If you're Really Rural, how do you mix practicality and style?

[ElspethFlashman]

Last year I moved from the Big Smoke to The Sticks. More tractors than cars go past my house and there's mud and puddles absolutely everywhere.

My wardrobe has gone to pot. A fleece and baggy jeans with a raincoat and wellies. I suspect half the time I look like an actual Man now. Good god. But my previous wardrobe of thin pretty things (and thin pretty shoes) seems absolutely useless.

Is my future fleece-lined? Stylish country bumpkins of MN, how do you do it? How do you stay warm and dry and practical whilst still looking vaguely modern?

Ahhhh I’ve been here. There will likely come a time when you stop giving a shit and just dress for warmth and practicality, but until that time comes I’m afraid there’s no easy answer.

Do you do a job that requires similarly practical clothing or is this just for downtime, as it were?

I've swopped my heels for Dubarrys, my lovely little fitted cardigans and dresses for gillets and jeans. That's country living for you!

Skinny/very slim fitting jeans in blue/black/navy/khaki with leather ankle or knee length boots, shirt, polo, turtleneck or a breton, woollen sweaters and knits. Lots of scope for vests underneath if it's cold, or adding scarves.

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Farmer here! Boots. Boots with everything. You can go as smart or as casual as you like with them but they’re always pretty practical. Honestly tho, invest in a decent coat (Barbour or similar) and you can still wear pretty things! They just stay covered by the coat until you’re safe inside in the warm 😂

I wear scrubs at work, so don't even get to dress nice at work!

So literally all I wear is the aforementioned shit-but-warm clothes. It does not spark joy.

I need a balance where I can find pleasure in clothes whilst still actually dressing for my environment.

I find boots or wellies with a dress and tights are MUCH better for mud and rain than jeans (which get soggy at the bottom and then the water seeps up the jean fabric). Tights dry quicker than jeans too.

Am wondering if I should be investing in M&S thermals and similar so I can wear thinner tops and not be freezing?

I just wear regular tees underneath but maybe thats why I always end up in fleeces......?

I think that makes life easier - at least you’re not milking two shifts a day in a boiler suit and wellies!

You need comfortable waterproof boots that you actually enjoy wearing and a couple of good rain jackets/coats. I rate Merrell and Ugg for the former and Didriksons for the latter.

I have to say, though, other than that, you can pretty much wear what you want - unless you’re feeding animals every morning and evening then surely on your time off work you can pretty much wear what you’d normally wear? (Apart from heels maybe)

You need a really good pair of leather boots like Dubarrys, a well fitted Barbour jacket and enough cash to buy the trendier end of Joules clothing.

Have a browse on the joules and Barbour websites. They are spendy but depending on the fashion/season you can sometimes recreate the looks more cheaply using normal high street equivalents

Agree with PP. Skinny jeans in different colours tucked into 'country boots' such as Dubarrys. Thin layers on top - a thin thermal layer and lightweight knits. A good coat, maybe even a blazer for Spring/Autumn.

I'd look at the sort of outfits the Duchess of Cambridge wears when she does the outdoor engagements - comfortable and practical but still stylish. Minor point but if you are often taking your boots off in other people's houses I would invest in some lovely socks.

Actually I am always taking my shoes off. Not something I had to do in the city but I have started to buy proper wool socks!

I actually have a Barbour but find it's not really waterproof enough (though admittedly it needs a rewaxing) and is also quite sweaty on the arms. I'm half thinking about selling it actually. Maybe I should rewax and give it another go.

I used to have a Joules Breton a few years ago that was suprisingly warm - thanks for reminding me, I'll try to find it again, it was called the Harbour top or something.

I live in a pretty hard core part of the world, weather wise, and that's the main problem. Its just always cold, rainy and muddy.

Thin thermals (M&S and uniqlo do good ones) means you don't have to sacrifice the nice tops and dresses, and agree with previous posters about boots with either skinnies or thermal/thick tights + dress. I don't have a waxed coat but do have a good quality down filled coat for the worst days and a seasalt knee length waterproof for warmer (but wet) weather.

I honestly think that to do rural AND stylish, you HAVE to throw money at it. Le Chameau wellies for a start and a fabulous warm but gorgeous coat. Tweed field coats with a bit of shape look fab.

For instance, this is gorgeous and sold in Next of all places www.next.co.uk/style/ST312534?dp=a&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_tCxpvaq4QIVDJztCh2HAAwMEAQYAiABEgL7ufD_BwE#307229

Icebreaker are the best thermals imo.

This is even nicer! This, jeans, Le Chameau wellies, a tan and swishy hair and you'll look a million pesetas! hollandscountryclothing.co.uk/products/copy-of-jack-murphy-prue-tweed-jacket-check-navy?variant=8190683775011&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_tCxpvaq4QIVDJztCh2HAAwMEAQYDiABEgLtovD_BwE

Lovely jumpers. I have got a real thing about cashmere now just because its so warm and lightweight.

but if you are truly remote rural looking like duchess or wearing la Cham etc would just be laughable surely? A lot of above good advice is more suitable for Home Counties rural but perhaps that would work where you are ?

Intrigued, are you in the UK? Where is it always cold rainy and muddy? That must have been a shock for the system!

What about cords, they are warmer than jeans and I'd be investing in some nice cashmere and merino wool and lightweight down coats or gilets and lots of lovey scarves.

Not in the UK!

Am in Ireland.

I've just ordered a couple of Heatgen Plus long sleeved tops (20% off with code NEWINSPRING! Ends tonight!) and hopefully that'll help reincorporate some of my old stuff.

That was from M&S obvs.

But yeah.... Would be a bit silly to look like Kate Middleton here tbh. It's a bit bland anyway.

I think some of the suggestions are really useful though!

I think a pair of lined leather ankle boots with a bit of a heel from Ugg might be a good buy.

I am Yorkshire rural. Aigle wellies, ugg boots (proper boots not the slipper style ones), skinny jeans, jigsaw cami, t shirt and hush jumper or long-sleeved top and blazer, topped with duffle coat or north face arctic parker. I’m not madly stylish but don’t look like a man!

We're very rural and have 2 spaniels that love exercise and love mud/water/fox poo even more so most days I'm in skinny jeans, a thin long sleeved top with a thick chunky cardigan over, Jack Wolfskin soft shell coat and Aigle wellies. I don't give a shit what I look like as long as I'm warm and dry! DH just rolls his eyes in despair............

The Duchess of Cambridge comments are interesting..... like she's ever walked through mud in her Chloe boots and Barbour coat

If you are in rural Ireland don’t wear the tweed - you will look like a West Brit and unless you live in a Georgian mansion with lots of land and use a 30 year old Range Rover to get about you will be deemed pretentious.

But as someone who is from rural Ireland and living in a city but spending lots and lots of time on the sidelines at rugby and football matches with my DC I’m loving all the other suggestions. In fact I had thought about asking for help on the same topic!!!

If you were in my neck of the woods, the cows would fall around giggling in a bovine manner at a Kate Middleton knock-off look.

What do you need the clothes for, Elspeth? I mean, what are you doing in them? Are you out walking or what?