Lightweight Traditional Shooting Attire

[Joe Graziano]

Due to the expected availability of time, I‘ve returned to my quest for the perfect shooting attire for our double gun shoots. I would love to dress in a more traditional style at events, perhaps not full Vintager, but I generally run into the same issue, heat. British shooting clothing is stylish and outstanding for...Britain. I can imagine the comforting warmth of wool tweed on a damp Scottish moor. Not so much on a humid spring day in North Carolina, or a hot June day in Pennsylvania. I finally found the perfect pants, for me, Eddie Bauer nylon pants in loden. Shoes, a comfortable but stylish walking shoe. I’m attempting to find a high quality, ultra lightweight cotton shirt in tattersall pattern. Hat? I’ve decided to go without one. With my Italian-American face, I look silly in a traditional English shooting cap.

Most importantly, I’m searching for the perfect, traditionally styled lightweight shooting vest. Wool? Not a chance. I barely tolerate wool on a cold winter day. Does anyone know of an traditional, English-style shooting vest made in anything other than wool? I would bet if someone had one at a reasonable price, they could sell a lot to double gun shooters.

Here’s to meeting again soon!

[Dean Romig]

If you hadn't decided upon the Eddie Bauer nylon pants in loden I would have suggested a kilt. I'm told a kilt, no mater the material, can be quite comfortable due to its primary function of ventilation and ease of well, ahem... relieving ones self by a nearby shrub, shall we say... and a nice oxford shirt, open at the collar and buttoned at the cuff.





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[Harry Collins]

I've not ordered anything, but I have seen and felt what comes from here and for the price it is very good. I lived in England 45 years ago and found their jackets a bit small in the shoulders for size. So I'm not sure about their sizes to ours. It would be worth asking. https://us-rydale.glopalstore.com/pages/mens

[Dennis E. Jones]

I mean no offense but are you shooting an English or an American shotgun? I would think if you're shooting a Parker, Fox, Smith etc. a little more American style clothing would be in order. Not being a member, only a guest, of this group I think I'll just slink into the background and not any more.

[William Davis]

Agree don’t dress completely British without a British gun. However Barbour makes a nice light cotton vest in their Sporting line. Otherwise Khaki pants, light button down collar shirt check pattern, or if warm Polo shirt. Cool add a sweater. Shoes polished, if boots, clean. Parker hat.

Been a Barbour fan many years, was buying from Outdoor & Country mail to the US, Barbour stopped direct mail sales to US. Now Orvis is the best bet. However Barbour makes many shooting vest & Orvis stocks few.

Good tip is look on ebay for used Barbour shooting vest, they usualy list as Waistcoats or Gillets, Mail from the UK is fast and inexpensive ebay has many listed. Outdoor and Country has other shooting vest that will ship to the US. Nice people to deal with & fast shipping . On line catalog works well.

William

[Joe Graziano]

Sometimes I shoot a British gun, and more often an American gun, at times an Italian gun. I appreciate different makes and makers, though I obviously really like Parkers. To your point, I sure don’t plan to go full Vintager British, though I think those guy look pretty snazzy. I’m mostly trying to find a light, comfortable vest that doesn’t look like my Shoot The Moon trap vest. Thanks for the advice so far. An no, no one wants to see me in a kilt. Haha.

[John Dallas]

Q. "What's worn under your kilt?"

A. "Nothing. Everything is in working order"

[Drew Hause]

If shooting in a vintage shoot in America, why look like a Brit? Not hard to reproduce c. 1900 American attire. Most competitors wore a shooting sweater in the winter. Destry had some "shawl" shooting sweaters made.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/21690841/389834428.jpg

Tom Marshall, winner of the 1897 and 1899 GAHs

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/21690841/413737089.jpg

and a shooting coat otherwise; maybe lightweight linen in hot weather. George Work, 1894

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/21690841/413954543.jpg

April 27, 1895 Sporting Life
https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll17/id/47962/rec/1

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/19974446/414087515.jpg

Nicely dressed gentlemen c. 1915

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/19974446/396223597.jpg

I've seen very few illustrations or images of sleeveless shooting vests. Capt. A.W. Money and his Parker

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/19974446/406686109.jpg

1918 GAH
https://books.google.com/books?id=U_I-AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA278&lpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/19974446/413462300.jpg

The Brits didn't wear kilts in trapshooting competitions; the 1901 Anglo-American match British team. And this was July

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/24759158/413403842.jpg

The 1908 Olympic British Gold Medal team

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/19974446/413459553.jpg

Not trying to be jingoistic, but why in the world would any of us want to look like someone we are/were not??

A random dork in a boater :) Boaters were very popular in the teens and 20s and make a nice hot weather accessory; esp. a classic straw "Skimmer" with a black and red band for an Italian
https://www.villagehatshop.com/hats/Italian-Boater

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17126410/414207626.jpg

[Jay Gardner]

In my youth I had an opportunity to wear a kilt to a formal Scottish event and I can tell you it was the most comfortable garment I have ever worn. That being said, I wouldn't want to wear one through the briers, snags, and slash I usually find myself in while carrying a gun.

I have a pair of well worn Filson pants made from their "Safari" cloth (tightly woven poplin) and they are cool and comfortable regardless of the temperature and they turned all but the toughest of thorns. Unfortunately, as is the case with most of the Filson models I like, they are no longer produced.

To answer your question, a pair of casual poplin pants, button down window pane shirt, a lightweight waist coat, and a straw fedora should cover most situations.

[Drew Hause]

Examples of c. 1900 Monte Carlo attire here
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/24800261

[Phil Yearout]

...I would have suggested a kilt. I'm told a kilt, no mater the material, can be quite comfortable due to its primary function of ventilation and ease of well, ahem... relieving ones self by a nearby shrub, shall we say...

And here's something on that subject. Skip the ad...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoUV5d09JZw

[Bill Jacobs]

In South Carolina, chiggers would just love a kilt-wearing gunner.

[Rick Riddell]

Breeks work! Look up woolrich knickers or Filson plaid breeches!

[Joe Graziano]

Great pics! A straw skimmer. I like it.

[Kevin McCormack]

The selection of warm-weather shooting attire in keeping with the spirit and decorum of an event (think Vintagers, Southern SxS, etc.) is pretty meager compared to the vast selection of "woolies" needed in colder weather. To compensate, about 25 years ago I took to purchasing easily obtainable garb from Orvis, LL Bean, Filson etc. and having it "customized" so to speak to suit the warmer climes.

I bought several pairs of golf slacks, both solid colors and patterns, and had my local tailor make breeks out of them; some with the traditional buckle fasteners, most with velcro for easy on and off. Some are seersucker; others poplin, most plain cotton. They are great to wear in hot weather and look nice with longer hose, a nice oxford cloth shirt and matching tie. (When it gets super sticky like the Southern fight after an afternoon thunderstorm, I'll often go to tropical "Ghurka" shorts but keep the kneesocks & flashes).

My favorite accessory stylewise is my myriad collection of hats, which range from ratcatchers to sun helmets, Panamas, skimmers and deerstalkers, and offshore swordbills to grouse helmets. One can never have too many hats!

[Joe Graziano]

Excellent ideas, Kevin. Compared to everything else, some custom clothing would be a modest investment.

[Joe Graziano]

Btw, I noticed you were even well attired on a random Saturday at Bull Run. Outstanding

[Bruce Day]

Rich Flanders and Charlie Herzog in traditional lightweight American shooting clothes .

[William Davis]

Seems to me LC Smith team shot the challenge in bib overalls and straw hats one year.

William

[Larry Stauch]

Hey Joe! Whata a matter you?

You of Italian decent go to Beretta and dress it up in style.:cool:

https://www.beretta.com/en/store/beretta-by-larusmiani/

[Kevin McCormack]

Btw, I noticed you were even well attired on a random Saturday at Bull Run. Outstanding

"Proper attire is very important, whether in the field or at a shoot. It demonstrates respect for the game and or the event, as well as for other comrades." - Donald Heggie, Balcanquhar, Scotland, 2004



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[Joe Graziano]

Thank you for all the excellent ideas. I now know what I’m going to do. Checkout this excellent website. www.vintagedancer.com

Happy shooting!

[charlie cleveland]

i still remember my dads cousin who use to come hunt quail with my dad and stay with us when he came to quail hunt with my dad...he dressed very well...apperance very neat...made a lasting impression on a young boy....ya ll are right hunting apparrel is important in the hunting to look good....charlie

[Milton C Starr]

Thank you for all the excellent ideas. I now know what I’m going to do. Checkout this excellent website. www.vintagedancer.com

Happy shooting!

I looked at that same site recently when looking for clothes around the 1900-1910 period . I was looking for something that would have been period correct for the time my Parker was made (1902) . Looking at photos of hunters from back then . It seems they wore whatever clothes they wanted . I have never been big on camo .

[Bill Murphy]

I will wait until someone dies and leaves me their "togs" before I dress appropriately for a driven grouse shoot. "The Lovely Linda" has told me that Filson, Carhartt and Barbour bird hunting stuff has to be sold off before wool Vintager gear can take its place.

[charlie cleveland]

bill maybe both of us will see a hundred and ten and then be like old eligah just come up missing....charlie

[Drew Hause]

Illustrations of period shooting attire in "Trapshooting - Points for Novice and Expert", Hercules Powder Co., 1914
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/24842602

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/24842602/414284288.jpg

[Gary Bodrato]

How about a nice down jacket.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

A light weight creme colored linen three piece suit, a nice vintage necktie, a light cotton French cuff shirt, off white and brown correspondents shoes, and a straw Optimo creased straw hat would be the perfect summer shooting attire for an American. Forget the Brits, this is the United States.

Also a three piece Seersucker suit would be another way to go.

[John Davis]

I'm going to stick with shorts and a tee shirt.

[Francis Marshall]

Maybe something along these lines?

[allen newell]

Too bad A&F got out of the shooting sports business. You could go to their store in NY and get completely outfitted for any type of shooting sport. While attending Rutgers in the mid 60's my fraternity brothers and I would regularly visit A&F and drool! Miss that place

[Mike Koneski]

I'm going to stick with shorts and a tee shirt.

I'm with John. Cargo shorts, sweat wicking polo and crocs. No tradition or fancy stuff for this guy!!

[Russell E. Cleary]

Maybe not as lightweight as Joe is looking for, but…

Now that Destry has the PGCA patch all-but settled, he could turn his attention to vintage American-style shooting attire, again, and see what was feasible with his cloak and suiter contacts.

Would something in a canvas or corduroy coat have broad enough appeal?