Dog walking style help please

[OpheliaPlum]

Women of the style and beauty board, I need you. I’m tired of looking like a mismatched frump when I take my dog for a walk in the mud months (October to March where I live). In the summer I wear ordinary day clothes and walking sandals which I change in the car to town shoes when we’re out of the woods. But in the mid months I’m wearing a bad melange of things that are warm but ugly, mismatched and rescued from the charity shop bag. Please save me from this. I’m a size 12, hourglass shape, love jewel colours.

Quite honestly there’s little point in even attempting to dress stylishly for dog walking, what’s the point? You’re going to get wet/muddy/jumped up at/pockets full of old treats, poo bags etc.
You need practical, washable, warm, weatherproof and comfortable-fleeces, waterproofs, wellies, gloves, hat etc not fashion gear I would have thought?
Nothing wrong with bright coloured versions of these, there are many to choose from.

My problem is that I’m often going from a dog walk to something I would like to look presentable for. In summer I can change shoes easily. In muddier times I struggle, which is why I’ve posted here.

I can understand wanting to wear something nice when dog walking! I just wear whether appropriate versions of my usual wardrobe. I think the problem might be you've rescued items from the charity bag, so you won't feel particularly good in what you're wearing. I have water proof coats i really love; one for deep winter cold and one for either side. And i have nice water proof boots. I find that what i wear under this then can be my own ordinary clothing as only about 6 to 10 inches of me (lower legs) is open to the elements.

Thank you. What type of boots do you wear? I’m going to look at coats too.

If you need to wear clean clothes straight away afterwards wear your usual clothes and buy good waterproofs including waterproof trousers. You can strip all the waterproofs off and step out clean and tidy.

My favourite boots are muck boots but they are pricey (I found a worn-once pair on eBay - best purchase ever).

I wear a top, leggings, wellies that look like Chelsea boots and a waterproof Barbour coat (I have a thin one and a thick one depending on the weather) sometimes I wear a long shacket if it's chilly but not raining. It looks smarter than the Barbour.

Treats go in a silicone treat pouch thing that clips to my waistband and I have my poo bags attached to my lead.

I wear blundstones mostly, but live in the city. I do have a pair of walking boots for when it's very muddy. Rains raincoat for autumn and a duvet coat for winter. Woolly hat.

I don't bother trying to look stylish really.

Tuck your pjs into tall wellies
Bra and knickers optional
Long waterproof coat

Lipstick

Why drive your dog to walk it?

I was just thinking about this yesterday as I took our puppy out in the pouring rain. I have some lovely winter coats including a max Mara duvet coat I usually wear out for walks but I don't fancy muddy paws all over it when puppy gets tired and wants to be carried!

I'm not really a 'practical coat' type of person, anything from an outdoors shop is not on my radar! I was thinking maybe a Uniqlo down coat that can be washed. Nice cashmere scarf and hat as usual. I have a few pairs of flat knee high boots I haven't worn in a few years I'll root out. That should be a reasonably stylish outfit! FWIW I think everything in the same colour looks more stylish than a mix of colours. I usually go for all navy or all charcoal as black is too harsh with my colouring.

I drive my dog because we all leave the house at 6.45am, I drop my DP and DC at the station/ various schools and then go to work. I work in a creative industry in a shared workspace that I can take the dog to and walk the dog in woodland close to the workplace or the DC school. I also meet work clients on some days and so like to look professional.

Lots of great ideas here, thank you. Will borrow the all one colour look.

I want to look better when walking the dog, but thankfully I don't have to work or meet clients straight after. I still like looking decent though
I've so far bouffant a pair of tall Hunter wellies. I have no idea wha to wear on my legs. But I live a much more casual urban life than you op, and luckily my large gsd doesn't expect to be carried and refuses to go through puddles, he doesn't even like to roll in fox poo. He really is my dream child 😂

Thanks for all the good tips and ideas on here. I’m googling all the suggested coats and boots.

@yasminisa you really do have a clean dog. Mine is a cocker spaniel. I think a skirt and hunter wellies with a jacket could work if not raining and am looking at waterproof trousers online at Mountain Warehouse too.

I live in a city and have a dog that doesn’t like the rain 😂But I would suggest a long duvet coat for the winter, with a pair of tall wellies. You can then wear slim trousers/jeans with a nice jumper/shirt/top, or a skirt/dress. Your nice clothes would be covered by the coat so you’d just have to swap the wellies and you’d be ready to go. When it’s not really cold, get a long raincoat (like from Rains or Stutterheim) that does the same job.

I have a few pairs of Açai waterproof trousers in different fabrics, one set are fleece lined and one are essentially waterproof jeans. I wear Dubarry boots when going through woods or fields, and Chelsea boots if not. I have a couple of different waterproof coats including a Barbour rain coat which is great as it’s lightweight and breathable. I also have a few waterproof hats as I hate having a hood up.

A big dog walking coat, preferably reasonably long.

A skirt thick tights.

Extra socks and wellies.

Tidy coat and boots to change into.

Basically the coat keeps your clothes clean.
The wellies keep your lower legs clean.
You could have spare tights in the car for emergencies.

Trousers don't really work, imo, because the mud gets on them. Skirts work much better.

Otherwise as above but risk slim fitting trousers if you can get really generous wellies.

Thank you for all these great suggestions. I’m feeling very inspired.

@TheFlis12345 where do you get waterproof hats? That sounds very stylish. I also hate hoods.

@picklemewalnuts the skirt idea and long coat appeals very much. Lots of people have suggested long coats, which I’m looking into. I’ve always been a jackets or smart coat (not for dog walking, for other stuff) sort of person so am investigating longer coats.

I'd go for a big waterproof- you can put a jumper under. I've got a storm jacket type.

It's a bronze kind of colour, mid thigh.

@OpheliaPlum The hats are SO useful! They let you hear much better than a hood and don’t block peripheral vision. I have them from a few different places, Hoggs of Fife always has nice ones. I have a waxed baker boy style cap, a waterproof felt fedora, a sort of fedora shape that is also waxed material, and even a waterproof beanie! If you look up country attire stores there are usually a good range.

This is really useful. It packs into a bag.

I'm less keen on this colour scheme than the one I have. It's really useful!

Joe Browns.

Thank you @TheFlis12345 I’m loving the country attire websites. Had no idea that these existed and the hats are gorgeous.

I love this, thank you.

Sorry @picklemewalnuts that was for you. Love the coat. I am all over it.