Anyone stylish live in the countryside?

[Gotheeunicorns]

We live quite rurally. We spend a lot of time outdoors. With lockdown our only real activity has been walking. I'd love to have a stylish wardrobe but as soon as I walk out of the door I'm covered in mud (4dc and 2 large dogs) so it just seems utterly pointless even bothering to look nice. At home I'm generally cleaning or cooking so always seem to end up filthy there too.

I do work and have to look smartish but my office is the least glamorous place (a crappy portacabin) where warmth is a priority above all else.

Does anyone live a rural life and manage to look half decent? If so what are you key pointers to not looking like a tramp?!

Thanks

This is really helpful. I have been avoiding going to the NW in Winter because its so cold, which is ridiculous as DF lives there. Clearly just warmer clothes needed.

I live in the country year round and have a large dog. I'm not sure I'd claim to look stylish and certainly I don't look fashionable. I wear jeans and a cashmere sweater (V neck) with a scarf, gloves and coat for 300 days a year. Plus a hat if it's cold or wet, and footwear to cope with deep sticky mud, or heavy rain. In hot weather I wear shorts, T shirts and wealking sandals. I think I usually look presentable, but there's no way anyone is going to usher me to the front row at a couture catwalk show.

Hi OP. We have a similar life.

Over the Christmas holidays I bought three thermal tops from primark. They’re thin and I can wear them under most of my jumpers. Still not warm enough though. I’ve just bought some nice fleece tops on eBay. I think I put in ‘fleece top’ because the sort of thing I wanted was basically a fitted jumper made from warm, fleece material that wasn’t large and shapeless- but didn’t look like something you’d wear to go hillwalking in. They’ve arrived and they’re perfect. No brand- but exactly what I wanted.

I actually found the regatta sale had some really nice coats in (can’t believe I’ve typed that line). Got a stylish, warm, and fitted rainproof coat with a leopard print trim. Don’t feel ugly when out on my daily two hour hike with the toddler.

I will be investing more in jeans when lockdown is over. I’ve come to the conclusion you can’t cut corners with them when you’re wearing wellies with a thigh skimming coat. The knees of the cheaper ones just bag in a way I wouldn’t have noticed wearing thin city clothes.

I’ve gone large on thick socks/ funky leg warmers. I think they give a bit of individuality to the country muddy look. They make me happy, anyway, and can be more easily chucked in the washing machine on a daily basis than many other things.

Wellies can be mega toasty.
These are little furnaces
www.aigle.com/uk/en/p/aiglentine®-8882_noir.html

How about Trailback trailback.co.uk/ boots? I've not tried them but they look good.

Most of my everyday clothes are merino wool or bamboo. I wear walking boots or trail runners, unless I’m dressing up for something (so not at all this year!). Coats are Paramo for wet days and a Rab microlight for dry days.

In the summer, I mostly wear walking shorts and trainers.

But you asked for someone stylish .

@DelphiniumBlue How can you go for a proper walk in wellies? If I did that my feet would freeze , and the soles are thin, and there's just no substance or support! Just doesn't sound practical at all!

You buy decent wellies. Mine are neoprene lined, cost over £200 but are in their 9th year. Warmest and comfiest footwear I own!

Im a SAHM with chronic illness so don't go out much but I do live somewhat rural in Hampshire and find I get muddy/wet/cold/too impatient with the elements to dress nice. I dont drive so I walk with my DSs to school, often I wear leggings and those chunky doc marten type boots for the school run, because they seem to go with everything, they're trendy, they go with a casual dress and leggings, and it somehow feels safer wearing all black on the bottom half!

How can you go for a proper walk in wellies? If I did that my feet would freeze , and the soles are thin, and there's just no substance or support! Just doesn't sound practical at all!

I can walk comfortably all day in these: www.lechameau.com/gb/women-s-vierzonord-neoprene-lined-boot.html?s=64406

Another rural dweller here with zero reason to dress up.

I really struggled with the transition clothes wise when I moved out of the city. What on earth would I wear?

But now I definitely buy for the life I have, rather than the life I see more fashionable people have!

I have two coats - a Uniqlo puffer for cold days and a North Face raincoat for rainy day.

I have 3 pairs of shoes for muddy walks - toasty warm neoprene Aigle wellies (Amazon have great sales if you watch the price), toast warm Ugg biker boots, and DM Chelsea boots with rugged soles for the rest of the year.

I also have several of those Heatgen Plus tops from M&S, and Uniqlo tops and anything thermal basically. Because otherwise you find yourself falling deep into the Fleece Pit!

Will hold my hands up that I have 100% not figured out my bottom half though. Skinny jeans seem very constricting out here in the muck, but Mom jeans don't look very smart - and I'm not a big fan of leggings. Any suggestions??

Fairfax and Favor Explorer and Boudicca boots. Waterproof and much more stylist and slim fitting than dubarrys.

@springdale1

Fairfax and Favor Explorer and Boudicca boots. Waterproof and much more stylist and slim fitting than dubarrys.

Explorers are so nice - they're on my wishlist for this year!

I go everywhere in my Dunlop wellies! Never had any issues going on long walks and I was pleased with them yesterday as half of the path had flooded. We are Wiltshire way though so very flat. I just wear nice boot liners to keep my feet warm.

I think in winter pay attention to your hat and scarf. So long as you have a good quality all weather coat (we are traditional waxed jacket wearers) your hat and scarf are the accessories you can use to show your style. I also love a ribbed polo neck for a top, making sure it's long enough in the body. Nothing worse than a gap between top and trouser for the chill to get in any time you have to clamber over a style

Edit: I should add - my Dunlops aren't stylish I've budget weren't an issue I'd go for Le chameau bit I can't bring myself to pay their prices when my Dunlops are going strong for £12!

Merino base layer top and bottom - much warmer than the stuff from M&S. Wear indoors and out. Then you can just wear normal clothes on top, no bulky jumpers needed.

Available in loads of places e.g.
www.mountainwarehouse.com/merino-womens-pants-p13374.aspx/black/
www.mountainwarehouse.com/merino-womens-round-neck-thermal-top-p13371.aspx/black/

Merino machine washes at 30oC with no fabric softener, don't tumble dry.

Goretex or other waterproof shoes/boots. They last for years so worth paying for warm dry feet.

Good windproof coat of country or sports persuausion.

Hats/gloves/scarf of your choice

Why? The perks of country life are that you can wear any old shit.

My thoughts exactly. You can dress yourself warmly for pennies and concentrate on more important things. Style is signalling for people who recognise and appreciate it. Utterly pointless in the sticks where absolutely everyone you meet is wearing overalls.

How can you go for a proper walk in wellies? If I did that my feet would freeze , and the soles are thin, and there's just no substance or support! Just doesn't sound practical at all!

@DelphiniumBlue you just need well fitting wellies (they don't need to be expensive) and nice thick socks! I much prefer walking in my wellies to walking boots!

@Bunchup

Why? The perks of country life are that you can wear any old shit.

My thoughts exactly. You can dress yourself warmly for pennies and concentrate on more important things. Style is signalling for people who recognise and appreciate it. Utterly pointless in the sticks where absolutely everyone you meet is wearing overalls.

I 100% agree, in principle.

However... I guess there does come a point where you get sick of wearing any old shit, it starts to get you down after a while! It's a bit like wearing loungewear/housework clothes all day and never wearing anything nice. Feels a bit "meh".

I have Explorers on my wish list for this year too - have been waiting for so long for them to come back into stock that I’ve just cracked and am awaiting the delivery of a pair of boudicas! I’d thought they’d be too similar to my fur-lined DMs, but have discovered this last week that the DMs are not in the slightest bit waterproof 😭.
PS I have a 10% off Fairfax and Favor code if anyone would like it! Gives me 10% off my next purchase too.

@DelphiniumBlue you invest in proper winter boots. Agle, Dubarry,Chameaux or Muck boots if you are going for hardcore mud.