Royal assent for the height of fashion in the Highlands
Ihave been looking forward to writing this column for a while because this brand reminds me of one thing – holidays. Not sunny beaches and Aperol spritz-type holidays but trips north to the Highlands of Scotland. Days of cooked breakfasts, card games, fishing, Tunnock’s Caramel Wafers, rolling hills… and one revered shopping excursion.
A trip to Campbell’s of Beauly is always on the agenda and in the past has resulted in a new cashmere cardigan for our first daughter (before recognising the need for machinewashable only), umpteen pairs of socks for the male members of my family and a flat cap for my husband, his most prized possession. You would also head here if you were looking for a bespoke three-piece tweed suit, a shooting jacket or a pair of velvet slippers.
What I most love are the wooden shelves laden with tweed upon tweed, swatches of fabric in every colour, the “trill” of the bell as you walk in, the staff neatly dressed in kilts and cardigans – it’s like stepping back in time, and yet this brand is one of many that are crucial to not just Scottish business, but future generations of country sports enthusiasts. Its website is key, since geography determines that access isn’t always easy, but the team will go to any lengths, even sending a tailor to London, such is the level of service.
There’s the mix of old tradition, carefully respected, entwined with the future-proofing that owners John and Nicola Sugden, both in their 30s, have to get right in order to encourage momentum and keep business thriving. “As much as possible, we try to source in Scotland, both with our carbon footprint and sustainability hat on, but above all simply because we have some of the best mills in the world on our doorstep,” says Nicola.
The day I went, I glanced at the visitor’s book to see that the Prince of Wales had been into the shop just the week before. A perfect scrawl, “Charles”, proved the greatest reminder of the store’s heritage, patronage and quality of service – and a reminder that the brand holds a Royal Warrant.
I went in search of what the new season entails for female customers: 100 per cent British wool tweed Pirate jacket, £435; 100 per cent British wool tweed Nehru gilet, £195, both from Campbell’s of Beauly (campbells ofbeauly.com) cardigans, plus fours in a house design with a hint of lavender thread running through them, and cranberry-red boot socks. But the one item that jumped out was this Pirate jacket. This is as “country” as I would ever go – a mediumweight tweed in this bold hue, accented with militarystyle details – and the quality and cut are second to none. I then wandered into the men’s department. And there it was, the gilet of my dreams. This is as country as I would ever go. It’s the boyish look that makes it feel pareddown. I envisaged how I would wear it: at breakfast, elevenses, outdoors, lunch (with frill-neck shirt and oatmeal jumper) and then by the fire with a slice of cake and cup of tea, boots off, cheeks glowing. It’s not that I don’t love the cut and flow of the womenswear, but with a boyish preference to my style, this feels more long term. What’s more, it would work on the school run as winter closes in. Whatever the outcome on Oct 31, you can be sure it will be business as usual in Campbell’s. Service with a smile, fittings executed with flair, and all manner of clients popping in, giving custom to a brand that represents the very best of independent talent. vchstyle.com
Best brownie award
Box of 12 brownies, £17.99, gowercottagebrownies.co.uk