The received wisdom that the scruffier you are on a shoot indicates how smart you are on the social scale has always struck me as ludicrous. This was made all the plainer recently when a fellow gun showed up with a great big rip in the crotch of his breeks, so much so that his underwear was revealed – the horror. This philosophy comes down to the idea that if you arrive at a shoot scruffy and moth bitten, it’s because you are so aristocratic that all your wealth is tied up in land and an ancestral pile, and/or that you shoot so much that you don’t have time to replace your worn-out attire (which I think we can all agree is never really the case). Throwing on any old tweeds not only looks like you don’t care, but it’s also rather discourteous to the host.
I find that the most fun pastimes are the ones with endless amounts of kit to indulge in, and shooting is unmatched in that criteria. Dressing up should always be enjoyable, the more you experiment with new fabrics and patterns, the better. That’s not to say that your whole outfit needs to be fresh-off-the-shelves every season; if you invest in quality, these pieces are made to last well and be handed down through generations. The best course to take is somewhere in the middle: smart, comfortable and fit for purpose.
This is the foundation of everything Purdey makes. It’s constantly evolving its fabrics to provide more than adequate protection from the elements, without being at all restrictive. To help find that middle ground when putting together your outfit – and I happen to know that the dear Purdey CEO and Chairman agrees with me on this – don’t buy a complete set of tweed in the same pattern, especially if it is a checked fabric. At best this could be considered dandyism, at worst, you’ll get lumped into the “all the gear, no idea” category. One has to start from somewhere though, so I would recommend avoiding this minor faux pas by buying what they call in tailoring parlance, separates.
Your shooting attire checklist should begin with the basics: the breeks, long socks with garters, the field jacket and/or shooting gilet, with a shirt and tie, plus sturdy footwear. These are widely accepted guidelines that all guns should adhere to. Then, there are valid discussions about the tailored shooting sports jacket, which I would argue will never be quite as practical as a field jacket or gilet in terms of protection from the elements and manoeuvrability. This type of jacket should be left for lunch where it’s best suited, rather than the field. A hat is also required; remember to make this distinct from the other tweeds you’ll be wearing. The use of corduroy for breeks is also perfectly acceptable, albeit not as hardy as tweed.
Of course, beyond this ensemble, there’s room for personal taste and a little creativity. I love to have a fisherman’s jumper to hand when it is particularly cold, while others might like to wear roll necks, for example. How comfortable you feel about breaking away from the norm depends entirely on how well you know your own style in this area, and the specificities of the shoot and its host.
Accessories should primarily be for practical purposes. Personally, I have always found gun belts too tricky and prefer to decant cartridges from a bag into my pockets before a drive. That being said, some find the opposite a better option – this is a good example of why it is important to get to know what works best for you, and never buy to be showy or follow trends. A thumbstick is a lovely thing to have for walking between the pegs, and you’ll be envious of those who do have one if you don’t. You can also have fun with these – the Purdey sticks with carved heads of game birds are like works of art; and you can also buy attachments that clip to the stick and hold your cigar while you shoot.
A final note: remember that the most important item at any shoot is a gift for the host, and the pen and paper at home, with which you will write a thank you letter when the day is done.
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