WEARING WELL
Stories of the clothes we love COVERALLS
“Practical and roomy, boy do I feel good in them!”
“Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my example, and take a turn about the room.” I often think about that scene in Pride And Prejudice when Caroline Bingley persuades Lizzie to walk with her in order to show her figure to the best advantage. Perhaps it’s because I’ve started to delight in wearing clothes that don’t ‘flatter’ my figure. Truth is, most mornings I reach for a baggy denim boiler suit, which doesn’t accentuate my body in any way that Darcy could find appealing – but boy, do I feel good in them!
Practical, hard-wearing and roomy, boiler suits first made their appearance during the Industrial Revolution, before being adopted by female munitions workers in WW2. Today’s coveralls still maintain their functionality with zip or snap fastenings, cinched waists and numerous ‘tool’ pockets. A garment invented to wipe oily hands on – and the go-to for mechanics and decorators – they’ve become my WFH uniform.
Partly, I think it’s because they ease daily decision fatigue; what’s not to love about an outfit that’s comfy enough to work and lounge in, yet smart enough to wear to the pub? But I also love that they’re season-less – I can wear with sandals in summer, or pop over leggings and a cosy sweater in winter.
As they’re ready-made outfits I feel like that gives grounds to spend a little more. Even in the sale, my most-loved coveralls – a navy pair from French brand Soeur – took some justifying.
But consider cost per wear: I wore them with high tops for lunch dates, with a belt and ankle boots to weddings. I took them travelling, too; throwing them on at the end of the day made me feel instantly put together.
While the likes of Carrier Company lean into their workwear origins with boiler suits in hard-wearing cotton drill, others, like Lucy & Yak, adopt a more playful approach. Lately, I’ve been eyeing up a little number by Beyond Nine. They look so comfortable and stylish in a ‘check me out, Darcy!’ brick red. I guess that’s the thing about coveralls – I know that I’ll feel confident in them. But while Caroline Bingley most definitely wouldn’t approve, you can count on the compliments you’ll receive from other women as you take a turn about the local supermarket.