if you live rural or semi rural...

[ConfusedParticle]

what do you wear most days?

do you mix skirts/dresses with trousers/jeans, or tend to stick to one type of clothing?

im rural-ish and long to incorporate more dresses through all seasons!

Ive lived rurally and semi rurally all of my life, grew up on a farm with stables and then ended up later in life, in the mountains.
In some areas, like the Lake District, it is true that most visitors and newcomers are wearing what sells in the local stores - mountain warehouse, arc'teryx, mountain equipment, etc.
A little further away there's more wax and wellies and equestrian.

I spent my childhood in jods and old woolly jumpers and my family still had dresses and skirts in the wardrobe. Not every second of our lives were spent running dogs through muddy streams or mucking out.

this thread is fascinating though, and I do admit the weather can bully you into submission, oh god do I know.....it is interesting to see how we all have different ideas about it. I must admit, there are a few snotty responses though! It isn't a competition to be 'authentically' rural and I dare say there's no such thing, in my 48 yrs of experience of being stranded in windswept, unforgiving spaces.

I don’t find it any harder to wash and dry skirts and dresses (or my legs) than trousers, often easier in fact. I’m sure people make assumptions when I’m walking the dog, but I know the walks I do well and just cos my dress is flowery doesn’t mean I am bothered if it gets a bit muddy or snagged on a bramble. Much easier if I need a wee while I’m out too!

What counts as semi rural? I live in a village and wear dresses and skirts most days! I wouldn't say they're particularly "dressy", I just tend to find them more comfortable.

We don't have a dog though so no muddy dog walks!

I'm not rural, but I do live somewhere with exceptionally crappy weather. I struggle with this a bit too, as I much prefer skirts and dresses by choice and in bad weather am often surrounded by a sea of technical gear and not a single skirt to be seen. Some people do wear the outdoorsy stuff very stylishly, but those ones tend to be the ones with model-like proportions so have certain natural advantages! I have always felt that practical (technical fabrics, supportive shoes etc) shouldn't exclude style, or mean that everyone is relegated to trousers all the time.

What sort of activities do you spend your time doing, and what sort of terrain are you on? Do you walk, cycle, drive? Maybe you could plan your wardrobe out into different sections depending on your lifestyle a bit more? E.g. "I spend half an hour doing the school run on foot in terrible weather, walking along paths that can get quite muddy" might mean you'd be absolutely fine in a dress as long as you have the right coat and boots. I spend a lot of time and money researching these. My current challenge is now that hemlines have dropped, I'm struggling to find appropriate length coats, and boots that don't look rubbish with midis. I have had it fairly well sorted for knee or above-knee length in past years - thicker skirt fabrics like wool and corduroy, thick wool tights, merino base layers, country boots, and expensive waterproofs. Wear your tea dresses! Just invest in the right fabrics to go on top and underneath them.

I live rurally near the sea and there’s a huge mix round us. A lot of creative types do wear skirts. I wear a denim mini in the summer and dresses to the beach etc. Winter I do wear dresses when it’s not raining now I have sussed out footwear a bit better.

Other school mums live in jodhpurs, jogging bottoms etc. I guess it depends on their pastimes and jobs, a lot of farmers, horsey people etc.

My main issue with longer dresses is they are like sponges in the rain and we get a lot of rain here (Cornwall)

My other issue is an approaching 40 style rut, combine that with the weather challenges etc…

@RaspberryThief

I'm not rural, but I do live somewhere with exceptionally crappy weather. I struggle with this a bit too, as I much prefer skirts and dresses by choice and in bad weather am often surrounded by a sea of technical gear and not a single skirt to be seen. Some people do wear the outdoorsy stuff very stylishly, but those ones tend to be the ones with model-like proportions so have certain natural advantages! I have always felt that practical (technical fabrics, supportive shoes etc) shouldn't exclude style, or mean that everyone is relegated to trousers all the time.

What sort of activities do you spend your time doing, and what sort of terrain are you on? Do you walk, cycle, drive? Maybe you could plan your wardrobe out into different sections depending on your lifestyle a bit more? E.g. "I spend half an hour doing the school run on foot in terrible weather, walking along paths that can get quite muddy" might mean you'd be absolutely fine in a dress as long as you have the right coat and boots. I spend a lot of time and money researching these. My current challenge is now that hemlines have dropped, I'm struggling to find appropriate length coats, and boots that don't look rubbish with midis. I have had it fairly well sorted for knee or above-knee length in past years - thicker skirt fabrics like wool and corduroy, thick wool tights, merino base layers, country boots, and expensive waterproofs. Wear your tea dresses! Just invest in the right fabrics to go on top and underneath them.

Thanks! We possibly all have a different view of what constitutes semi-rural. One example I would suggest is Kendal, a thriving town in a sea of rurality, white some distance from a city, etc. This might also include small towns or villages on the outer edges of a city, which there are a lot of in the north. I wouldn't describe Hebden Bridge in Yorks as semi rural, but it has almost immediate access to quite an expanse of open vastness. It all possibly has a lot to do with how we perceive it. Parbold near Wigan is considered quite rural to those who live there, although it takes merely minutes to get into a city.

I think weather has far more influence than location a lot of the time. When I have lived further north, the sudden temp drop is enough to alter my comfort, especially if combined with rain and damp.

I have the same dilemma with coats and skirts, although I do have a long, dark green country raincoat that fits slightly a-line, and have noticed it looks really good with longer skirts and boots. I think you have to experiment a bit!

@LaPampa

I live rurally near the sea and there’s a huge mix round us. A lot of creative types do wear skirts. I wear a denim mini in the summer and dresses to the beach etc. Winter I do wear dresses when it’s not raining now I have sussed out footwear a bit better.

Other school mums live in jodhpurs, jogging bottoms etc. I guess it depends on their pastimes and jobs, a lot of farmers, horsey people etc.

I think the sweet spot is to have something appropriate for the occasion. I can't see why people have to be all or nothing, but I do suspect sometimes people copy a local vibe and stick with it rigidly for fear of standing out. In all of my years living rurally I have never observed everyone dressing the same constantly. Trends do come and go, whatever our location, I think.

Im happy to wear either a skirt or thick leggings/north face when the weather decides for me.

Rural Scotland on a farm.
I live in walking leggings and fleeces, jeans and fleeces, pj's and fleeces, Dubarry boots and a Dublin coat.
I have a wardrobe of lovely dresses, skirts and heels left over from my London days. I like to stroke them occasionally 🤣

@FlamingGoat

Rural Scotland on a farm. I live in walking leggings and fleeces, jeans and fleeces, pj's and fleeces, Dubarry boots and a Dublin coat. I have a wardrobe of lovely dresses, skirts and heels left over from my London days. I like to stroke them occasionally 🤣

this made me think, whilst I like fleece stuff, it doesn't suit me, makes me look odd. It always has a massive amount of room for the boobs I don't have and is too tight at the hip. I look like a piece of walking cardboard in technical gear, too. Im not interested in being stylish, but I'm not terribly comfy in some stuff. my dubarry boots really feel too heavy and stiff and ive been in them for 4 yrs. I also feel colder in a wax jacket for some reason.

still, if I lived where you are, I would have to say I'd agree.

I wear dresses pretty often, skirts not so much. `I'm not 'dressed up', I just like dresses for comfort.

Currently wearing jeans though, so basically no rules here!

Jean or leggings with wellies generally because in all honesty I'm either on my way out for a dog walk or on my way back . If I'm going anywhere I like to wear a dress, but don't tend to bother day to day.

The last time I wore a dress was on my wedding day and that was a basic summer dress from the high street. I absolutely hate dressing up.

Probably best to ignore me as I couldn’t give a stuff about fashion for myself but I do appreciate other women who seem to find dressing up quite effortless.

There’s a mum on the school run who wears short skirts and skimpy dresses and always has a bit of make-up on and she does look very pretty (bit like Amanda in Motherland), but I always think she looks like she’s freezing in the winter months when I’m wearing a chunky padded jacket. She obviously likes to make an effort so good on her, but I’d rather have an extra 20mins in bed, cos I’m a bit lazy.

I wonder why we associate the word dress with 'fashion' or dressing up.

many dresses are thick, practical and just an alternative to trousers.
As someone who always feels uncomfortable in trousers and jeans, I wish I could find more quality dresses for winter that don't look like something from a style mag.

Toast are ok but drown me.

I’m known for wearing very short skirts/dresses. On my wedding day I got a big cheer from guests when I swapped my traditional long dress for an extremely short dress after the church service.

However, that is summer only. In winter it’s more likely to be jeans or skinnies, a sweater and boots. A fitted waterproof jacket if it’s wet.

if that's you, you look great - would suit anything! I am slim but always been conscious of my little curved thighs (so bloody sad but true).

which reminds me, I did like skinny jeans, they suited me, but could aggravate my gut issues.

and of course, according to MN theyre dated now

Mix of jeans and dresses all year round for me! Usually shirt dresses with trainers in the summer and more pinafore type things in winter to go over jumpers. Nice tops with the jeans - cotton or broderie anglaise in summer, silk shirts and lovely jumpers in winter. Other than wellies and walking boots I've not got much proper country stuff really. I layer up with lots of merino and Uniqlo heat tech in the winter.

Normally I wear skirts and dresses in summer, but this summer we have a wicked puppy who tries to swing off the hem, so I haven’t done so as much. In the winter it’s jeans, jeans, jeans, leggings, jeans, jeans, jeans… and a big woolly jumper

I do have a big farmers wax jacket (can’t afford a proper Barbour!) compete with patches where I’ve mended it and I think I look ok for dog walking in it with a nice scarf, skinny jeans and my wellies. I mean, you know, not exactly catwalk ready, but country acceptable. I am 5’10 though. If it’s just dry and cold I have a fitted down jacket.

But yes, practicality tends to win out for me.

I live semi rurally and tend to wear leggings with hoodies/ fleece jumpers and trainers
I work from home now and only wear dresses or skirts if I have a meeting in London or when I attend weddings

Honestly I live rurally but unless I'm walking the dog I wear similar cloths to everyone

Ie gym kit to run in, shorts over trousers as it's easier to wash legs, jeggins or dresses with tights and flat boots

Baggy jeans are a no no as they just don't dry

yeh, I really can't get along with baggy jeans, the waist bands are still restrictive even if the legs are wider. They are punishing in rain, even if urban.

@ConfusedParticle ah OK, so yes you're probably less rural than I was assuming. Do you know what stops you wearing the kind of clothes/dresses you want to? Is that you feel conspicuous if everyone around you has a bit of a "semi-rural uniform", or that you struggle with matching the clothes to the practicalities of the weather/terrain, or just that you struggle to find the kind of clothes you like?

I live in the middle of nowhere, and wear jodhpurs and a polo shirt (and gilet) a lot of the time, or if I'm not scuffing about the farm with the horses then I wear shorts and a top or jeans and a jumper depending on the temperature. We are near the beach so it's shorts, top and flip flops a lot of the time. I would love to be a dress sort of person but I am not (other than smart occasions).

I'm semi rural and I usually wear jeans or chinos in the summer and thicker fleece tights with corduroy , tweed or denim shorts in the winter. Jumpers all year round gilet or raincoat depending on the weather. Footwear depends on what I'm doing. Walking boots if stomping through fields. Docs mooching about town in the rain, trainers if it's dry.