Why was British country clothing big this year?

Terrelonge also points out that the type of fabrics found in these rustic styles, such as waxed cotton, leather and tweed, are aspirational, in a way that is simple and not flashy. Plus, for the wearer, there is a quiet confidence given by the assurance that these textiles will stay warm and dry, even in the changeable British weather. Psychologically, she says, these types of tactile fabrics that “refer to nature…create a feeling of calm and security” as well as “feelings of ‘I’m going out’.” [with] A goal in the world, making people feel more competent and capable at a time when we suffer from a significant lack of control.

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This ties into the deeper reasons why people might turn to barn jackets and their ilk. “We live in a world where we don’t feel anything but safe and comfortable. Through social media, through the news, through the political climate, through the economic climate, everything is very unstable and feels very unsafe…These types of fashions are the opposite of that,” Terrelonge believes. “They harken back to a simpler time.”

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Sasha Wilkins, a former style editor at The Wall Street Journal who runs a blog called LibertyLondonGirl.com — which charted her move from London to the countryside, domestic life, and the trials and tribulations that come with it — agrees. She told the BBC: “We’re living in really uncertain times. I think psychologically we want to wear clothes that remind us of our shelter, that make us feel more comfortable and warm.”