Help me with mum clothes...

[User1706]

I'm completely lost, my little boy is 2 and loves a farm, long muddy walk or day at the beach. Winter is going to be here shortly, and I don't want a repeat of last year wearing Converse/cropped trousers/breastfeeding plain boring tops. I need some more practical bits to suit my new life as the bars/ restaurant times are quickly fading with outdoor activities being a necessity for him. I would appreciate some help with:

• Wellies (for ref. I have big wide feet and chunky calves!)
• Rucksack (needs to fit all the usual toddler snacks/ fresh clothes)
• Comfy/not too hideous/no vpl underwear (bonus points for this! I'm very pear shaped and am sick to death of underwear in my dress size riding up and subsequently sizing up and then finding it doesn't fit anywhere else.)

I bought waterproof snow boots in the next sale a couple of years ago and wear those a lot when I'm in the park. Warm and waterproof

Wellies - Dunlop is fine if you just want to keep your feet dry and not get regular shoes wet and muddy. If you want ones that are more jolly, try Joules and similar brands. Hunter wellies have a bad reputation on quality.

Rucksack. If you just want a workhorse, look at Jansport or Eastpak.

I think some good quality black wellies go with pretty much anything. Mine are Dunlop. I have some tan Ugg hiking style boots too that look stylish in winter. I have an eastpack backpack and a Kipling one. The eastpak is better.

Snag tights to very good underwear, the bras are really pricey but the knickers reasonable. Very comfy and stays where it should. Definitely no VPL. Don’t let the website put you off. It looks like it’s all plus size and fetish but it isn’t.

I seem to have morphed into a mum uniform of leggings from Amazon and black T-shirts from M&S. The pockets in the leggings are very handy and the black hides a multitude of toddler & baby stains. If I'm being very fancy, I'll stick on a pair of jeans.
We're still using our nappy bag backpack although that will likely change when they get a bit older.
Wellies - bog standard Dunlops are grand or if you fancy a bit of colour / pattern, wellies seem to be in the shops at the moment. I had a nice wide calf pair from Asda that lasted for ages. Splashed out on a pair of dubarry boots during a lockdown and I love them too but they're very spendy.

Would love to shake up my own mum style though, most days I feel like it's just functionality and being covered up

Sloggie knickers. All types are available but bigger ones stay put. Fantasie bras. Never buy any other make. First class for fit.

Aigle wellies have gussets for bigger calves. Really comfortable footbed too. I tend to buy shorter ones. I think Barbour do too but Aigle are wonderful. I have wide feet too and you need decent wellies to be comfortable.

I also like waterproof breathable walking shoes. Merrill have some decent ones I find comfortable. Any outdoor clothing shop should give you a choice. Plus they will have rucksacks too so you can try them on. Osprey are good. Decide how much you really can lug around and also make sure it’s comfortable for your back.

Decathlon and Mountain Warehouse are pretty good for outdoorsy clothes.
I wear a fleece under a fairly light waterproof coat.
My Eastpak is a padded Pack'r, which is farly basic, but isn't hideous, holds a lot, and isn't uncomfortable. You can use your own pouches to keep separate.

For practical everyday clothes, M&S is great for decent quality leggings/pull-on jersey trousers. There's a current thread on pull-on trousers.

My mum swears by Sloggi knickers. My knickers are from a supermarket multipack and they're not great. Primark ones don't last.

Cotswold Outdoor and Gaynor Sports are also worth looking at.

Cotswold Outdoors is great. The staff are helpful.
I suggested MW and Decathlon as they are good if you don't want to spend much.
Definitely check out Gaynor Sports or a similar retailer near you.

Thank you all, I've been tempted by Hunters for a while, but the only comment is to the poor quality. Shall I go on the assumption they're not the stylish/practical choice which they appear - or did my chunky calves put everyone off suggesting them 😅

They are fashion wellies these days. You'd be better off spending about £15 on a pair of Dunlop ones, or going for Aigle or Le Chameau ones.

not Sure how much you want to spend but my leather dubarry wellies are 12 years old, wide calf and so much warmer than wellies!

I can recommend the Fitflop short wellies. I've got wide feet & these are the
most comfy i've tried.

Hunter are in administration. Why not buy something else? Tradionally they were narrow legs. So look for other brands op.

I have grubs frostline wellies and they are fabulous - thick of calf here

For a bag i'd go for roka- or a roll top- herschal or north face/osprey/ patagonia. I have a fjallrsven kanken and don't rate it its small and uncomfortable and am eyeing these up!

Ms lace top full briefs are the only one for me.

Ive also decided this year that plain, no pattern in a small colour pallette of black/camel/ grey and burgundy work best for me. (And denim) so jeans, long sleeved t shirts, jumper, gilet, short chunky cardy