Recreating the look: The Twentieth Century Explorer

I said I'd be taking time off from the blog over Christmas and New Year but, as I was leafing through images of exploration from the last century, I couldn't resist putting this one together for you.

Near my seat in the chapel at school was a plaque commemorating an old boy, Andrew 'Sandy' Irvine, who disappeared alongside George Mallory during their attempt to climb Everest in 1924. 

Irvine (left) with Mallory

Whether they reached the summit is unknown, but their courage lives on. Other famous men such as Shackleton, Scott, Hillary and those who went with them on their expeditions throughout the last century stare out at us here from gritty images recording their skill and determination.

Their look has influenced twenty first century man. Walk around the trendier areas of our cities and you'll see men dressed for arctic exploration. Massive beards, heavy brushed cotton tartan (plaid) shirts, down jackets, chunky boots and wool hats are de rigueur in many a coffee shop.

Behind the magnificent facial hair, worn so ironically by today's hipster, is an unconscious desire to display the unruffled cool of the nineteenth and twentieth century explorer, for whom bravery, team effort and success were all important. There's also a love for the traditional clothing of early explorers which was based on the clothes worn by outdoor workers such as sailors, fishermen and hunters.

These early twentieth century adventurers wore clothes which were barely adequate as protection against the elements in comparison with modern expedition wear. I spend much time on the fells of Cumbria and, when tackling a challenging walk in poor weather, wear modern walking gear. Proper wind and rain proofing, adequate insulation and light weight are essentials in extreme conditions. However, when things are less severe, I prefer to wear the wool jumpers, tweed, waxed cloths and Ventile jackets of the early explorer. Breathable, quiet, sober and stylish.

On the fells. I'm wearing vintage Norwegian jumper, Clarke's Craghoppers tweed breeches & Tootal scarf. Bag Millican.

I find natural materials more comfortable and low key than the noisy, harshly coloured, sweaty fabrics of modern climbing wear. So, where can you find the explorer look? Here are some ideas.

Shirt: Portuguese Flannel, scarf: Fraser Knitwear, Tweed jacket: Gloverall (details below)

Clockwise from top left: Tom Smarte hat, Po-Zu Sequoia boots, Gloverall tweed jacket & Fraser Fair Isle scarf,
Private White VC Lowry reversible mac, Cordings rubberised cotton mac (details below)

From top left: Shackleton Clothing Co Norwegian sweater, Crystal Knitwear submariner's roll neck jumper,
Leith Shetland jumper (details below)

Clockwise from top left: Shackleton x Cheaney Boss boots, Shackleton 'Tom Crean' beanie, English Utopia
tweed shooting coat, Tombags duffel bag (details below)

Clockwise from top left: Antarctic parka Nigel Cabourn, Classic Alpine Smock from Lancashire Pike Clothing,
vintage wooden ice axe eBay (details below)

From left: Chocolate corduroy trousers from Spoke, Fair Isle beanie from K-Knit, Mallory jacket from Nigel Cabourn

Bespoke hand-made Fair Isle sweater from Mati Ventrillon, Shetland Islands

Suppliers: (please mention Grey Fox Blog when contacting suppliers)

Tom Smarte Hats

Po-Zu ethical and sustainable footwear

Gloverall

Fraser Knitwear

Private White VC

Cordings

Shackleton Clothing

Crystal Knitwear

Leith Clothing

English Utopia

Tombag

Nigel Cabourn

Lancashire Pike Clothing

Spoke London Trousers

K-Knit knitwear
Mati Ventrillon (note that at the time of writing her order book for bespoke Fair Isle sweaters is closed due to volume of orders, try also Shetland Collection)
Millican bags