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Tailoring to the Royals
Years ago, Katherine Hooker found a boys Hasidic coat in a junk shop in Israel. She loved the coat so much and it fitted her so beautifully, that she found a tailor to replicate the exact coat. When returning to London, Katherine found her friends were in awe of her new beautiful garments and soon orders were flooding in for replicas of this stunning coat. Hooker opened her London Store in 2003 and since then has been visited on numerous occasions from royalty such as Kate and Pippa Middleton and Princess Beatrice.
Kate Middleton has been seen in a number of stunning coats and pieces. Katherine Hooker had the honorable task of dressing 15 people for the royal wedding. Due to her label boost by Middleton alone, Hooker has expanded her company and her staff into the USA, where royal fever has boomed.
This year the Royals have decided to put a stricter dress policy on Ascot which means no more fleshy pictures of women tottering around, we need to take a leaf from the Middleton’s book, looking suave and sophisticated. Rules such as straps can be no thinner than 1 inch and many people have been asking about what to wear, as they are going into the Royal Enclosure, which is fantastic business for Hooker.
One of Katherine Hookers most expensive coats is the Tori coat which goes for $1750, this is due to the style and design, double-sided cashmere fabric and the fact the coat is made up from 6 panels which you tend not to find on the high street as more panels result in a lot more wastage. The fact is, the Hooker Tory coat is beautifully elegant and mobiles with an exquisite sense of luxury, this coat is mobile and dressed the body to elongate and slim the torso.
Katherine Hooker is a choice designer of the Royal Females.
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Make a statement with your coat
We all like to turn a few heads from time to time, but during winter it’s all-too easy to fade into the background. Covering up with layer upon layer of clothing can easily make us look less than svelte, and what about the winter coat? Most are bulky, drab and so far from the catwalk it’s almost laughable. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s time to make a change so you can make a real statement with your coat, and duffle coats could be the perfect way to do just that.
Duffle coats look just as good on the high street as they do on the catwalk, and they’re the must-have coat of any fashion conscious consumer. They’re thick, warm and perfect for the cold winter months, but there’s more to them than practicality. They look fantastic on any figure and will easily make you stand out from the crowd, and with so many different colours and designs to choose from you’re bound to find one that perfectly suits your sense of style.
You can choose from long or short versions, plain coloured or patterned, hooded or hoodless—whatever you want you’ll be able to find it, and if you really want to make a statement why not choose a high-impact colour? Women’s styles cover everything from demure camels to striking reds, letting you change your coat to suit your mood. With most of our other clothing choices being covered up at this time of year your coat will be your main signifier of style, so it’s important that you’re able to make a statement—it may be cold and damp outside but you can still look good in spite of the weather, and duffel coats will be the perfect way to have that kind of impact.
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David Hockney is an artist born in 1937 and has been hailed as one of the most stylish men, despite being on the line between scruffy and iconic!
This month Hockney has actually declined a knighthood from Her Majesty the Queen and instead accepted an Order of Merit.
Hockney, not only hailed as a great artist but as a bit of a style icon, has influenced many students who studied arts. He used colour and texture in a way that only an artist could, not only on canvas but with his clothes.
There are many fine pictures of Hockney in a range of clothing, spanning through the ages. With bleached yellow hair and thick rimmed circular glasses, no one could not notice this man of many colours. You can find a range of pictures of Hockney, in a delightful array of clothing, from bright pastel cable knit jumpers to a variety of coats. There is a picture of Hockney is a duffle coat, he was an icon and trail blazed the way for bright colours and mismatching clothes, right from the word go.
His combinations of rugby shirts, braces and plimsoles made him an adorable nerd, despite this, many fashion designers have taken inspiration from Hockney the man and Hockney the artist.
He creates a sense of abstract using clothing, finishing off trench coats with a polka dot necktie. It’s also feminine, but this man is not afraid to grab and mix up a range of different clothing, using layering and colours as his palette.
So, if you are wondering how to compile a new outfit from the coats and accessories in your wardrobe, take inspiration from David Hockney, a style hero and an incredible artist. He wasn’t afraid to put his fashion out in the public eye, and he has created an abstract fashion of his own, which has inspired thousands.
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Can’t get enough of coats
For some an obsession with shoes is quite a common pastime, which could extend to handbags- of course they need to match, for others their passion lies in collecting items for the home or antiques. There are, however a growing number of people who can not get enough of coats. One of those people is celebrity daughter of Lionel Richie- Nicole Richie.
In a recent news report Nicole quoted “I would always choose accessories because they can really change-up an outfit. You can wear jeans and a t-shirt and throw on a different pair of shoes and it really changes the entire outfit.” “I love to buy jackets. I love to buy coats. I bought a great designer black blazer and I wore it, you know, I wore it every day.”
Actually it is not such a strange obsession, as in most countries the climate dictates what you wear from day-to-day and events and social occasions also dictate they style of clothing you wear. Because of the nature of the garment, there are so many different styles of coat, from traditional and classic to more modern and mainstream, all available in a range of colours and fabrics.
You could be the purveyor of a collection of duffle coats, from the traditional tailoring- right through to a designer piece that may have cost you a months wages, but at the end of the day, if that is your muse, let it be! Obviously the team at Duffle Coats UK love coats, especially those that look fantastic and keep you warm and dry, which is exactly what we need in the UK during the winter months.
Hat’s off to Nicole Richie, we think her coat obsession is a healthy one, after all you can create so many different looks with a range of different accessories.
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Choosing colour correctly
We must admit, some of the Duffle Coats UK team have work items into the office which are real shockers, or drain the colour from the person wearing them. With a season full of rich bright colours and a catalogue of an amazing array of different coats, we thought it would be great to find out which colours suit different types of skin tone.
Firstly we have to determine the colour of your skin tone. Unlike what we may have thought when we were younger, we are not all pink. Skin has hues of yellow, peach, orange, pink, olive and brown and matching colours can be a task but we can make it simple. Firstly you can divide your skin colouring into seasons, spring, summer autumn and winter.
Spring offer a creamy complexion, maybe with freckles and strawberry blonde hair with green or blue eyes.
Summer covers blonde or brunettes with pale eyes and skin
Autumn skin tones include red heads and brunettes with brown eyes and golden skin
Winter covers those with Brunette air and pale yellowish skin, with deep coloured eyes, Asian and Oriental skin usually falls into this category.
Now lets look at the clothing
Spring skin should choose clothing which offers warm colours such as peaches, camels, yellows and golds, Spring should avoid dark dull colours
Summer can show off in neutrals and pastels with pink and blue undertones
Autumns again should strut their stuff in golden colours and avoid any colours with blue undertones such as Navy.
Finally Winters can wear sharp block colours such as red, navy, white and black, for lighter versions choose icy colours rather than pastels!
Dufflecoatsuk.co.uk has a range of coloured Duffle coats that will suit every skin colouring. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter skin tones will be flattered with our incredible coats.
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When the wind gets up
Lets be honest, the weather has been terrible. Causing chaos across the United Kingdom. Some parts of Scotland and the north have been without power for days, tree’s have come down, roof’s have blown off and chimneys have collapsed. It’s enough to make you want to stay in doors, but if you do have to venture out whether to walk the dog, pick up the kids or nip to the shops, are you wearing the right attire?
Some winter coats are thick and warm but do not offer any protection against harsh winds and rain.
Duffle Coats are a great pick when you need something to protect you against the elements. Worn for decades, these fantastic coats are made from a specially woven wool fabric which is thick, warm protects against shower and also strong winds. The other great thing about Duffle Coats is their fit, you won’t feel like a restricted marshmallow, these coats allow movement and freedom which is perfect when going on a long walk or carrying shopping or children.
Duffle Coats are very versatile, when made for the service men, they would not only wear them but use them as cushions to sit on and blankets to cover them. It’s an all round winner.
So rather than braving the outside in something thin and returning soaked to the bone and cold, consider a Duffle Coat for the winter, especially in this weather.
Returning to the weather, the UK is set for another windy period, with winds reaching up to an incredible 100mph. So batten down the hatches, get some candles in and that gas camping stove up from the shed, because its going to be a rough ride. If the heating goes, make sure everyone has a Duffle Coat, you’ll be glad you invested.
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Matching Duffles
In years gone by it may seem like a slight cliché for you and your other half to step out in matching coats. Walkers seem to thrive on this fashion faux pas, yet in the news recently, celebrities have been pulling on their matching coats and stepping out on the streets, completely shame free.
Maybe its time to re think our wardrobes and take a fashion tip from Kym Marsh and her partner Jamie Lomas. The couple was spotted wearing identical Duffle coats on their way to Old Trafford for the Manchester vs Blackburn Rovers game.
Kym Marsh famous for her singing turn acting career as a main part in Corrie and her partner Jamie Lomas- Warren Fox in Hollyoaks, both work black Duffle coats with leather shoulder pads and looked quite the couple.
You may not want to have exactly the same colour coats but a family of Duffle coats is completely cute, fashionable and practical. They are fantastic winter coats. The thick fabric protects against the wind and rain and the fit of the coat allows you to still move around freely without feeling restricted.
When it comes to very bad matching coats and styles to avoid we’ve found a few, including colour co-ordination and badly fitted jackets and these are from celebrities such as Sir Paul McCartney and Tom Cruise.
Whether you like the thought of a matching coat or not, we think Duffle Coats are ace and a great investment that will last the test of time and become a favourite coat for the whole family. If you have some money burning a hole in your pocket, treat yourself to a new coat this January, you’ll be pleased you did, you never know, you may start a matching revolution.
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Hooded not hoodie
Just before the 1900’s a white Christmas hit London and the UK was covered in a blanket of snow. From the highlands of Scotland, to the beaches of Portsmouth, everywhere was covered and you couldn’t spot a piece of grass for miles.
At this point came a revolutionary addition to normal coats, the hood. The hood was taken from the cape and re-styled to be place on a parka, duffle coat or jacket so it looked good and provided protection to the hair and face in the harshest of weather conditions.
Back during these times, the only hat that was worn were either flat caps, bonnet for the ladies or bowler hats, depending on your which class you belonged in. There were no beanie or woolly hats to keep your ears and head worn. Another reason why tailors placed a hood on certain coats was that it helped keep your head, ears, neck and part of your face warm as well has helping your vision during a snow fall or when it was raining.
Through the years, different coats started adding the hood and then the hooded jacket came about as fashion was moving on. During the 1990’s the hooded jumper and t-shirt were fashionable, with many people wearing a hooded jumper during the summer months as it looked trendy and was a light version of a heavy jacket.
In 2006 parliament passed a law on ‘hoodies’ which was a collective noun on youths that were misbehaving and acting against the law. Now the word ‘hoodie’ can have terrible connotations, that has created a culture where people avoid wearing their own hoods.
The reason that MP’s used the word ‘hoodie’ to describe unlawful youths was due to the common fashion, they felt that kids that wore their hoods up over their faces, used it to hide their identity whilst they were breaking the law.
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Winter Wedding Coats
It’s nearly here, the Duffle Coats UK team is getting in the spirit of things. One of the team is attending a Winter Wedding on Boxing day and was having a little trouble deciding what to wear, so we thought we would look at the best Winter Wedding Coats and other styles of coat or jacket that are suitable for weddings.
Starting with the most important person on the Wedding day, the bride. There are some incredibly beautiful coats and jackets that enhance and match the bridal gown. From fitted Victorian style which splay out from the waist area, to cropped jackets which are more favourable in the summer months but provide coverage for those who want to cover arms and show off a beautiful sweetheart neck line. Capes are very popular and offer a completely different look to a dress. One of our favourite picks for winter is a fur coat or bolero, they look so glamorous and surround the bride with soft warm fur. These are the perfect pick for the bride on a cold winter day.
There are a number of options for mens wedding coats. You can opt for the more formal look with tail coats or something a little more casual with a suit jacket.
Something that looks incredible for men is a waistcoat which can match with the colour theme of the wedding. Bridesmaid dresses can match the waistcoats and cravats worn by the men, which makes a real nice focal point.
For wedding attendees there are numerous coats and jackets for winter weddings. For women, fur coats always look very glamorous and in a simple colour can really enhance an outfit. Men can opt for smart blazers and Pea Coats. A word to the wise, it may look fantastic but a thin winter coat will not keep you warm in a cold church or when the photos are being taken!
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Its all in the name
Ever wondered where Duffle Coats got their name or why a Bikini is called so? Today the Duffle Coats UK will enlighten you.
Firstly and most importantly lets start with the Duffle Coat. Named after the town Duffel in Belgium where the heavy woollen cloth was originally produced to make overcoats for the military. The town spells its name Duffel although it is sometimes changed to Duffle when it comes to coats and bags.
Other products that lend their names to the places they were created and produced include Bayonet, from the French town Bayonne, where the sharp knives were originally made.
The Bikini is an interesting one, launched a few days after the testing of atomic bombs, it was aptly named due to the fact it looked like it had “been split like an atom”.
Another quirky name comes from a surfer who would regularly drink a mix of vodka, Galliano and orange juice, when he’d had quite enough he would go around banging on the walls of the bar in LA, hence a Harvey Wall Banger cocktail.
We love all these incredible facts and the great thing is you can find out more with a fantastic book that has been released just in time for the Festive Season. It’s called Harvey Wallbangers and Tam O’Shanters and lists all the products, places and facts about why name things a certain way and what the origins of the name are.
So if you are curious why Mount Everest is named so and how Bluetooth came about, invest in this fantastic book.