Once upon a time, Scottish farmers wore tweed clothes to protect themselves from rain and cold. English gentlemen wore suits made of this fabric to show off at receptions with counts. Today, the tweed jacket has become a trendy item. It looks equally good on both men and women.
History of appearance
The first people to start making tweed clothes were the Scots in the 18th century. Farmers valued the fabric for its density: the multi-layered fabric did not get wet from rain or snow, kept warm in winter and protected from the wind. The tweed of the past is a thick, single-color material with no hint of an original design.
At the beginning of the 19th century, English aristocrats wore tweed. The material was used to sew men's clothing. These were classic and hunting suits, everyday wardrobe items.
Coco Chanel, a designer who tended to "remake" men's clothing, managed to introduce a tweed jacket into the women's wardrobe. The designer worked on the fabric: she soaked the dense material in a special solution to soften it. To give the jacket femininity, Coco Chanel removed the collar, shortened the length, added silk inserts and gold buttons. Even now, tweed clothing is a recognizable Chanel image all over the world. And the jacket is a must-have item in the wardrobe of the first ladies of Great Britain.
The secret to the tweed jacket's popularity is its comfort. Coco Chanel said more than once that women's clothing should be practical, with natural shapes. Modern designers sew jackets without collars, think through the shape of the sleeve so that it does not interfere with movement, complement tweed with silk lining, decorative edging.
Features and advantages of the material
Tweed is a dense fabric with a relief surface covered with pile. The classic method of making the material is twill weave. The warp and weft threads overlap several opposite ones, resulting in a diagonal pattern of bumps. Denim and merino gabardine are made in exactly the same way. Less often, tweed is made using the plain weave method: the warp and weft threads overlap each other with a minimum rapport.
To obtain the fabric, untwisted threads from the wool of Scottish sheep are used. Another option is a combination of cotton and synthetic fibers. The raw materials are cleaned, woven into threads, and dyed. To change the color of tweed, natural (to obtain discreet shades, such as black, gray) and synthetic dyes (to make the material bright, for example, red or blue) are used.
Types of tweed:
- Bedford cord. It is distinguished by a wavy pattern on the surface.
- Herringbone. Tweed with a pattern resembling fir branches.
- Shepherd's check. Thick tweed check.
- Houndstooth: A material with an abstract pattern that is slightly reminiscent of a check.
- Donegal: A plain-patterned fabric produced in Ireland.
- Covercoat. A uniform, dark-colored material that is commonly used for men's clothing.
- Cheviot. A coarse, dense fabric with a geometric pattern.
These fabrics are used to sew warm everyday clothes for women (skirts, jackets, suits), for men (trousers, jackets, vests), outerwear, hats, shoes. Tweed is an aristocratic and at the same time practical material. It is suitable for wearing in winter, autumn, spring.
The advantages of tweed include:
- Durability. A jacket made of such material will remain a wardrobe decoration for a long time.
- Versatility. Tweed clothing suits any style.
- Convenience. Such things do not restrict movement.
- It is not damaged by moisture. You can wear a tweed jacket even in rainy weather.
- Keeps you warm. The jacket is cozy in the cold season.
- Doesn't wrinkle. The jacket doesn't need to be ironed every day.
- Comfort. The clothes do not itch, pleasant to the touch.
- Don't worry about snagging. Even if you accidentally catch something sharp, you just need to gently pull the material in different directions to remove the snagging marks.
Tweed has virtually no serious drawbacks. If the fabric is natural, it must be protected from moths. Another disadvantage is that the material takes a long time to dry when wet.
Designers are able to create fabrics of different thicknesses, complementing their collections with summer dresses made of tweed. Linen, cotton or silk fiber is used to make light fabrics.
Popular models
Tweed clothing is loved by men and women of all ages. It can be combined with classic, business, urban and even romantic styles.
Women's
Tweed jackets with elbow patches have been a staple in fashionistas' wardrobes for several seasons now. Initially, such a decorative element was added only to men's models. Today, girls wear jackets with elbow pads under jeans and high boots.
English style jackets are the clothes of the British aristocracy. The models are distinguished by a straight or fitted cut, discreet color. A characteristic feature is a minimum of unnecessary details.
Another option that is revered in the upper circles of England is the Spencer model. A certain Lord Spencer did not like long jackets and for the sake of convenience shortened the product to the desired length. The result was a short tweed jacket that is worn under tapered trousers, skirts, and dresses.
A few more options:
- Lightweight or insulated models. Fashion boutiques offer jackets for any time of year.
- With a zipper, buttons or a fastener. The classic option is a jacket with buttons. But designers can’t stop experimenting, and clothes with a zipper are more practical.
- With fur inserts. This option is suitable for winter and autumn.
- With three-quarter sleeves. Such jackets are worn with jeans, tight trousers, skirts of different styles.
Timeless classics - jackets in the style of Coco Chanel. This is a shortened model with a straight cut, small pockets, no collar, with tapered sleeves.
Men's
A jacket made of simple tweed is a classic that goes well with both jeans and trousers. If the jacket is complemented by a bright pattern, the emphasis falls on it. For single-color jackets, you can choose a sweater and trousers in eye-catching shades.
A speckled jacket is an element of casual style. Such a wardrobe item is usually worn under jeans. A fitted jacket is chosen by men who want to emphasize their silhouette and hide figure flaws.
A tweed jacket with patches on the sleeves is another casual option that is appropriate to wear to work in the office, to meet friends or on a business trip. A classic jacket is worn under trousers and a shirt, complementing the look with a tie. Partners and clients will appreciate this combination.
Current colors
For everyday wear, a black, gray or white tweed jacket is suitable, which goes well with blouses, turtlenecks, trousers, skirts. For special occasions, designers have prepared options in unusual and bright colors to focus attention on the jacket.
|
Color |
Peculiarities |
| Brown | A classic that looks appropriate with light-colored shirts and tops, men and women wear tweed jackets in this color to work instead of the standard black options |
| Grey | A universal color that goes well with both light and dark items. Designers often release models in this shade, complementing the “boring” wardrobe item with edging, inserts, and bright buttons. |
| Dark blue | An alternative to the "black" classic. The color looks more interesting, such jackets go well with business trousers, skirts |
| Pink | The shade will make the image more gentle and romantic. Combines with dresses, tops, skirts. Men complement pink jackets with white trousers, dark blue chinos |
| Green |
Rich green tones look harmonious against yellow, mint, burgundy, white and black. This tweed jacket transforms the image from boring to dynamic |
The color of the jacket should not match the shade of the bottom. Brown bottoms will suit a gray top. But the color scheme should be the same: either warm or cold tones. Checked outerwear looks good against the background of plain trousers. The image should not be oversaturated with patterns.
What to wear with
The history of tweed is associated with English aristocrats who do not like flashy combinations. If we briefly describe tweed ensembles, it is elegant simplicity. When creating a male image, a tweed jacket is combined with the following wardrobe items:
- trousers made of flannel, wool or cotton corduroy;
- plain chinos or slacks;
- formal jeans;
- cotton shirts;
- silk and cashmere ties;
- bow ties;
- knitted vests;
- formal shoes with open or closed lacing.
What to wear with a women's jacket:
- plain trousers;
- classic jeans;
- wool shorts;
- blouses, shirts, tops;
- boots, pumps, boots;
- sheath dress;
- pencil skirt;
- thin sweaters and turtlenecks;
- checkered scarf.
A tweed jacket is an item that looks great with an office outfit, casual jeans and elegant dresses. This wardrobe item has been appreciated by men and women all over the world. Designers praise it and actively demonstrate it in their collections.
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