The rugged look

Press, 31 May 1977, Page 14

The rugged look

Lambskin and shearling suede are being used this season in soft, natural colours in men's and women's three-quarter and full-length coats and jackets for added warmth and high fashion. Known in the trade as “the rugged look,” these coats are all fleecy and woolly on the inside and suede skin on the outside, usually with lines of wool or fur showing through, giving it its rugged appearance. Some of the coats and jackets use this effect of rugged seams as much as possible, emphasising them in an almost patchwork fashion, while others play them down, or even bind them in leather, as in the coats in the middle photograph. But, because the coats are all made from a single thickness of skin, with the natural look of suede and lambswool combined, the seams must necessarily be outstanding. In the photograph at the top of the page, he is wearing a rugged, Rangerstyle lambsuede three-quarter length coat, with leatherbound buttons and buttonholes, and the lambswool lining is , turned out at the widely-lapelled collar and cuffs. Her jacket, also three-quarter length and in lambsuede, is of a similar concept, with the lambswool turned over at the cuffs and collar. (Both from Outback Leather of Christchurch).

In the middle photograph, she is wearing a full-length shearling suede coat, with brown leather covering the rugged seams, giving it a patchwork appearance. The narrow tie belt is also of brown leather. The coat is fully lined with lambswool and the collar is of soft lambswool, giving it a furry look. His three-quarter length coat is in lambsuede, with a lambswool collar and lining and a brown leather decoative trim on the front. (Both from Knight Tailors). In the lower photograph, he is wearing a threequarter length jacket in rugged-looking lambseude and fleece. Made by Akaroa Woollies, it has leather-bound buttonholes and wooded buttons, to match the natural look and natural colours. It is completely fleecy lined with lambswool and will keep a man warm on the coldest of wintery days. (From Akaroa Woollies).