An unexpected morning to myself last weekend turned into a perfect (and rare!) opportunity for some "me time", especially as Storm Amy laid waste to my plans to mow the lawn (so unfortunate!) Instead I sojourned back to 1942 to watch an American "invasion" take place on the streets of Sussex, courtesy of Foyle's War.
Yes, Mum will like this blog.
Now Foyle's War is exceptional autumn viewing, a flavourful mix of history and drama, with its intriguing plots that often land somewhere in the grey area, testing the viewers' sense of morality, of right-and-wrong. To give a couple of examples from previous episodes, should a Nazi sympathiser be allowed to voice his opinion in a free and democratic society? Is it ok that a murderer is allowed to go free, because his role is essential to the war effort? This is a programme that runs deeper than a period murder mystery - it challenges us to clarify our feelings and confront our contradictions, and it exposes the truth - that right-and-wrong is never as clear-cut as black-and-white.
I digress slightly, but I think my point is that the lessons of Foyle's War are incredibly pertinent today, as our social media ages rushes to draw clear distinctions on any topic, without consideration of differing viewpoints or lived experiences. Have a quick browse on X (the artist formerly known as Twitter) and you'll probably agree with me that we could all learn a bit from Foyle's War.
There's something else going on with Foyle, though, and beneath the complexities of the writing, there sits a central character who epitomises standards, and embodies the idea of a role model. Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle is thoughtful, eloquent, determined, and has a strong moral compass which he uses to govern his behaviour, upholding the law and challenging corruption, often from above and in situations where it would be easier - and personally safer - to leave well alone. He is loyal, but not to the point where he wouldn't take a friend to task if necessary, and he is thorough and tenacious, whilst simultaneously understanding the nuances of life, particularly in a time of war. He speaks honestly to friends, truth to power, and doesn't compromise his integrity for anyone.
Then there's the clothes. The three-piece, pure wool suit with the peak lapel jacket, most likely worn with a red silk tie (in reality probably toxic rayon, for silk was not widely available in wartime Britain, yet Foyle's ties are certainly not of knitted wool), and of course a camel wool overcoat and fedora (sometimes matching a blue suit, other times khaki).
It is, in effect, the perfect outfit, but one I am unlikely to emulate, firstly because I am not Michael Kitchen; and secondly because, although I own suits, they are not day-to-day wear for me and my lifestyle. So instead, I've created a couple of outfits inspired by Foyle and wartime style, but which give me scope to wear out and about in a modern way.
1. Foyle "Lite". This is an outfit I can get on board with. I've chosen my air force blue herringbone jacket and matching waistcoat here, a lovely two-piece that is amongst my favourites. This sits over a plain white shirt and a tie that has some detailing, but hopefully not too loud. For trousers, I've used navy cords, but would easily wear this with brown or biscuit; and on top, my trusty navy fedora. I've also popped on my Grandad's Air Training Corps lapel pin.
2. The Airman. I've been playing with this outfit for a while. The jumper is reminiscent of the RAF cadets, but I've gone in a more comfortable direction below, again using my navy cords for the season. Slung over the top is my Joe Brown's "military" jacket. There's a relatively simple, almost austere feel to this look to this outfit that I quite like. Finished off with this lovely RAF shoulder bag that only recently fell into my possession.
3. The Flying Tiger. The biscuit button-down Oxford shirt is a classic piece in a men's wardrobe, paired with khaki cords. On top, I've gone for this inexpensive olive chore shirt, onto which I have ironed a couple of patches to make this really individual. There's the US Air Force star on the sleeve, and on the left breast pocket a little tribute to the Flying Tigers, an incredible group of American volunteer pilots who, under the command of Claire Lee Chennault, defended the skies of China from the Empire of Japan, in one of the war's most extraordinary stories. Worth looking that man up, if you get a moment.
So, a little bit of the wartime spirit coming through here, but with enough style - I think - to wear out in the everyday. Hopefully the man below would approve... or is he simply laughing at me?
