How to Wear Plus Twos and Plus Fours

Tuesday, 20 October 2020
Three men in shooting outfits with shooting equipment walking through a forest with a dog.
SMART, PRACTICAL AND HARD WEARING – THE CORNERSTONE OF A COUNTRY WARDROBE

For a more formal shoot, breeks are a must, but in reality plus twos or fours are the most versatile and practical garments you can have in your country wardrobe repertoire.

If you are lucky enough to have been invited on a more formal shoot, on a driven day where a certain dress code is expected, breeks are essential. Wear them with a matching vest in warmer months and an action back jacket or field coat later in the season.

On a walked up shoot or similarly less formal occasion, breeks are still your best option – team with a tattersall shirt and Schoffel Oakham fleece when weather permits or a Schoffel Ultralight or the Hurricane Field Coat when the weather is inclement.

A man and a woman leaning on stacked logs in a forest, wearing tweed shooting outfits.
OUR MEN’S AND LADIES BREEKS – CREATE A MATCHING SUIT OR COMPLIMENT WITH OTHER TWEEDS

What makes breeks so practical?

Plus Twos and Plus Fours are worn with shooting stockings, which means you aren’t trying to pack your trousers and socks into wellingtons or worse still trying to roll shooting stockings up over trousers if you are wearing boots. When worn correctly the breeks and shooting stocking come together to create an impermeable join. If it is raining, water runs off the breeks at the knee rather than soaking your whole trouser leg. The wider fit of the breek around the knee gives you a level of movement that trousers simply can’t give you, making climbing over styles and even bending down much easier. It is also easier to swap your boots over to brogues for lunch, ensuring your outfit still looks smart.

What is the difference between Plus Twos and Plus Fours?

The number indicates the inches below the knee the breeks sit – so Plus Twos are two inches below the knee and Plus Fours four inches. Our plus fours also have a double pleat front which makes the silhouette fuller and roomier than the plus two which has a flat front and narrower leg. Which you prefer is a matter of taste, as both are equally practical. Golfers tend to wear a plus four or even a plus six, but for shooting the plus twos are more popular. Our plus twos have a side adjuster waist, whilst our plus fours have a ‘fish tail’ back which gives a higher rise at the back, creating even more protection against the elements.

Man wearing tweed breeks, and a green shirt with brown tie, standing in the field.
WITH A FLAT FRONT AND NEATER SILHOUETTE – THE PLUS TWO
Man wearing green checked shirt, red tie with bird print, and plus fours, stood by a tree.
THE PLUS FOUR – SLIGHTLY LONGER, WITH A PLEAT FRONT AND FISH TAIL BACK
Man stood in woodland looking over his shoulder towards camera wearing a green checked shirt and tweed fish tail back plus fours.
THE PLUS FOUR FISH TAIL BACK – FINISHED WITH A BUCKLE ADJUSTER
Woman standing in a woodland by logs wearing boots, green breeks, and a yellow knitted jumper.
OUR LADIES BREEKS – WITH A NARROWER LEG, FINISHED WITH BELT LOOPS

Our ladies breek has a flattering flat front and neater silhouette, similar to the men’s plus two, and is finished with Alcantara trim and belt loops. We offer these in a range of tweeds with matching jackets and field coats or our soft supple Lancastrian moleskin with a small amount of stretch for ease of movement.

How to wear Plus Twos and Fours

Both styles are best worn with trouser braces; these will ensure your trousers stay comfortably in place as you swing your arms to shoot. When attaching your shooting stockings to the breeks, make sure that you put the shooting stockings over the bottom of the breek, and then use the garter to create a snug join. Knot the garter firmly then fold down the cuff of the shooting stocking to cover the join.

Man crouched on a tree stump wearing brown leather shoes, dark red shooting stockings, tweed breeks and a checked shirt with green tie.
USE THE GARTER TO CREATE A NEAT, FIRM JOIN BETWEEN THE SHOOTING STOCKING AND BREEK

Fabric choices

Tweed is the ultimate performance fabric in the field; naturally water repellent, breathable and hard wearing. Our British woven tweeds also come with a Teflon coated finish, which although imperceptible makes them even more water and dirt repellent. Our core range of shooting tweeds, such as the House Check and Firley Herringbone are available in a range of styles from caps, shooting waistcoats to field coats and shooting accessories. After wearing, dry in a warm environment (not too close to direct heat) and then brush off any mud. If you are looking for a cotton option, our Lancastrian moleskin or corduroy are the perfect choices. Similarly water repellent they’re made in robust pure cotton cloths.

Choosing a well-tailored pair of breeks made in a superior cloth is a sound investment. They are the ultimate work horse in the field; versatile, practical and effortlessly smart.

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