Country footwear for singing in the rain, mud or snow
Last weekend I spent a much-needed break with my girlfriends at Watergate Bay, Newquay. When we ventured out for the first of the beach walks, it was the footwear that instantly reflected the types of packers we were. We travelled from Arsenal, Wandsworth, Warwickshire and Berkshire to be with our brave friend who was in need of some moral support and a large gin & tonic. Between us, we packed two pairs of fur-lined Sorel snow boots, one pair of what can only be described as Yeti boots, one pair of bedraggled Asics running trainers and one pair of unblemished Nike Air Max. Not a wellington boot in sight. Practically speaking, this was a huge fashion fail. Watergate’s high tides and endless rock pools required more than good old Nike could provide in the waterproof stakes. The coastal path then demanded more underfoot grip than the Yetis allowed for, leaving only those with sturdy Sorel boots looking smug (and feeling snug).
I tend to always veer towards a wellington boot, but then packing them can be such a hassle. In the end, you nonchalantly throw in a favourite pair of “doesn’t matter if I get them muddy” trainers (I was the Nike Air Max culprit). Within moments, you wish you’d just lugged your boots with you after all.
There’s surely a social stereotype according to what brand of wellington boots you wear. It is an Anglo-French battle through and through. My preferred brand of choice is Aigle. The neoprene lining helps my appalling circulation, affording me an unbroken morning
Chelsea belted tweed coat, £789, Farlows (Farlows.co. uk); maternity leggings, £19, Seraphine (Seraphine.com); silk shirt, Ginnie’s own, similar available at Me+Em;
of jumping in “muddy puddles” with my children, doing Peppa Pig impressions. If you are reading this at Soho Farmhouse, I’m sure you have just kicked off your (pristine) mint green Hunter wellington boots, whereas many argue that the crème de la crème is Le Chameau. Bottom of the
From London with love
Salted Caramel Florentines, £15.95, thewolseley.com trainers, £199, Penelope Chilvers (penelopechilvers. com)
Above from left: Lined walking boots, £150, Aigle (aigle.com); faux-fur lined Gore-Tex boots, £160, Aigle (aigle.com)
pecking order are the Joules or Cath Kidston fan club. Beyond the age of 10, I just don’t see how wellington boots need to be adorned with flowers, stripes or dachshunds.
Then there’s the crowd who never really have need for wellington boots at all. They lean towards a high-top, such as this camouflage style by Penelope Chilvers. You can meander from your Sunday morning hangover to brunch, to a walk up Primrose Hill and then on to the pub in one look, but in a melee of greenish tones; no one needs neon on a hangover. You might occasionally get a soft spray of mud on them when you take them further afield to The Pig or The Newt but that’s easily rectified with a Flash wipe. Finally there’s the “I’ll show you how to make Gore-Tex look Phwoar-Tex” crowd who have their roots in Aigle’s more fashion-focused line (left). At £160 this feels like a very good price to pay for a boot that will easily work for both town and country. Because that’s the thing with dressing for the country weekend – you don’t want to look like you just rolled in off the Piccadilly Line, you need your footwear choices to show you mean business. Then once the great outdoors has been tackled, you can retire to the hotel spa for a pedicure and an old pair of slippers.