpful impression' should I be likely to wear it when meeting a client. Ha!

As regards Mr Farage's version, I could dwell on the matter of the velvet collar - but in my humble opinion, the fact that his "covert coat" coat has buttons on the cuffs tells you everything you need to know about the man and his politics.



(re-edit : my orig photo - link broken - showed these well, this replacement isn't so clear, apols)

He does look like he's been shoplifting at a budget version of Cordings. I suspect that the idea of politicians as style icons probably went out with Anthony Eden.

(re-re-edit : I think Jeremy Thorpe's coat looks OK if this is the one referred to in the Guardian article. It looks on the dark (&heavy?) side for a covert coat?



I sympathise with your comment about the 'Grauniad' - although it does occasionally have some very good contributors, Nick Cohen being one who seems to annoy absolutely everyone right across the political spectrum (& so gets my vote). I certainly wouldn't trust Ian Jacks sartorial judgment as to what makes a proper covert coat 'though, he's possibly more at home with anoraks.


25 years later, my covert coat is gently aged - and all the better for that. As for the cloakroom problem... http://www.thelondonlounge.net/forum/vi ... 31&t=11524

...

Melcombe wrote:the fact that his "covert coat" coat has buttons on the cuffs tells you everything you need to know about the man and his politics

It shouldn't have buttons on the cuffs?

Noble Savage wrote:

Melcombe wrote:the fact that his "covert coat" coat has buttons on the cuffs tells you everything you need to know about the man and his politics

It shouldn't have buttons on the cuffs?

I believe it should not.

It should have closed seams and 3 (or 4) rows of stitching.

My understanding (without verification) is that the design of covert coats is largely equestrian - you do see a lot at point to points and National Hunt race meetings. It was suggested that cuff buttons snag in your tack or reins - I can sort of see that rationale, but I suspect it's more a question of 'uniform' than of practicality.

In recent months I have invested in an enamel EU flag lapel badge for my covert coat as a defence tactic. Even people who should know better seemed to have started to assume that wearing a covert coat - how should I put this? - disinclines one to an 'internationalist' outlook?

Pah!

Melcombe: Well done, though a defense tactic should not, as you say, be needed. I have remarked here before that I take perverse pleasure in frustrating the preconceptions of those who impute political and cultural views to me based on their associations with (perfectly classic) dress. I just picture Keynes and smile.

You remind me that it's about time to don my worn Levi's, oil-tanned western boots, and buffalo belt with my father's oval sterling buckle with its bronze Texas star. But it might be unkind to my fellow "east coast liberal elite" friends to do so at just this moment. Soon, though.

Noble Savage wrote:

Melcombe wrote:the fact that his "covert coat" coat has buttons on the cuffs tells you everything you need to know about the man and his politics

It shouldn't have buttons on the cuffs?

The only thing that a cover coat should have on the cuffs is rings of stitches. Each ring "supposedly" sewn by your tailor to hold the sleeve together after you tore it in some brave scrimmage. If you want your rings beforehand as to prevent the snagging, good for you.
A covert coat might have also a velvet collar but, ideally, not if it´s a brand new one. Wait a few years and earn it.
IMO, Mr. Farage´s topcoat -in a color that would disguise mud or horse hair- is more appropriate for a day at the races than for a M(E)P in town.