bestinthecountry.co.uk - New and Improved Country Clothing Website

At bestinthecountry.co.uk we are excited to announce the launch of our new and improved website! Don't worry, you can still find us in the same place - www.bestinthecountry.co.uk - and our commitment to service and to bringing you the best quality countrywear brands is still the same, but we hope to offer a more intuitive and enjoyable online shopping experience.

To celebrate the launch of the new site, we are giving you the chance to win £500 to spend with us online. It's easy to enter, simply fill in your details here before midnight on February 28th, then sit back, relax and enjoy browsing through our great range!

SS14 Men and Women's Countrywear from Barbour

This week we have been busy preparing to launch our SS14 lines and have been sharing a few sneak peeks with you on Facebook and Twitter.

Our first lines of Barbour items have arrived and are now available online at www.bestinthecountry.co.uk. One of this year's key style trends is the safari heritage look - think of the landed gentry of the 1920s and 30s off to explore far-off lands. It's our favourite British heritage look in warm, natural colours with practical twists.

This summer Barbour offer men their Photographic Safari collection. Inspired by the daring photographers of the early days of foreign travel who photographed, and brought us our first glimpses of, overseas lands.
The items in this collection feature classic designs and cuts, in muted hues with on trend detailing and a cool, comfortable fit. From this collection is the Stanley Jacket, a smart/ casual summer jacket with three pockets and protective Sylkoil coating.

The women's British Waterways collection has drawn influence from the richness of Britain's canals and rivers. Working with Yorkshire based artisan craft designer Julie Dodsworth, the range embraces the heritage and colour of the British Waterways. A celebration of the quirky, brightly coloured canal boats, the changing seasonal colours and the play of light on water, this range is unique in design, exuding a very British charm.

Featuring a boldly printed inner lining, the Hope Beadnell is this year's update of the much loved Beadnell jacket.

London Collections and SS14 Style

The mac is back for AW13 and SS14 and with the glorious weather (for ducks) looking like it's settling in, it's time for us to grab a classic, versatile and ultra stylish trench coat and venture outdoors!

Barbour Addington

Take a peek at the gorgeous Barbour Addington Coat which embraces classic military style - another key look for 2014. Also, coming this spring we will be introducing new lines from Barbour, including the reversible Cedar Trench and the Barbet and Grasmoor Jackets.

For those amongst you organised enough to be thinking about your A/W14 wardrobe already, this week's London Collections: Men will have given you plenty to add to the wish list.

Modern military makes a comeback, promising a parade of smart, fitted coats next winter. Be sure to hold on to this season's heritage items as the theme continues with natural colours replacing the bright tartans of 2013. Natural fabrics and colours will be key, in herringbone and tweed designs and classic cuts. The look takes a turn towards the modern dandy; silk ties and handkerchiefs and brogues at the ready.

Unleash your inner explorer from summer onwards, in smart/ casual fitted suits and natural colours and fabrics evocative of the glamorous days of foreign travel and British colonists in foreign lands.

Key looks from London Collections AW14

For those dreaming of their perfect summer wardrobe, look again to muted, natural colours, tone down the check shirts of AW13 with lighter colours and get adventurous in camouflage prints, casual, collarless shirts and coats in lightweight, technical cotton with functional strap fastenings.

Inject colour with pastel and powder shades and expect to see these colours worked into functional and military designs.

Happy New Year from bestinthecountry.co.uk! We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are feeling ready to dive into 2014!

AT www.bestinthecountry.co.uk we are getting the year off to a great start with up to 50% off selected lines in our January sale. Take a peek at our website to find out more and treat yourself to something from our extensive range of country clothing.

Merry Christmas from BestInTheCountry!

Here at bestinthecountry.co.uk we would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to all of you and to thank you for giving us a brilliant year. We are looking forward to an exciting year of further development and expansion in 2014 and, of course, we'll be keeping you updated with all of our latest news!

So, to all of you, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Best of British Christmas

This Christmas why not make it a celebration of all things British. Support your local community and eschew supermarket fare and mass produced decorations for something locally homemade and unique. When you scratch the surface you're sure to find amazing creativity and delicious produce available right on your doorstep; farmers markets, delis and gift or craft shops are a great place to start. As well as gathering the freshest ingredients for your Christmas cooking you can pick up quirky gifts, hand made decorations and cards, often for a fraction of the price you'd pay on the high street. If you're struggling to find places to shop, the websites Folksy.com and Etsy.com are great places to browse a selection of modern British craft from independent craftspeople.

Hunting for the perfect, real Christmas tree is a tradition loved by many families and you probably already know the best places local to you – word of mouth and local press tend to spread the word quite effectively. If you're not sure where to look, start with the British Christmas Tree Growers Association. Their website www.bctga.co.uk can help you search for growers in your area.

This December the BCTGA awarded a lifetime achievement award to Ivor Dungey, who owns Santa Trees in Liskeard, Cornwall. Setting up his christmas tree business aged 17, he has provided his local community with the trees for 60 years. In that time he has produced around 100,000 trees to become one of the country's best christmas tree growers – with up to 20 varieties. Producing the trees is a full time job with each one taking 8-9 years to grow and year round care required.

Every christmas time magazines and newspapers run 'taste tests' on Christmas puddings to find the consumers favourite. Ironically, most of the supermarket brand puddings are all produced in one factory in the Midlands, it's a brilliant operation but the puds are hardly home made. If you look outside the supermarkets you will find a growing number of small, artisan producers making delicious puddings. Markets, farm shops and deli's are great places to start looking. With their focus being on quality over quantity you get the added bonus of a limited edition or 'exclusive' feel!

One producer who have been put to the test this year are The Ultimate Plum Pudding Company in Kendal, Cumbria. They have the honour of creating Fortnum and Mason's 'Nuts About Christmas' Pudding, which will contain a delicious brandy butter filling. As a luxurious nod to the traditions of bygone years, one will contain a gold sovereign coin worth £200.

If turkey is your first choice of festive meat, your local butcher is a great place to make your order if you want locally sourced produce from a reputable supplier. If you want to push the boat out and try something a little different, you might well be able to purchase locally sourced wild game such as rabbit and pheasant. As well as being traditional and a welcome change, these meats are much more environmentally friendly as they don't involve factory farming or transportation.

Last but not least, the festive tipple. Mulled cider is a great choice of drink for casual gatherings, especially if you're out and about on cold nights! There are many producers of cider across the country and most can be found at Christmas markets sampling their delicious mulled cider. One great example is The Orchard Pig, based in Glastonbury. Their fun, quirky branding and rustic charm are sure to delight and bring festive cheer!

  

Christmas Gift Ideas for Men

You're probably well under way with your Christmas shopping by now, or if you're super organised you'll have already finished, and wrapped, and be sitting back with a mince pie! If you're still looking for something special for the gentlemen on your list, look no further than www.bestinthecountry.co.uk  We have a wide range of men's clothing, footwear and accessories for all ages and tastes!

Big Gifts:

If you're looking to splash out on something extra special we have the beautiful Aigle Downbrook Jacket. Superbly soft and warm, lined in duck down, it is certain to last for many winters to come. For a touch of timeless style, the Barbour Classic Beaufort is a seasoned favourite for all ages. Barbour's Leather Briefcase makes an ideal gift for hard working gents. Crafted in durable leather and featuring a Barbour tartan lining.

For smaller gifts, take a look at our range of knitwear. For a 'smart but fun' jumper check out Joules' Retford Jumper, available in a variety of colours, shown above in ruby. Ideal for keeping warm and perfect for layering is the Barbour Tyne Crew Neck Sweater and for a sporty, casual option take a look at the Joules Norwell Rugby Shirt, shown above in Ruby Stripe. If you're unsure about buying clothing, Barbour also give us the Leather Washbag; a classic style to suit nearly all tastes.

Finally, the stocking fillers. We have an extensive range of gloves, scarves and hats for you to choose from, a tiny selection of ideas are shown above. Barbour's Fairisle Gloves are fun, patterned gloves, made in 100% lambswool. We have a huge selection of country ties, shown above is the Woven Silk Tie in Duck Design, or click here to view the full range. A fun, popular choice of gift is the Crown Joules range of underwear. Available in several designs and colours, these are bold, bright and cheeky! Last but not least, no Christmas would be complete without a pair of socks! Above are the Joules Bamboo Socks.