Barbour by ALEXACHUNG: The FW20 collection is here

Founded in 1894, British brand Barbour has a long history as the go-to brand for all-weather outdoor wear. Based in South Shields in the northeast of England, where founder John Barbour opened his first shop over 125 years ago, the business is still owned by the Barbour family to this day, having been passed on through five generations. With its roots in creating protective outerwear for fishermen and mariners, the collections have grown into a full lifestyle offering, including knitwear, boots and accessories, ranging from heritage-inspired country styles to technical sporting designs.

Designer and presenter Alexa Chung associates some of her happiest memories with wearing Barbour, from horse riding in the Hampshire countryside as a child to attending outdoor music festivals as an adult. Having founded her eponymous fashion label in 2017, Chung launched a womenswear collaboration with Barbour in 2019, pulling her design favorites from the house’s archive and updating them with her own irreverent, cool spin. Now in its third season, the fall/winter ’20 collection focuses on outerwear for both town and country, and “marries British heritage with contemporary living”, says Chung.

“This is arguably my favorite collection to date, as we approached the design process with more ambition, delving even deeper into the Barbour archive to explore new silhouettes and make them our own,” says Chung of the influences behind these latest pieces. “This particular collection evokes an element of nostalgia fuelled by childhood memories of seeing my elders wearing similar shapes in Hampshire.”

Fans of Barbour’s iconic waxed jackets will love the new Floyd Wax style, adapted from Barbour’s famous 1980s Spey fishing jacket. Featuring a detachable faux-fur lining, the beauty of this piece lies in its versatility – wear it unlined as a protective lighter layer in the fall and spring months, and then as a cozy coat come winter.

“The goal with every approach is to create pieces that feel versatile enough to wear for everyday situations, both in the city and countryside,” says Chung of how the pieces are practical yet still elevated enough to wear in different settings. A perfect example of this rural and urban design aesthetic, the Glenda mackintosh is a standout within the collection. Made from a neutral, stone-colored fabric, it has a blue and red tartan lining and collar, tortoiseshell buttons and a cinchable waist tie ­– making it perfect for throwing on over everything from sweaters and jeans to smarter workwear looks.

The ultimate in cool waterproof wear, the Pippa jacket is a longline pull-on poncho style, featuring a hood and deep front pocket. Designed to be worn slightly oversized, it can be layered over thick winter outfits, but will look just as good with bare legs and sporty sandals in the warmer months in the event of any showers. Consider your new-season outerwear needs covered.