Is my new rain gear suitable around town? What do you wear in the rain?

[ThatTallGirl]

I recently moved out to the country in the hills of northern England. It is quite rainy here even by uk standards, so I purchased a long raincoat and tall wellies to keep me fully dry specially for those tipping it down dog walks.

Would this outfit be suitable for a rainy day in town as well, or do I need to invest in another set of waterproofs? What do you wear in the rain?

I’m loving this thread and the “town clothes” discussion, it feels very Edwardian!

Also I’m also v tall, hate being wet and like to be slightly smarter going into town. my go-to formula

Outer- : Town and country I do have (sorry!) inherited Barbour which is waterproof and warm not a long muddy one), that’s my go to, or a long wool coat (not a bulky one).

Footwear - last year I opted for Blundstone boots which I think are stylish AND waterproof and warm ( fleece insides). If they’re not muddy, they look smart enough for town but sturdy enough for country walk/hike.

No umbrella, I wear a fedora/felt hat - gamechanger, as they’re waterproof.

Same 🤷‍♀️ minus the fluids though 😅

This. I never understood the point of wearing a short raincoat. I need full length down to below tops of my wellies, or else my legs will be soaked!!!

Of course you could wear waterproof trousers, but they're ugly and don't fit me at my height and slim build.

Absolutely hate umbrellas too! Like having my hands free, so I wear a waterproof rain hat when it's coming down in stair rods. My coat has a hood but that's only suitable for light showers.

Is your warm, waterproof Barbour long? Also Blundstones just won't work for me -- they're not tall enough to protect legs and keep out the deep water and mud. Love my tall wellies tbh!

OP, most people would wear wellies for mucking around with horses, doing other stuff outdoors or “going for a walk” but not for just nipping out in the rain to the shops or the pub. It rains so much we just get on with it in normal clothes. Having said that, I would avoid long, wide trousers or maxi dresses, and pale coloured or suede shoes. Rain is about 75% of the reason British women are so attached to skinny jeans- they’re just more practical.

"Of course you could wear waterproof trousers, but they're ugly"

But you take them off when you get to your destination.

I live in a city and this is what I wear if I'm going to work in very heavy rain.
Normal rain and it's my parka with tights and ankle boots. I'm hoping to buy longer boots, but tights dry quite quickly compared to denim, for example.

I own one of those water poncho things, but haven't tried it out yet, having just stayed in last week when the weather was awful.

I'd just swap the wellies for leather boots. No mud in town!

I agree, was trying to work out what it reminded me of.

I have always picked the most expensive or second most expensive item of clothing without seeing the price, it's just something I always did, but I don't see the need for the huge lettering on the back which would put me off instantly.

I like the one you have OP, and would buy it, I would wear it anywhere but without the wellies for town.

I am unfortunately stuck with a horrible Seasalt waterproof, polyester sweat bag with a hood that falls over my face and blocks all views because I needed something in a hurry, I try not to go out in the rain so I don't have to wear it and would like the navy coat instead.

Same here 😂
Must say you don’t sound very rural if you can walk 2km into town. I’m in the North West too, high up & remote on the moors, a trip by car to any small town supermarket is a full half a day of a job.

^^ I'm still on the skinny jeans trend and think those new wide/flared jeans are quite ugly not to mention impractical!

I'll still be soaked without wellies, I rely on them to keep dry up to almost my knees, mine are very tall. Perhaps I could invest in a pair of wellies that I will keep clean for town and do the typical dog/horse things in my current pair.

I don't understand how according to a poster it's completely unsuitable for a Northern town/ you'd stick out like sore thumb.

Especially as another poster said it does look like the sort of waterproof you'd wear selling fish at a harbour. Or a stall at a farmers' market or manning a stall on a a wet day at an agricultural show or on sale at a stall at an agricultural show. All of which you find oop north and even ooper north.

The coat is great. I rarely see wellies in town though. Could you get some waterproof leather knee high boots?

This thread is nuts. You can get oat milk flat whites in Burnley, they are not going to put you on a ducking stool for wearing a Stutterheim.

That was me, I live in rural NE so "ooper North" and trust me no- one walks around in a pink fisherman waterproof coat! Literally no-one would wear anything like that at farmers marlet/agri show etc.

Something like these https://www.geox.com/en-GB/high_boots-black-felicity_abx_woman-D16BLC00043C9999.html

I'm considerably farther north and there's nothing particularly exceptional about the Sutterheim coat.

I guess it’s a ‘countryside set’ thing, fitting in in the right sort of welly at the stables. God forbid you look like someone who’s ever set foot in Newcastle John Lewis. Besides, it’s not like there are any guys walking round in £400 Stone Island waterproof coats in “the north”!

No comment really on the coat as I haven't a clue though as a gut reaction I would say that is for dog walking rather than town. However, I totally get there are social rules around this.

Horse gear on I would only go to local garage / feed store. I did once drop off some papers to a colleague during the pandemic who lives very near me and I was short of time and got a mixture of horrified and oh that is what you wear to do horses in!

Cycling gear on I would go at most to an outdoor cafe. I never have though as it is an A to B journey for me.

Just after swimming with still wet hair would go to local supermarket if I have forgotten something.

I would not go straight from a long walk into town without changing out of walking boots and extra waft of deodorant. Short walk is completely different.

Food shopping would have normal clean clothes on, which are more than relaxed at home clothes.

Hair cut, clothes shopping or similarly involved shopping or meeting friends I would make more effort.

@TippiHedrin actually I agree with this. Definitely a countryside/rural thing. Not much point in wearing something from John Lewis Newcastle if it is going to get mud or dog paws on it after 10 mins. Horses for courses

This. I’m actually chuckling to myself at the thought of different coats for “town” and “country” 😂.

Hi all,
I found out I’m pregnant last weekend. My husband and I have been trying for a few months. We are so happy and excited! It’s still very early, I’m only four weeks pregnant. I’ve not had any symptoms so it still feels pretty surreal !! I’ve been doing daily pregnancy tests just for reassurance and so I finally believe that I am pregnant !! I think it’s quite unusual to not have any symptoms at this stage. Did anyone else have no symptoms ?? Or develop symptoms later ??
Any advice / reassurance welcome!! Thanks!!

Some of these posts are making me cringe 😂 ooh get you, you're so much better than the rest of us... What I don't understand is how you can walk the dog in full PVC, I'd be sweating in about 5 minutes (and I live further north than the ones showing off about how far north they are, so it is chilly).

OP I understand a bit of a culture shock if you've never lived anywhere wet. As PP said, it's quite rainy in the UK so we just get on with it, and drive places or wait till the rain dies down if it's really wet. I wear an outdoor padded jacket usually (just a bog standard one from Mountain Warehouse etc, not a 'battered Barbour' 😂) so it's breathable but keeps me warm. I'll wear the same jacket to walk the dog, pop to Asda, into work, but I have different coats for out out (dinner, meeting a friend for coffee etc). It's not a point of pride to wear smelly dirty clothes in public.

Regarding legs, I just get wet, and then either dry off or change when I get home.

@rose1997 You need to start your own thread

What’s funny? I have a manky, muddy, warm coat that’s stuffed with dog paraphernalia for when I’m walking the dog by the river or up in the hills (I live in Scotland so it’s cold here - the oop north here is south to us). If I’m going into town I change out of it and put on a different coat and - prepare to hold onto your pelvic floor - I even have a different coat for work.

@SirChenjins like you I have several coats. We live in the suburbs but go hiking in the wilds (various places north and south😁), walk a lot. Out every day, rain or shine.

I too am fond of a padded coat. It's my warmest and doesn't usually require a scarf. I have got smarter wool coats and an array of hats, scarves and gloves of varying thicknesses too. My padded coat is a brand I don't know which I bought discounted from M&M direct, full length. During the leather look leggings / jeans recentish fashion trend I discovered their waterproof qualities...so they are a favourite in very wet weather. Tights underneath if it is cold. I carry a lightweight foldable umbrella and find that makes an incredible difference too. On my feet? Usually leather derbys or brogues in the rain (with the pleathers) or my lightweight walking boots if really inclement or snowy.

I suppose everyone is different but as another person located very oop north and who grew up in rural even further oop north on a farm I find the idea that some one is so time short that during lambing time they can't even find 2 seconds to take off your sheep body fluid spattered coveralls.

Maybe it's all different now but farmers attending the mart didn't turn up there wearing the messy on the farm gear.