Staying stylish in a sea of mud

[Florabritannica]

Hail wise Style and Beauty gurus.
I live in the country surrounded by mud. I also have a puppy who is very much in the bitey phase. I am getting so fed up with wearing the same old clumpy boots and jeans and big jumpers every day. Tights and skirts get ripped to pieces in seconds. Shoes are covered in mud by the time I get to the car.
Any suggestions as to how I might keep smiling sartorially?

You need dubarry river boots or similar.

I have said boots. How to style them though? With jeans tucked in I feel like Kate Middleton circa 2005.

I know you dismiss tights and skirts but I wear a lot of tweed, corduroy and heavy velvet skirts and John Lewis fleece lined tights which seem pretty bomb proof. Also, high waisted black jeans tucked into boots (put Kate M from your mind, it's a timeless look in the country and the best for mud). My favourite trousers are a pair of tweed knickerbockers I stole from my husband which I wear with a flannel Ines de la Fressange x Uniqlo menswear inspired shirt and feel like a 1930s chatelaine.

Thinking about it I get a tonne from Uniqlo - machine washable wool trousers, high waisted jeans in many colours, corduroy dresses, thin merino knits which are easily layered over collared shirts and blouses. Seasalt, Crew and Fatface also have clothes that are worth a look.

xiaoxiong 1930s chatelaine is exactly the look I am after! This is really really helpful and will get me started. Am reassured by your Kate M words as you clearly have this shit entirely sorted. I am going to investigate all your suggestions once the puppy tires himself out.

Also - where can I get a long-ish tweed skirt that will make me look like a Mitford sister?

You know what, I don't feel like my shit is in any way sorted but I live somewhere where my husband wears a uniform every day that involves a wing collar and white tie and pinstriped trousers and wellies on playing fields...there is definitely a "look" expected that also has to put up with dogs and horses and lots of mud... so a few years ago I decided to just go with it and threw myself into the costume party aspects of it... and discovered that the reason there is a country horsy tweedy look is because it's actually immensely practical and warm and often the clothes last forever!

I also try to wear red lipstick and do my hair rather than just have it in a ratty ponytail, that helps with feeling pulled together as well.

Tweed skirts - look for "midi" or knee length, and I've had good luck at Brora, John Lewis, Joules (their tweed stuff is great, and it doesn't scream Joules), Boden sometimes but I'm not pear shaped and they do seem to cut more for a pear shaped bottom half.

I also love eBay or charity shops because tweed is generally so sturdy it will last and last and then gets donated when people can't bear to wear it anymore!

dubarry ! boots, tweed , coats etc... they have nice tweed pencil skirts.

or orvis ( not in any way fashionable, but very practical)

Tweed skirts - look for "midi" or knee length, and I've had good luck at Brora, John Lewis, Joules (their tweed stuff is great, and it doesn't scream Joules), Boden sometimes but I'm not pear shaped and they do seem to cut more for a pear shaped bottom half. I also love eBay or charity shops because tweed is generally so sturdy it will last and last and then gets donated when people can't bear to wear it anymore!

Don't discount breeks/shooting knickers - they're brilliantly warm, and you can wear wellies or your dubarrys without having to stuff a lot of fabric down your calves.

If you can stretch to the cost, Orvis, Musto, Cordings, Laksen and other huntin' n shootin' kinds of brands will last to clothe you, your children and grandchildren...

Haha great minds Eve!

Can anyone link to shooting knickers as mentioned? Would like to be more outdoorsy and have recently seen quilted skirts that will be my next investment

Here are some tweed: https://www.rydale.com/products/ladies-tweed-shooting-breeks?variant=12618415964231&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi6O25KD33wIVzLHtCh0ovQcaEAQYASABEgJJnvDBwEE_

I don't know about the big huge socks over them that the model is wearing in the photo, I tend to wear tights or knee socks underneath them, fasten under the knee, and then wellies on top. _

Here's some non-tweed:_ https://www.williampowell.com/ladies/shooting-clothing/ladies-sporting-trousers--breeks/musto-ladies-sporting-breeks---bordeaux_ltb107-bo

OMG I have never seen something like this before - usually my thighs just get wet between bottom of my coat and my wellies, I could pop on a waterproof kilt instead:

www.williampowell.com/ladies/shooting-clothing/ladies-sporting-trousers--breeks/john-field-ladies-gale-rain-skirt_ltb500

This might not help you OP but it's certainly practical! It could be good riding a bike too, keep the tops of your thighs dry!

Thanks xiao that is a whole new world of practical clothing but completely different (much better than) to the Jack wolfskin functional wear i am used to seeing (suburbs). Will delve further.

Well I have had a very happy time probing the dark world of country clothing. Found some tweed midi skirts in the dregs of the Boden sale (eek); picked up the Rydale breeches; some Uniqlo skinny jeans - Can’t wait to try it all on! I did feel the waterproof kilt was perhaps pushing the envelope a little too far at the moment.
Thank you for your suggestions all - and do let me know if anything else springs to mind. I really was despairing of ever looking forward to getting dressed in the morning.