Fishermen have been quiet style icons since the dawn of time. Everything about fishing apparel is centred around function, and if an accessory or piece of clothing isn’t helping put a fish in the net, it’s not necessary. It’s this firm emphasis on utility that has made us entranced by anglers for decades – whether it be Quint-esque Sea fishermen with their chunky knitwear, bushy moustaches, & waxed caps or the more reserved fly fishermen kitted in high-tech waders, polarised sunglasses and vests with a million pockets – fishermen are the definition of casual cool.
The activity itself seems alright, too. In a world where we’re all glued to questionable Instagram Reels and Facebook Marketplace, the thought of venturing into the wilderness and not glancing at your phone for several hours seems pretty refreshing. Even if you don’t end up actually catching anything.
We’ve long admired fishing from afar, and to be honest, this is probably for the best. It seems like a pretty technical hobby, and no doubt we’d make a mess of it somewhere along the line. So for the time being, our commentary on angling is going to stay constrained to item round-ups, this time with our pals at SEVEN STORE.
PS: We’re well aware that a lot of this stuff is not suitable for actual fishing. Hopefully, that’s obvious by us including a £600 C.P. Company vest.
The North Face NSE Summer Shirt
Pockets are absolutely essential when fishing. You’re going to want an abundance of them, and this North Face shirt has two massive ones. Ready to be filled full of spare line, bait, lures, chum – anything and everything that is going to increase your chances of catching. It’s even got a D-ring that you could attach a little pair of scissors to, which is an effortlessly stylish way to accessorise while fishing.
These Frizmworks Fishing Shorts are basically the legwear equivalent of the above shirt. Loads of pockets, another D-ring, and quick-drying cotton-nylon material – handy if a massive salmon (or snag) drags you into the drink.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, SEVEN STORE don’t stock state-of-the-art wading boots. So this leather iteration of the iconic New Balance Rainier will have to suffice. It’s got a chunky Vibram sole, wipe-clean panels, and all the outdoor credentials you could ever ask for.
FrizmWORKS Wading Hooded Jacket
The most exciting part of a fishing ensemble is the jacket. Purpose-designed wading jackets bring everything great about outerwear into one functional package – pockets, drawstrings, choice colours, boxy fit, massive hood. Now, we can’t speak for the river capabilities of this FrizmWORKS wading jacket, but it certainly looks the part.
Porter – Yoshida & Co Tanker Waist Bag
When we look through old Patagonia catalogue images of manly men fishing, they’re always accompanied by some kind of bag, and the coolest looking (in our opinion) are waist bags. Although we’re somewhat doubtful that anyone has ever fished in a Porter Yoshida Waist Bag, it still looks like it could do a job. Plenty of space for excess tackle.
Most people think sunglasses’ only use is protecting your peepers from UV rays, but any good angler will tell you that’s not the case. A good pair of shades will take the glare off the water and help you to spot any signs of life – a trout flickering between pools, a salmon nipping insects off the surface, and even a long forgotten-about can of BudLite resting on the riverbed.
Not sure what Angling Magazine would make of a C.P. Company vest being in this round-up. But hear us out – it’s got loads of pockets. And that’s basically the sole purpose of a fishing vest. Could see Phil Foden wearing this while posing with a massive carp.
Buetti Down-filled Nylon Trapper Hat
Whether it’s caps with a bill longer than your arm, bucket hats that protect your neck from sunburn, or trapper caps like this Buetti one, mad headwear is definitely approved of in the angling world.
