Stylish outdoorsy look - does it exist?!

[OneDayIWillLearn]

Help! I’m having a real confidence dip at the moment - I’m early 40s and feel I look frumpy and middle aged all the time.

Part of the issue is that I work in an outdoorsy job. I’ve done this for ages but I used to live in a city so I’d wear more ‘me’ clothes like pinafore dresses, knee length skirts and woolly tights, colourful converse etc most of the time and just wear old jeans and hoodies/ waterproofs when working - fine.

Recently though my role changed and we moved to a very rural location where you walk out of the door onto muddy paths. I need to be warmly and practically dressed and often in rain/ wind etc but as a result I am wearing stuff all the time that makes me feel dreadful!! basically always old jeggings/ skinny jeans, hoodies and an old Boden puffer (for ‘smart’ - though it really isn’t) or gortex for work.

I know the classic ‘country’ look of gillets and checked shirts or waxed jackets is popular because it’s practical but it’s just not me. I don’t want to look horsey or like a Countryfile presenter. But my current outfits make me feel like a scarecrow and I don’t always feel I look like as professional as I should (it’s not like anyone says anything as it is a practical job but I do not look smart in any sense of the word).

added to that I’m a curvy 5ft 7, size 14 with 34F boobs, and while in the right clothes I feel great (I am quite fit and athletic) in the wrong stuff I can look buxom and chunky and it gets me down.

Any ideas for outdoorsy looks that are practical and stylish but not dowdy and middle aged??? Individual pieces or overall looks??

Melissa Murrell is good for this, in fact I think she did a YouTube video of styling a woman who was a gardener. She also lives an outdoorsy country life in her spare time so always has options for how to dress practically but colour coordinated.

Thank you, I will look her up!

I’m not a gardener but the gardener vibe would be more up my street as a starting point :-)

Holland and COOPER have been showcasing some lovely outfits at Cheltenham this week

I have a friend who looks stylish when we are out walking whereas I look like stig of the dump. She tends to wear more fitted stuff, in a colour that suits her, and her boots are always clean and she'll wear a scarf and hat and gloves that are toning colours. And she'll have a fur trim on her hood. Her trousers are walking trousers but they fit well.

I love clothes and hike a lot so am often wearing hiking clothes around the house. I like fitted things so no flappy walking trousers or big boots. I wear Montane Ineo leggings with Rab or NF fleeces-they tend to be more flattering. I like the Montane Dart t shirts as they suit my body shape- 10 hourglass. They do ones with a quarter zip and stand up collar-the material is warm and soft. My friend likes Acai trousers-again-close fitting. I know down jackets aren’t to everyone’s taste but ai like them-I go for more shaped styles. I have a Barbour but don’t find it comfortable for proper outdoor stuff-more to wear over jeans if I pop out. It depends what style you like-HandC is good for that stylish if a bit blingy country look, I just prefer to wear technical clothes outdoors as I find them a lot more comfortable. But I don’t want to look as if I knot my own sandals either. Finisterre do nice outdoor stuff if you want a more mountaineer/surfer vibe.

I like buying from here for outdoorsy but not full on technical gear
https://finisterre.com/collections/womens

Sale on now
https://finisterre.com/collections/sale-womens

Oh, and Fairfax and Favour

I wouldn't want to get Fairfax and Favor near actual mud.

Acai thermal trousers are great, a nice fit and look smart whilst being warm.

I buy a lot of clothing and accessories from Holland Cooper. They are reasonably priced, good fit and a nice quality.

www.hollandcooper.com

Here's my opinion and I dare say it might not necessarily be a popular one. You need to a) spend a good amount of money and b) be skinny to look good in outdoorsy clothes. Throw a good wodge of money at footwear. Le Chameau wellies, Ariat boots, Holland n Cooper to start with.

This made me laugh! Yes Stig of the Dump rings true. I think you’re right I need to think more about colour and fit 🤔

Açai trousers/jeans nice and last very well (I’ve a few pre covid
Pairs still going). Not cheap but quality and generally flattering.

https://acaioutdoorwear.com/

if you’re interested drop me a pm and I can refer so we both get some money off.

No the ‘knot your own sandals’ look is another one I’m trying to avoid! Thanks that is helpful, I will look some of these up. I’ve tended to write off technical clothes like trousers and fleeces but I think you might be right, if I found some that were better fitting and colours etc that would be a lot more flattering!

Try going to somewhere like Cotswold Outdoor or similar and just try on different brands to get an idea of what you like. At 5'7" you shouldn't have the trousers down to your toes isuue that a short arse like me often has.

I too was going to suggest Holland Cooper. (There’s no ‘and’ it’s a brand founded by Jade Holland Cooper)

I agree it’s easier to look good in such clothes if you are skinny (and especially if you don’t have big boobs), though that goes for most styles of clothing but maybe to a lesser degree (I say this as someone who is size 20 with big boobs). I still think it’s possible but only with good quality expensive clothes unfortunately! And yes think about colours and fit.

I was also going to suggest buying clothing that suits your colour and shape. Fleeces that are too large just look wrong. Buy more fitted stuff.

I line Jack Wolfskin clothing. Not the cheapest but fortunately we have an outlet store near us. It’s well made and durable.

Rydale also has some nice stuff.

https://www.rydale.com

If you’re outside, buy the best walking shoes, boots, wellies and coats you can afford. You won’t regret it.

I think the basics are a good waterproof jacket either a hiking brand or something like Ilse Jacobsen or Didrikson. Jumpers or hoodies, Community Clothing jumpers are awesome and warm. Interesting accessories that tone in. Trousers in a cut that suits you e.g. Acai. Lots of outdoor brands have upped their offerings for women's trousers in the last few years and have slimmer cuts with stretch and decent pockets.
And some good boots or trainers that can be cleaned, maybe not literal mountaineering boots but at least some waterproof ones.

Basically I've described Tosh from Shetland haven't I?

Fairfax and Favor and Holland Cooper both fit the brief. Neither are cheap but both are good quality and stylish as well as practical.

The Tosh from Shetland comment was very helpful, I haven’t watched the show but just looked it up and that is a look I really like (plus her shape is quite similar to mine!!)

how do community clothing sizes come up?

Community clothing give exact garment measurements on the website so your sorted there.

Another vote for açai

I first got a pair of thermal skinnies for walking in the hills and find myself reaching for them for everything, from weekend hill walking to the office

Pairs with their wind proof jacket I'm all set.

Plenty at Cheltenham did this week, it was lovely yesterday

Yes she looked fabulous yesterday that black and white outfit was stunning