A townie's guide to dressing for the country
Getting dressed (without the fuss)
Meet The Telegraph's Timeless Style columnist, Anna Harvey: the Ex-Vogue deputy editor, consultant to Princess Diana and author of Timeless Style: dressing well for the rest of your life (￡12.89, Double-Barrelled Books).
The indulgences of Christmas and New Year are now behind us and good long walks are a necessary pastime as I try to get fit again. I can of course take these in London, through the parks, but armed with magazines such as Country Life and The Field and a good sofa, I delight in dreaming about tramping around open fields, beneath wide winter skies.
I have put together a selection of items to bring the country closer to me and prepare me for these excursions. As a townie, I am not really properly geared up for long periods in the country but I can just about pass for a weekend or so - as long as my Wellington boots haven’t been left in the boot of someone else’s car, a situation that is unfortunately all too familiar.
Bronzed waxed coat, ￡249, Drizabone Clothing; Wellingtons bag, from ￡76, The English Room; Tall Wellington boots, ￡95, Hunterboots
I did once receive a gift of monogrammed carrying bags from The English Room, one for each boot, which sounds rather precious but helps to overcome the likelihood of leaving them behind wherever I go - and means people have a better chance of working out to whom they belong if I do forget them. They also help to keep the car boot free of mud.
Country style: Tips to take from the countrysides best-dressed
I also own an excellent country jacket bought many years back at Purdy. Holland and Holland also does a great and very stylish range of country wear now, put together by supermodel Stella Tennant and my one-time Vogue assistant Isabella Cawdor. They have good skirts, for those who prefer them to trousers, in addition to well-cut jackets and plus-twos.
My trusty old Barbour has been re-waxed several times (both by Barbour, who also repaired a tear, and at home using the Thornproof Dressing and following the instructional video on Barbour.com) and is still a great country stalwart. But there are many brands now offering practical outerwear. The warming technology is very sophisticated nowadays so a new jacket is worth considering. Drizabone makes a reasonably priced full-length waxed coat which in really wet weather would be a marvellous all-enveloping garment. Be warned that good jackets and coats can be quite costly, though well cared for they can last a lifetime so are a worthwhile investment.
Heattech stretch T-shirt, ￡12.90, Uniqlo; Drop hem pleated skirt, ￡890, Holland and Holland
Hunter boots, that great favourite, is now up against stiff competition and I love the way it has stepped up to the challenge. Apart from the ubiquitous green boots, you can now find the same style in a rainbow of colours and there is also a great range for children. For those who find any country attire un-cool, there is even a very on-trend pair of silver boots.
And the final touch? A faithful companion, of course. I’ll be starting my search at rescuedogs.org.uk.