Had a very uncanny experience with such an overcoat a couple of years ago: in a weird little pop-up shop in Cahirsiveen in West Kerry, where I had gone to pick up a painting my sister-in-law had bought, a very sumptuous tweed overcoat seemed to leap off its hook and engulf me. The lovely, batty lady who ran the shop said "oh it must want to come with you, please take it, every time I see it hanging there I think it's a ghost..." At thirty quid, I could hardly say no. A "great coat", if you will.
A few months later, a friend came to stay and kept looking at the coat. "I recognise that coat!" He finally figured it out and looked it up: a very high quality piece that had been used as one of Benedict Cumberbatch's wardrobe items in BBC Sherlock! Worth about £1300! Now it's no Withnail Coat, to be sure.... But it really is a very Great Coat!
Wonderful piece. I met Andrea way, way back, long before Withnail and when I think she was/had been living with Alan Aldridge, when I was commencing my life's fruitless pursuit of her younger sister.
I love Withnail's coat and this article is perfect! I missed the fact that Chris Evans had one of the coats. I wonder who has the one he sold? I'm also wondering if he smelt of Deep Heat as he went schmoozing about in it?
I'd love to have my very own Withnail coat. That swishy split "skirt" at the back is fabulous - all that movement it gives! I do have a lovely long overcoat with quite a swishy "skirt" in purple. It's always a joy when the weather changes in aurumn and I can start wearing it... Although I'm Team Voltarol rather than Team Deep Heat!
Amazing. Being a wearing of bespoke coats and such, I approve of this message.
Once I had a full length fur coat, that I stole from my grandmother', and in the winter of 2002 In the inner city parties of Auckland NZ I partied like a goddam pimp in it.
But sadly I got so drunk one night, I swapped it for what I thought was an amazing Marlon Brando Wild ones Leather jacket.
When I awoke…shivering in my truck, I found I was wearing a smelly vinyl jacket with worn elbows ! That incident is the one thing I regret in life.
I was so mentally damaged by the swap I immediately went out and bought a real MB leather jacket, and told people for years that I swapped a fur coat for it. Now I live in Florida and all my coats sit in my wardrobe.
Balls! We want the finest wines available to humanity. And we want them here, and we want them now!
Ahh, and I’ve lived 20 years loving the coats in both Don’t Look Now and Withnail, not knowing they’re borne of the same costume designer! What a fabulous tidbit. Awesome article and definitely my favorite thing I’ve learned this week.
“Free to those that can afford it, very expensive to those that can't.”
Haha!
Had a very uncanny experience with such an overcoat a couple of years ago: in a weird little pop-up shop in Cahirsiveen in West Kerry, where I had gone to pick up a painting my sister-in-law had bought, a very sumptuous tweed overcoat seemed to leap off its hook and engulf me. The lovely, batty lady who ran the shop said "oh it must want to come with you, please take it, every time I see it hanging there I think it's a ghost..." At thirty quid, I could hardly say no. A "great coat", if you will.
A few months later, a friend came to stay and kept looking at the coat. "I recognise that coat!" He finally figured it out and looked it up: a very high quality piece that had been used as one of Benedict Cumberbatch's wardrobe items in BBC Sherlock! Worth about £1300! Now it's no Withnail Coat, to be sure.... But it really is a very Great Coat!
That’s an excellent find, thank you for sharing!
Wonderful piece. I met Andrea way, way back, long before Withnail and when I think she was/had been living with Alan Aldridge, when I was commencing my life's fruitless pursuit of her younger sister.
Thanks!
OF COURSE HE’S THE FUCKING FARMER
I love Withnail's coat and this article is perfect! I missed the fact that Chris Evans had one of the coats. I wonder who has the one he sold? I'm also wondering if he smelt of Deep Heat as he went schmoozing about in it?
I'd love to have my very own Withnail coat. That swishy split "skirt" at the back is fabulous - all that movement it gives! I do have a lovely long overcoat with quite a swishy "skirt" in purple. It's always a joy when the weather changes in aurumn and I can start wearing it... Although I'm Team Voltarol rather than Team Deep Heat!
I’d love to know where the coat went as well! Maybe one day it’ll reappear!
I do hope so! 😊
Fascinating article - most enjoyable
Thank you, Richard!
I knew I’d seen Sydney Sweeney’s gaze before. 😂
What an absolutely fascinating tale - thanks so much for this
Thanks!
Amazing. Being a wearing of bespoke coats and such, I approve of this message.
Once I had a full length fur coat, that I stole from my grandmother', and in the winter of 2002 In the inner city parties of Auckland NZ I partied like a goddam pimp in it.
But sadly I got so drunk one night, I swapped it for what I thought was an amazing Marlon Brando Wild ones Leather jacket.
When I awoke…shivering in my truck, I found I was wearing a smelly vinyl jacket with worn elbows ! That incident is the one thing I regret in life.
I was so mentally damaged by the swap I immediately went out and bought a real MB leather jacket, and told people for years that I swapped a fur coat for it. Now I live in Florida and all my coats sit in my wardrobe.
Balls! We want the finest wines available to humanity. And we want them here, and we want them now!
What a coat! Who doesn't remember Uncle Monty?
**shudder**
Bollocks to the Wellington's!
Great article 👏 👍
Thank you!
Ahh, and I’ve lived 20 years loving the coats in both Don’t Look Now and Withnail, not knowing they’re borne of the same costume designer! What a fabulous tidbit. Awesome article and definitely my favorite thing I’ve learned this week.
Thank you! Two classic films and coats :)
What an absolutely marvellous story! Thanks for writing.
Thank you!
Terrific stuff. Are you Adam Scovell the film maker?
Thank you! And it is!
Great article, however did you mean to say Baldassare Castiglione was a courtier and not a courtesan.
Yes.
Utterly amazing.
Thank you!