Country Gals, I need your sexy yet comfy welly recommendations........

[fluffymindy]

So, I have got cheap wellies and they a very uncomfy so I am now moving to the wilds and need some wellies or country boots I can spend a lot of time in without the ouch and the cold and without looking completely awful! Not Hunters obviously because moving to the country and wearing Hunter wellies would be even too much of a cliche for me......

I also need a long raincoat, how can anyone get to 43 and not own a proper coat?

[fluffymindy]

I have got country heritage but only a little money.......

My DD has a pair of Joules (in sale obviously) with union jacks on but she is 12 so that is OK...... I think [worries children will also look like townie wankers....lol]

[fishybits]

Clearly Charliefox has more money than class.

[EleanorFarjeon]

I've got Hunters and find them v comfortable.

But the absolute best boots I have ever had are Le Chameau. I've had these ones for about a month & they feel like they were made for me.

They were expensive, but I think they will outlive me.

[fluffymindy]

lilystem - that is actually true about my Barbour wax jacket - I had it for years and then my Mummy had it for years for the horses and it only died when her young stroppy horse ripped the arm off. I was so greatful, it was minging. I am sure it even made the horsey smell more horsey!

[fluffymindy]

Eleanor - they don't even put the price (bad sign in my experience as if one has to ask the price, one cannot afford the price...)

Leather lined too

[scratchandsniff]

I'm a farmers daughter and currently sport a pair of navy Barbour wellies. Just as comfy as Hunter but not as expensive. Had Hunters previously and they split. I walk miles in my wellies, I'm almost sad when It's warmer and I have to find something else to stomp around in.

[Charliefox]

Joules are ok for kids and townies.

Fluffy, yes, the LC are heaps better I'm afraid. The aigles have no shape round the ankle and look like they're moulded from rubber.

[fluffymindy]

Here is my country credential, with the mention of Harvey Smith. He told me to 'bugger off you little sod' once for asking for his autograph at Hickstead.... scarred me for life I tells ya!

[francesdrake]

Not all Le Chameau are that expensive! The neoprene Le Chameau were a Christmas present to myself upgrade on the basic £80 pair I wore daily for 6 years with thick woolly socks underneath for warmth. On a pay per wear basis, that's not so bad. They do wear better than new style Hunters.

You're stuck with green, though. Patterned/coloured boots are a bit Festivalwear. Just embrace the wellie-ness and get a warm, watertight pair that you can walk in. Try the local animal/farm store. Country sexy is totally different - for a start, it's much easier to look smouldering with warm feet.

[fluffymindy]

And Charliefox - you have hit the nail on the head it is all in the ankle, this is why I am always attracted to sexy riding boots because of slim ankles..... of course, that is it! What a breakthrough!

and I think you are well classy......

[Ladyflip]

Confession time. I have two pairs.

One pair for actually being on the farm (it's more muddy and shitty than you would believe) which are these function over form

I have another pair for posing (going to muddy shows, shooting parties, popping into the woods with the dog etc) which aren't fab but are ok. They are now discontinued but similar to these www.toggi.com/acatalog/TOGGI_Footwear_QUEBEC_Chocolate.html

Good luck with the wilds of Wales. You will need a raincoat!

[BikeRunSki]

I think Barbour wellies are now made in the same place as Hunters were before Hunter production was moved overseas. ie - modern Barbour wellies = old Hunters.

I wear black Dunlops, they last for ever.

As for Barbour coats, they do a "renovation' service. My mum's just had gets done. It was 28 years old, and for £100 ish, looks good as new.

[Charliefox]

I likes your style Ladyflip. Way to go!

[Charliefox]

Posted too soon. I take it back Ladyflip. I thought you meant you had 2 pairs of Le Chameau. Tut.

[mejon]

OP I'm in mid Wales and in the countryside and only ever wear wellies when I have to go and help my neighbour put her stinky ducks away. Then it's those calf-length green Dunlop jobbies. I don't think wellies and a proper raincoat are compulsory-wear for us bumpkins - the only ones I see are farmers. We have tarmacced roads and all up here

[fluffymindy]

Yes Ladyflip cool as - the first ones are horrors of course and no fear of me being trodden on so no toe caps for me besides they will make my feet look big and I would rather have a broken foot

[Ladyflip]

Round here Le Chameau only worn by wankers with, as was pointed out up thread, more money than class.

[Charliefox]

Well I can guess where you live then Ladyflip.

[fluffymindy]

Mejon - we are moving onto a small farm mad as cheese and our school is in the middle of nowhere - it is a concious choice obviously, in fact a planned over a couple of years choice, but aware I am ill equipt by not even owning a pair of jeans/trousers - I need a country capsule wardrobe...... weird because brought up in the country, all horsey and doggy and landrovery but my wardrobe does not reflect my heritage apparently . Think Mad Men - I am all shampoo and sets and 50's dresses, fuck knows what is going to happen to my hair [frizzzzzzz]

[fluffymindy]

This is the list of things I am displacing:

Strip downstairs artex off walls and paint
Paint one wall in hall, two small bits in living room and playroom (thanks small child with marker pen!)
Choose carpet for stairs
Sort out papers in study
Fill out two big forms

I really should get off the sofa and out of my housecoat and get my arse in gear but am crusing wellies and playing on MN

[hangs head in shame]

[fluffymindy]

Dowstairs loo - not the whole of downstairs that would be mad!

[Ladyflip]

You'll be fine fluffy. What sort of farming will you be doing (if any?) Nobody really gives a shit what you wear in the country, and if the school is that far away you will presumably be going by car anyway, so not too much exposure to the elements on the school run?

We had a lovely harvest widows thread last summer; it might be time to revive it as we have already started silaging.

You may need to pop into your local agricultural merchants to do a spot of practical clothes shopping. Or go to a show - Royal Welsh is on 22-25th July. Plenty of shopping opportunities at these things. You could reinvent yourself in a whole new style.

[fluffymindy]

Yes Ladyflip, reinvention is required... No we are a few chickens and ducks (which we had here anyway) and a couple of horses in the future (as have promised my DDs). We have a couple of fields and some woodland - we are moving for the school as have DD with LDs and we need to do something new - Dh commutes to London at the mo. and we hardly ever see him so we are making the move as he finally found an amazing job which pays well. I actually count us very very lucky as it is all coming together but instead of tackling anything on 'the list' I am very worried I am going to cold and wet - out new place is quite exposed and will possibly be quite unprepared come autumn/winter.

[fluffymindy]

The notion of 'practical clothes' makes me shudder...... which is why I am 43 without a proper coat!

[TotallyBursar]

I was interested in wellies that were sexy - until I actually read the thread.

I shall take my steel toe capped, green, hefty rubber boots, my minging permawaxed Barbour (with optional extras of pocketfull of bailer twine and ferrets) my scrumped back hair and pervading, but also complex and intriguing, odour and leave you beautiful folks to it!

I'm wafting around close to the WiFi while I wait for the man to stop mucking about fixing the quad (which broke because he 'just want to check the brakes') I asked him if I was 'country but sexy' - he said he likes it when I'm not covered in shit or birthing but as I hose down before coming in he's got no complaints...that was ok until he said 'I'd much rather you were good at calving and lambing than looking good, also I like you being solid enough to do the heavy lifting, bugger doing all that by myself' my self esteem has wandered off and is gently weeping. There is absolutely a reason I was his first girlfriend.

I might make him pay by buying those posh boots...with a heel!