Can we talk about outdoorsy clothes & fashion?

[Fragrancefreebabywipes]

I’m outdoorsy, spend a lot of time walking, cycling, in the garden, visiting National Trust type places with kids. Bit of time at the beach too.

A lot of days I’ll do something from the list above but also pop into our nice smart town. So I don’t want to be dressed like I’m trekking Everest!

If you’re outdoorsy, what are you go to clothes / brands?

I’m early 40s, 5”7 and size 10

For really cold weather, I team a green shooting jacket (Schoffel or Seeland) with narrow leg cords in aubergine or navy, and boots from Celtic&Co.

If it's wet I have a 'Cossack' style fake fur Barbour hat.

I don't like the cold so tend to choose accessories that will keep me warm, sheepskin gloves etc. Toastie 😊

that said, for walking /visiting national trust places, do you really need to be wearing sporty/specialist clothing? There’s a lot to be said for wearing normal weekend clothes and sticking on some good walking boots/walking trainers

Agreed, for a quick mooch / coffee at a Nat Trust on a fine day of course I’d just wear whatever I happened to be wearing, jeans etc. But we tend to go in all weathers - we were stood around the playground at our local Nat Trust in the snow not long ago.

That’s also why I started this thread. To see what outdoors-oriented folk wear when they are being a bit outdoorsy but not full on hiking mode!

When not cycling/running/hiking which is most days, and I’m out for a “mooch” in the countryside it’s black robell jeans (skinnies but stretchy) with thermals long Janes underneath, merino base layers with a chunky arran knit and a shooting jacket. Dubarry boots. As others have said, basically Claudia in the traitors is my look, I just need to add in the eyeliner…

Check out 'm m styling' on youtube. She just did a video styling a dog walker. Great inspiration for stylish outdoor wardrobes.

I'm almost 40 and also 5'7 and size 8-10 so pretty similar to you OP. If I'm not at work or the gym I live in outdoorsy type clothes. I probably err more towards technical than fashionable though. I wear a lot of Arc'teryx, Patagonia, Icebreaker and Fjallraven and I also like Rab, Tentree, Revolution Race and Passenger. I'm also 'gundoggy' if that's a word 😄 and have stuff from Schoffel, Musto, Le Chameau, Barbour and Holland Cooper.

Footwear wise, in winter I wear Dubarrys, Le Chameaus, Blundstone ankle boots or Salomon or Zamberlan hiking boots. In spring/summer I wear ON trainers, or Salomon XA Pros, or Tevas. I have a pair of Fairfax and Favour boots but don't wear them all that much.

Walking the dogs today I wore Fjallraven Abisko leggings, Salomon hiking boots with Smartwool socks, an Icebreaker long-sleeved merino top, Patagonia sweatshirt and an Arc'teryx Gamma MX softshell jacket as it was quite mild. On colder days I wear a Fjallraven parka or a down jacket (Patagonia or Mountain Equipment).

Off to Google some of those ventoncall

@AnotherCF watched that video. Makes me realise my issue is an un-coordinated wardrobe. Would be amazing to buy everything from scratch so it all works together, but guess most people can’t afford that

I’d definitely recommend having a browse on a couple of independent outdoors shops, as they have a good selection of brands including ones that you might not be familiar with. And they’ve usually selected good individual items from brands.

Two I’d recommend are Nordic Outdoor and Brokedown Palace.

FWIW if I’m out walking the dog/not doing any technical hiking, I like to wear something like Grenson Nanettes, leggings, chunky socks, big jumper and then light jacket/puffer/waterproof on top depending on the weather.

I have a great waterproof from Sweaty Betty which doesn’t look out of place in a city pub/cafe, and a Barbour from the Alexa Chung collection which again is more stylish. I also have a waterproof puffer from Canadian brand Noize. For actual hiking, I wear technical gear but for days out in all weathers (I live in Scotland!) I have some practical but stylish options.

For good boots that are practical but not hiking boots, Grenson, Lanx, Solovair, DMs, Hunter, Stutterheim, Sorel would be where I’d look. Or the retro style hiking boots which look cute IMO. Leggings and a nice jumper or jeans and a nice jumper. Jackets I’d look at Sweaty Betty, Rains, Stutterheim, Parka London, Barbour - especially the collabs which tend to be a bit more stylish/interesting.