Saturday, 21 October 2017

Review: Piper Speciale quilted jacket from English Utopia

In which G.M. Norton finds a new way to keep off the autumn chill.

You may recall that last year, I worked myself into a relative lather over my Floyd tweed jacket from English Utopia.

Well, I’m now in proud possession of one of their quilted jackets – their Piper Speciale to be precise. Colour options include black and navy, but being a traditionalist, I opted for the time-honoured olive.

What is wonderful is just how versatile it is, whether dressed up in a shirt and tie or with a scarf and knit for a more casual look. I tend to favour earthy tones so the olive lends itself nicely to my moleskin and corduroy trousers in appropriate autumnal hues.

English Utopia offer a range of quilted jackets for both ladies and gentlemen. The Piper is an absolute stunner, with both tweed and leather trims. The tweed is the same fabric used on my Floyd jacket, which pairs them together nicely on my clothes rail.

For me, the leather collar and elbow patch are lovely touches, lifting the Piper above other quilted jacket options available elsewhere. The bright green lining is another highlight. Made in Britain, it is still a cosmopolitan affair, with different parts of the jacket sourced from Lake Como and Portolano in Italy, to Delph in Oldham, just a few miles from my home.

Like so many things, I’ve been coveting a quilted jacket for quite some time and the Piper meets all my expectations and more. Just perfect for keeping the chill at bay.