Barbour x Alexa Chung
(Picture: Barbour)Park walks are — for a month at least — set to be the sum-total of our social lives. So what does this mean for our wardrobes? And how can we look cool without catching a chill? The key to success lies in a few choice anti-freeze investments.
Let’s start from the feet up. When it comes to boots, the thicker soled the better. Fortunate then that the standout footwear on the runways this season came chunky and lug soled. Bottega Veneta makes the ultimate pair (£810, Bottegaveneta.com) that not only come with said stacked sole but also hit mid-calf, for added shin toastiness. If £800 feels a little punchy for some November self-gifting, Russell & Bromley have excellent stompers for £255 (RussellandBromley.com) and & Other Stories do several iterations for under £200.
Bottega Veneta’s lug-soled boots on the AW20 runway
If the clompy aesthetic isn’t your vibe, stick to a sturdy pair of hiking boots paired with cashmere socks. Sorel’s waterproof Conquest boots (£155, Sorelfootwear.co.uk) come with a bouncy trainer-inspired sole, while Ganni’s sporty hiking boots (£300, ganni.com) are similarly, ahem, sporty and look great with tights, a leather mini and a chunky knit.
Ganni’s Sporty Hiking boots
When it comes to the top half of the equation, there are two methods of approach. The first is to take the chunkiest fisherman’s knit one can find, such as Isabel Marant’s cream Romy jumper (£415, Net-a-porter.com) and layer over it a lighter waterproof, such as the knee-length Trudie wax jacket from Alexa Chung’s collaboration with Barbour (£480, Libertylondon.com).
The second, and my preferred, is to opt for layer upon layer of super-thin soft knits, topped with a cocooning quilted duvet coat or faux fur. The quilted Deadra coat from Danish label Baum und Pferdgarten (£399, baumundpfedergarten.com) is fully lined for extra warmth.
Baum und Pfergarten Deadra coat on the AW20 runway
For the layering approach to succeed, good quality is key. US luxury intimates label Commando’s butter and cashmere leggings (£115, luxury-legs.com) are sufficiently feather-light to wear under jeans — excellent for any mid-November park bench dates. M&S and Uniqlo do good value fine-knit cashmere, with the latter’s famous Heattech another great weapon to have in the anti-freeze-your-arse-off arsenal.
Finally, with so little sartorial joy left on the menu this winter, it’s important to get your thrills with your frills. Waterproof rain hats preclude the need for tiresome umbrellas, while a cross-body bag is perfect for hands-free coffee drinking and dog walking. A final dusting of some chunky bling and I guarantee you’ll leave the house with that lockdown frown turned upside down.
