Occasionally, but not often, a clothing brand becomes part of the cultural fabric of a nation’s history. Not many fashion labels can say, for instance, that they are synonymous with British country living – but Barbour certainly can. The heritage brand, most notable for its waxed-cotton jackets that have been worn by everyone from James Bond to Mr Steve McQueen to Diana, Princess of Wales, has been making clothes worthy of royals, racing drivers and fictional secret agents for more than a century – and boasts three royal warrants to its name.

Its latest project for AW20 is something we’re particularly excited about because it takes all of that fascinating history and experience and – somehow – improves upon it. Following Barbour’s 125-year anniversary last year, the British brand has delved into its impressive archive to re-up and reappropriate some of its finest pieces into its Barbour Gold Standard line. Gold Standard, then, is all about taking the timeless heritage and craftsmanship of the Barbour brand and reimagining it in a way that adds an edge of contemporary elegance to their storied history, while retaining the original charm of what makes the brand so covetable in the first place.

In practice, this means that materials are of invariably high quality, leather accents are added for a traditional look and feel, silhouettes are tailored and refined, and buttons are crafted from corozo (a natural material often called “vegetable ivory” for its similarity to real ivory). It’s also worth noting that the patterns for the clothing are cut in South Shields, the north-eastern coastal town where Mr John Barbour originally founded the brand. The result of all of this is an elevated collection of first-rate knitwear and outerwear that marries a rustic sense of English country living with the brand’s fashion heritage to create clothing that can be worn almost anywhere.

Central to this appeal, as anyone familiar with Barbour might expect, is weatherproof, high-performance outerwear that can be worn come rain or snow. The Supa-Hunting Waxed Cotton Jacket is perhaps the greatest example of this; it’s the longest of the jackets in the Gold Standard collection and was designed to withstand the elements, whether that’s a brisk stroll through the windswept highlands, or simply out walking the dog on a drizzly day. And, something to woo those who appreciate the more technical aspects of outerwear, it comes with sizeable pockets that are adjustable thanks to the built-in press studs, reinforced with webbing. It’s also brilliantly cosy thanks to the presence of Thermore in the wool and quilted lining. Our favourite detail here, though, is the collar crafted from Shetland wool and corduroy, which gives it away as a Barbour jacket from a mile off.

On the slightly less wintry side is the Supa-Corbridge Waxed Cotton Jacket, which is based on the jacket of the same name from 2007. Made from the brand’s famous waxed-cotton, it’s full of practical pros… from a multitude of pockets to the detachable faux fur-lined gilet, tailor-made for our notoriously capricious weather. This jacket will go particularly well with a pair of beige or navy chinos (or mustard corduroys, if you favour the traditional country look), but it is also sharp and, frankly, expensive looking enough to be worn on the commute into the city.

Then, of course, there’s the Supa-Commander Waxed Cotton Jacket, which you may recognise as a slightly elevated version of the jacket that appeared in the 2012 film Skyfall. Based on the original design created by Mr Tokihito Yoshida in collaboration with Barbour, this jacket sings with technical details. To wit: the oiled-leather shoulder patches, the removable peaked hood, those corozo buttons, and zipped pockets on the back as well as the bellows pockets on the front, which, thanks to the pleats of the design, expand out at the bottom to fit in more than you would expect. It’s a tailored, slightly sporty jacket that is worthy of James Bond, and then some.

Overall, the main draw of Barbour Gold Standard seems to be that despite all of the technical expertise incorporated into the brand’s outerwear, it somehow adds to, rather than infringes upon, the overall sophistication and refinement of the garments. While these clothes are perhaps most at home on country piles or out in the sticks, they are also undeniably stylish, which is perhaps why their inimitable design has lasted for so long. Improving upon the brand’s classics might not be necessary, but, of course, dressing well is seldom about what’s necessary. In any case, Barbour Gold Standard raises the bar once more.

The Barbour Gold Standard collection is available on MR PORTER now