Sunday, 17 May 2026
Saturday, 16 May 2026
Friday, 15 May 2026
Oldfield Outfitters
.jpeg)
Joe
Oldfield - 07903 485246
You are
welcome to visit us, by appointment, at;
The Old
Rectory, Pinfold Lane, Hindolveston, Norfolk NR20 5BX
.jpeg)
Our
Story...
https://www.oldfieldclothing.com/pages/about-us/
THE
INSPIRATION
Our story
starts with my grandfather, a man whose life was woven into the fabric of
Courtaulds Textile, where he worked for his entire career. He began as a tea
boy at 18 and remained with the company until his retirement. His service,
however, was interrupted by World War II, where he commanded a fleet of
minesweepers. A true “English Gentleman,” he had an impeccable sense of style,
always embracing the latest fashions. His love for fashion went hand in hand
with his other passion: motor cars. Many of our designs are inspired by the
wardrobe he wore, both in times of war and peace.
OUR STORY
BEGINS IN BORANUP, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The spark
for our brand came in 2003 during a road trip through Western Australia. It was
then that I came up with the idea of asking a local knitting club to create
sweaters based on vintage knitting patterns. My aim was to recreate the
timeless, elegant designs of the 1920s-40s, an era when clothing was built to
last. With a deep appreciation for fashion and vintage luggage from this time,
I knew I had to bring this vision to life.
FAST
FORWARD
Eight
years later, now working as a golf professional in Brancaster, England, we had
our first sweaters knitted by an elderly lady named Dorothy. These initial samples were the starting point
of something much bigger. As we refined the designs, we realized the need for
trousers to complement the knitwear. Disappointed by the direction golf fashion
was taking, we continued to focus on the 1930s for inspiration. The result? A
high-waist, corduroy, and moleskin trouser that perfectly captured the era’s
style and sophistication.
OUR FIRST
ORDER
We placed
our first order with a factory in Yorkshire, and the excitement of receiving
our first “Oldfield Clothing” (as we were known then) products was a dream come
true. With a small display space in the golf shop at Brancaster, we launched
our first website later that year. The 1930s-style trouser sold out quickly,
prompting us to expand into shirts. Our Jersey cotton shirts, available in a
variety of collar styles, became an instant hit for their practicality and
timeless appeal. The sample knitwear that
was knitted became a reality and was added to the range.
MOVING
FORWARD
As the
years have passed, our range has grown including the introduction of ladies
clothing, each new addition carefully chosen to complement the others. We
continue to grow, always with passion for what we do and commitment to quality. We sell worldwide, demonstrating that it’s
not just us that appreciate fashion from these times!
We could
have easily taken the route of moving our manufacturing abroad for cost
savings, but we've remained committed to our core values. We believe in
creating high-quality, well-crafted clothing right here in the United Kingdom.
Our dedication to local production allows us to stay true to our principles and
avoid contributing to the cycle of fast fashion.
Made in
United Kingdom.
OLDFIELD
OUTFITTERS
We
started with the family name - "Oldfield" - because it was a great
fit for our vintage brand. At first, we were Oldfield Clothing, but in 2015 we
gave ourselves a refresh and rebranded to Oldfield Outfitters. We worked with a
brilliant branding and design company, specialists in early 1900s style, to
bring our vision to life. Every design is hand-drawn, giving each piece a
unique, one-of-a-kind quality that makes us stand out.
FINAL
WORDS
Our core
beliefs remain unchanged: we design stylish clothing inspired by what we
consider to be the “Golden Era of Fashion,” using only the finest British
fabrics and craftsmanship. All based on original archive pieces and
photographs. From golf enthusiasts to
motoring aficionados, hipsters to celebrities, our clothing is worn by people
of all ages and walks of life.
"Quality
& Style Never Go Out Of Fashion"
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Thursday, 14 May 2026
The "New Preppy" style in 2026 blends traditional 1980s Ivy League aesthetics with modern, looser silhouettes, emphasizing sustainable, durable, and comfortable clothing.
The
"New Preppy" style in 2026 blends traditional 1980s Ivy League
aesthetics with modern, looser silhouettes, emphasizing sustainable, durable,
and comfortable clothing. Key trends include layering vests over T-shirts,
oversized fits, cricket jumpers, and mixing high-end pieces with vintage finds.
It's a return to classic, timeless prep.
Key Elements
of Modern Preppy Style
Silhouettes:
Moves away from "twee" and tight fits to more relaxed, 1990s-inspired
Polo and J.Crew styles.
Key Items:
Polo shirts, rugby shirts, cricket jumpers, blouson jackets, high-rise chinos,
and tailored, unstructured suits.
Colors &
Patterns: Traditional pastel colors (pink and green), alongside navy blue,
argyle prints, and classic madras.
Accessories:
Niche baseball caps (e.g., from resorts or tennis tournaments) and leather
loafers.
Brands:
Continued relevance of staples like Lacoste, J. Crew, and Ralph Lauren.
The
Evolution of the "Handbook"
While Lisa
Birnbach’s original Official Preppy Handbook (1980) defined the WASP elite, the
modern iteration is more inclusive, focusing on personal style rather than
status. The style is increasingly defined by a
"casual-yet-put-together" look. The "new" prep is
influenced by the "Ivy Style" movement, which emphasizes a timeless,
comfortable approach to fashion.
writing
in black and white
Sartorial
Snapshot: Issue 07.
Field
Notes From writing in black and white
Christine
Morrison
Apr 04,
2026
This
Week: The New Preppy Handbook
A few
nights ago, Paul Stuart — the 88-year-old brand known for its classic, high-end
Ivy Prep styles — hosted the launch party for Dozer Presents: The New Prep, a
preppy handbook project from Dozer Magazine founder Justinian Mason.
The New
Prep is a general issue featuring Preppy Pete, a NYC-based fashion influencer,
while The New Preppy Handbook is a more curated, NYC-focused edition,
reminiscent of 2nd, a Japanese magazine that created their own version in 2023.
Both sell for $35.
We all
rejoiced when prep made a huge showing on the Spring 2026 runways — from
higher-end designers: among them Thom Browne, Tory Burch, Miu Miu and Celine
(where it’s been said Michael Rider is “rewriting the Preppy Handbook”) to our
beloved heritage brands: all hail Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, Brooks Brothers and
the revitalized J. Press under the preppy tutelage of its new Creative
Director/President (formerly of Rowing Blazers), Jack Carlson.
As
someone who bought Lisa Birnbach’s original book in October 1980 and still
treasures the dog-eared copy, I was initially conflicted about the remaking of
the book. Prep is personal. Cultural. It’s more than nostalgia or recycled
trends.
But what
strikes a chord about modern-day prep — and this new iteration of the book— is
that it reinforces prep is not a uniform that requires a pedigree; it’s an even
broader vocabulary. Prep has always signaled identity, taste and values. How we
are interpreting it now, adapting the styles and weaving them into our chaotic
lives, is something quieter: how we see ourselves.
As Tommy Hilfiger, who has been redefining the preppy aesthetic for decades, has said:
“I think
preppy stands for optimism, confidence, energy and authenticity.”
Ralph
Lauren has echoed this sentiment:
“People
ask …does it have to do with class and money? It has to do with dreams.”
These
iconic designers point to the same idea: Prep isn’t about where we came from,
but about where we are going.
I believe
this so wholeheartedly, it’s the essence of my fashion essay collection: what
we wear shapes who we are—and who we’re becoming. Fashion is not about external
validation but rather our internal compass. True, often raw emotions —grief,
pride, fear, courage and more — are so often managed in what we choose to wear.
And in
this moment of social, political and economic uncertainty, Prep offers
something steady—structure, stability, a sense of order. But unlike retro
trends that merely recycle the past (the 90s might over-indexing currently
wouldn’t you say?), modern prep is more self-aware and more open. It honors
tradition while allowing for individuality, blending history with the realities
of how we actually live now.
So, pop
your collar. Or don’t. The point isn’t perfection (it’s taken me decades to say
this with conviction) but perspective. The best prep looks reflect how we move
through the world — and the optimism we hold onto.
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
REMEMBERING: 5/February 2013: Rugby Ralph Lauren is closing ... A salute to Lee Norwood, designer of Rugby ...
Rugby Ralph
Lauren was discontinued in early 2013 as part of a strategic corporate decision
by Ralph Lauren Corporation to phase out the sub-label, close its 14 stores,
and shut down its e-commerce site to focus on scalable
global opportunities. The brand aimed at younger, college-aged consumers
with a preppy, dark academia, and distressed
style.
Key
Reasons for the Disappearance:
- Strategic Realignment: The company wanted to focus
resources on its core, more profitable brands, specifically the main Ralph
Lauren label and Polo.
- Failed Market Position: The brand struggled to deeply
appeal to its target demographic compared to competitors, and the
"overstyled" preppy aesthetic was shifting in popularity.
- Economic Pressures: The closure occurred during a
period of economic uncertainty, which heavily impacted niche sub-brands.
- Overlap with Core Brands: Many of the unique elements of
the Rugby line were deemed better suited to be recycled into the core
Ralph Lauren offerings, rendering a separate brand redundant.
Rugby Ralph Lauren is an American clothing brand launched in 2004 under the management of parent company Polo Ralph Lauren. The brand specializes in Preppy/Rugby inspired lifestyle apparel for male and female clientele ages 16 through 25. Rugby also encompasses Rugby Food & Spirits, a small café modeled after the brand and offering dining inspired by the Rugby theme. Rugby merchandise is available at twelve stores throughout the United States and as of August, 2008, online at rugby.com.
In November 2012, it was announced that Ralph Lauren would be ending the Rugby line by February 2013. At that time, the Rugby stores will close permanently and the website will go down.
The brand consists of a line of rugby shirts, polos, jackets, suits, dresses, outerwear and accessories, all with a distressed or embellished flair, as well as RRL signature Rugby Football shirts that can be customized by buying patches in-store.
(…) “ Lee is one of many behind the scene designers that keeps the initials ‘RL’ polished across the globe. Lee’s natural humility is traced to growing up in North Carolina delivering newspapers, mowing lawns, bagging groceries, working on a farm, laying concrete, and painting houses. His southern upbringing and perspective on integrity came from a creative mother and an ordained father, principles Lee has shared with his wife, Betsy, and two daughters, Hattie (4), Jose (1). Lee carried these genuine values into his career and made his way up the ladder at RL from sales to design and learned that the Polo culture is about "Putting your life experiences into your work." Lee’s touch at RL is associated with functionality, durability, and timelessness. In Lee’s words, “I love the tradition of men's clothing, and how we pay more attention to fit and taste than to modernity or fashion. I like how in the past collections were created out of necessity, ... , people designed for a particular function.”
By By Shea Parton in http://www.apolisglobal.com/journal/people-lee-norwood-ralph-lauren-designer/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
