Balancing style and practicality is the essence of an outfitter's remit. The 'Lyell' collection ticks those boxes; making the smart choice for everyday wear easy. With cut, fabric and detailing of a level higher than the norm, these products subtly tell the story of an eye for quality, without shouting about it.
Lyell Fleece
With the weather resistance and easy-care attributes of a fleece and the refinement of quality knitwear, the Westley Richards 'Lyell' Fleece provides a level of finesse beyond that found in the more commonly seen fleece brands in the sector.
Crafted from 42% recycled merino wool with polyester and polyamide making up the balance, the combination is admirably wind-resistant and shower-repellent while feeling as soft to wear as a cashmere cardigan. With Alcantara details and Westley Richards branded zip tabs, it has two external secure pockets and two generous internal pockets.
In all, an apparently simple garment that gets the details right. The Lyell fleece feels as appropriate on the veranda keeping off the chill while you smoke a cigar as it does around the camp fire after a day in the bush, or quickly smartening up your gardening gear when you need to hop into town. Such an easy top layer for summer evenings, you may forget you are wearing it. As a mid-layer for autumn shoots, worn under a shooting gilet, it provides warmth without bulk and elegance without effort.
Lyell Trousers
The close-weave, 100% cotton trouser material is resistant to snagging or tears, yet feels fine to the touch and hangs crisply, softening with wear. Double-stitched at stress points, with rivet reinforcement at pocket corners, for guaranteed durability, the attention to detail extends to a branded steel button closure and 'WR' embossed leather belt-loop patch.
The fabric is deep-dyed to a rich Acacia hue; a practical, forgiving shade for outdoor or indoor wear. Truly, a trouser that spans the gap from town to country and will even deliver sterling service on safari.
The same Lyell trouser range is also available in a soft, luxuriant moleskin fabric. Moleskin is a tough cotton with a suede-like feel and it has long been a countryman's favourite because of its hardwearing nature and warmth. Westley Richards moleskins are a little more refined, with the addition of 3% Elastene to provide a comfort-enhancing hint of stretch, mitigating the stiffness of the original cloth, and allowing for a more stylish jeans cut.
Lyell Fleece Gilet
Basically, the fleece without arms. The 'Lyell' Gilet is crafted from the same fine, yet hard-wearing, materials and gives the wearer the modern silhouette of rural smart-casual that is popular because it is so practical. The Gilet quickly provides a layer of warmth to the core without adding significant weight or bulk and it leaves the arms free.
Worn as a lighter alternative to a jacker or sweater, or as another layer; over a sweater, or under a jacket. The lightweight yet excellent heat retention qualities of the Lyell fleece make it a hugely flexible garment for any outdoor endeavour. For the traveller, it packs small, wears well and is as equally at home in the bush as it is in the pub.
Made with a design flair and material sophistication absent from mainstream alternatives, the Lyell fleece gives you the practicality you seek without the accompanying image of the agricultural college student on a weekend excursion.
The Lyell collection is named after Malcolm Lyell, manager of the Westley Richards London store in the 1950s; a man for whom these garments, blending elegant sporting tradition with modern innovation, would sit very comfortably.
Alongside its bespoke guns, luxury travel bags and high quality safari clothes, the modern Westley Richards continues a 200-year tradition of outfitting sportsmen and travellers for time well spent in the field. Whether preparing for the Glorious Twelfth, checking into a country house hotel or simply demanding the best shooting kit available, Westley Richards provides the finest outdoor classics. Their luxurious country clothing collection includes a range of house shooting tweeds complimented with an exclusive selection of American and European brand partners, including Habsburg, Meindl, Grenfell, Gitman Vintage and Filson.
