Ladies,
Welcome to my stylish corner of the countryside. One thing that I have always noticed about fashion is that it is not normally discussed with the stance that things will be worn for the outdoors, cold temperatures, mud, ticks, rain or wind. How about farming, gardening, or housework? I love finding the fashion that handles real life and the nitty gritty of the outdoors while nurturing our feminine senses.
The fashion industry often declares things out of style but “out of style” is relative to what you need something to do. For being outdoors in harsh weather, walking through tall grass, mud and rocks, with the potential of running into snakes, ticks, and all manner of wildlife, no matter how “out of style” something is declared, if it is a necessary item, that makes it in style for the woman needing it.
Here is an example of an outfit that might not be “in style” but it is at the same time, made entirely of classic basics that are unavoidable if you want to be properly dressed for the weather.
You can’t get any more “basic” than leggings, tall boots and a long sweater for cold weather but basic is what you need when you are cold and working indoors or outdoors at home.
Make your basic items the best of their kind so that they look classic and beautiful.
Leggings
Make them the best leggings with a great quality fabric and proper fit.
Leggings are classic pants when made with the right fabric and worn with the right tops. Leggings are often worn very badly with see through fabrics and tiny tops that leave women looking cheaply and poorly styled.
This pair of leggings should be in every country woman’s wardrobe for the durable material, two back pockets, two side zip pockets large enough for a phone and an extra zip thigh pocket. I bought them at the high fa-lootin fashion store: Tractor Supply. This is the “Ridgecut” brand, called “Women’s Stretch Fit Natural-Rise Work Leggings.”
Boots
Make them the most comfortable meets stylish pair you can find, which means spend a lot on a good weatherproof pair of boots!
A tall boot protects you better than a short one. I often sport my Western cowgirl boots, but I also love the English style riding boot. It adds a fancy panache to your boot game. Notice the lack of high heels. Only cities have perfectly paved ground. When you live in the country the ground is uneven and boots need to be able to traverse the ground with ease. I aim for superior comfort in boots and as slim of a profile as possible, so they do not look like wide clunky menswear. Look for rounded and almond shaped toes instead of square toed boots for a more feminine look. As for quality, aim for waterproof, traction, and warmth! There is a big difference between fashion boots and real boots made for wearing in the elements and outdoors on land.
Sweaters
Collect them in the most comfortable and durable knit to prevent pilling and for them to be soft and never itchy.
One of my favorite materials for knit sweaters is 100% cotton. Sometimes I find these gems in thrift shops from the 80s and 90s that still look new because they were made with very densely woven yarn and are much better quality for it. You can still find these wardrobe basics brand new in certain brands like LL Bean or Ralph Lauren. Quality cotton is durable, does not pill easily, and it is breathable for sweating. Cotton knit never itches like wool can. If I want to wear wool for warmth, I will wear a wool blazer or wool jacket over a cotton sweater.
There are so many beautiful sweaters, why feel limited?
You can vary your basic “leggings with long sweater outfit” with different sweaters in various colors and knit patterns. Your country wardrobe can be filled with mock turtlenecks, turtlenecks, cowl necks, v-necks, crew necks, button details on shoulders, embellished necklines, cardigan style button fronts, belted sweaters, the list goes on!
There are so many different knit details and colors, your sweater wardrobe can be a beautiful collection for wearing with leggings.
With as basic as these fashion items are, make sure your wardrobe is stocked. Basics that get worn a lot need to be inspected for their current condition and perhaps you are in the market for a better pair of leggings, a few more sweaters in good condition, or perhaps your boots need to be polished.
Looking stylish sometimes has more to do with the quality of your items rather than changing over to be entirely different items. Fashion is not just about what is in style currently, but what is in style for your work and for your home.
Cheers to building a cozy and stylish wardrobe for your country life!
whateverlovely.com
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