British Winter

40+ style

It always rains in Britain, right?

No, of course not. But good rainwear certainly comes in handy at times (remember last year’s floods?). It may get quite windy, stormy even, but it’s seldom cold (for the record, for me anything below 0ºC /32 ºF is cold, anything above that not really), and there might even be a snowflake or two at times. So, a good winter parka and wellies (rubber boots for my American readers) are necessary. 

winter rainwear

I’m a bit of a minimalist when it comes to my wardrobe: I’m always looking for that one coat that goes with anything, or any situation. But this winter I’m finally starting to accept that it’s a ridiculous idea, especially for someone who shares her time between two countries with very different climates. So, I set out to get a couple of coats suitable for the British winter and stop carrying bulky coats back and forth.

rubber boots

I started by analysing the situation: if I wasn’t restricted to one or two coats, what would I want to have? And is there something I would have needed in the past? And then it hit me: last year when it was really wet and stormy, this is what I thought I’d need : a pair of wellies and a parka.

Now, this isn’t exactly my default choice of outerwear; I usually prefer something a bit dressier. But I need something a bit more casual to wear when running errands or doing the weekly shopping. You know, what some people would call ‘walking the dog outfit’. I guess now I just need a dog…

What’s your choice for winter outerwear?

Tiina
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PS: Dilettante Artist has her own blog now, The Dilettante Artist’s Gallery,  where I will be posting (very infrequently) random pictures: illustration, photomanipulation, that sort of thing. And there is a pretty, new widget on the sidebar to take you there…

Linking up with Visible Monday, Styled Up, Shoe and Tell, Throw Back Thursday

19 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    8 February 2015 / 1:39 pm

    That's a great parka. It would would have worked well for me when I lived in Seattle. Now I have to dress like I am going on an arctic expedition when I go outside. Is it spring yet?

    • Tiina L
      9 February 2015 / 4:01 pm

      I think I know what you mean: when I'm in the U.K. I need something windproof for rain, and in Finland it's thick puffa coats and winter boots… And no, spring is still a just a dream…

  2. Mrs C
    8 February 2015 / 6:42 pm

    Tiina, it's an oven here in Dubai for your standard LOL! I sometimes can be quite mad when it comes to buying stuff. I have a pair of Wellis even when it hardly if never ever rain here. If I am not careful, I might just get myself one of those walk the dog outfit!

    • Tiina L
      9 February 2015 / 4:05 pm

      I always try to get by with just ONE coat, ONE pair of boots etc… I have this totally crazy idea that all my clothes should fit into one suitcase. I should have my head checked, I have TWO wardrobes, after all, in TWO countries. So, this is a (small) step in the right direction.

  3. Patti
    8 February 2015 / 11:33 pm

    You are making the rain look so fashionable – love that umbrella and those boots! Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, xo.

    • Tiina L
      9 February 2015 / 4:06 pm

      After so many years of spending a lot of time in the U.K. I finally caved, and got the boots… I already have quite a collection of umbrellas…

  4. Jill James
    9 February 2015 / 9:29 am

    Rainwear is always a problem but you have made it look stylish with that great umbrella and wellies and of course the Union Jack mittens. I must remember when our Winter comes that by your standards it is never cold.

    • Tiina L
      9 February 2015 / 4:11 pm

      Yes, stylish rainwear can be quite difficult to find. I have been looking for a dressier version of a (warm) raincoat for ages, something a bit more city chic…

  5. Marea Dotz
    9 February 2015 / 4:40 pm

    I have many raincoats but it is my black one, of course, I always pull out the most. Popping it with a bright colored umbrella, gloves (your fingerless ones are FANTASTIC) and scarf always makes it fun. I have a feeling you'll be wearing this alot, but, Tiina, my dear, I'm surprised you bought black wellies and not PINK ones!!

    • Tiina L
      10 February 2015 / 4:33 pm

      Oh, but they didn't have pink wellies! So disappointing…

  6. cherie at stylenudge.com
    9 February 2015 / 11:00 pm

    I adore your Wellies! What is the brand? Thank you for linking up with Shoe and Tell on Style Nudge!!Cheriehttp://www.stylenudge.com

    • Tiina L
      10 February 2015 / 4:34 pm

      Thanks, Cherie! They are by a British label called Jigsaw. They also have an online store, there's a link under the photo.

  7. Olga Rani
    10 February 2015 / 2:30 pm

    I've been to London several times and yeah, sometimes the weather there is so nasty. And then I wished I had something like your outfit here. Love your bright umbrella and the matching scarf.

    • Tiina L
      10 February 2015 / 4:35 pm

      Good rainwear is a must in the U.K., and something windproof…

  8. Jan Graham-McMillen
    10 February 2015 / 6:14 pm

    Awwh … look at you in your wellies and 'brella, ready to break into "Singing in the Rain" and dance like Gene Kelly. These purples and fuchsias are really your signature colors, yes? Sharp!

    • Tiina L
      10 February 2015 / 6:45 pm

      Thanks, Jan! Yes, a little bit of singing and dancing might be good to get through winter. And you're right, I think I have quite a lot of purple and fuchsia in my wardrobe…

  9. Alice Warren
    15 February 2015 / 6:05 am

    I would love to own a pair of wellies since a lot of fashion bloggers make them look so cute! Unfortunately, it just does not rain enough in CA for me to justify purchasing a pair. I do keep a spare umbrella in my car trunk for the days that it actually rains.Thank you for joining TBT Fashion link up and hope to see you next week. Have a great weekend!Alicewww.happinessatmidlife.com

    • Tiina L
      15 February 2015 / 6:59 pm

      As I share my time between Finland and The U.K., I need to have clothes and shoes for rainy weather in both places as frequent rain is simply a fact of life. And I seem to have accumulated quite a collection of umbrellas, too…

  10. Ivana Split
    17 February 2015 / 8:56 am

    The city where I live now ( Mostar, BIH) is famous for its rains. In reality, it doesn't rain that much…However, when it starts raining it doesn't stop for days…or weeks…or one year (and this was an exception) two months. So, I get how the town got its reputation, even if in reality it's not that much but that feeling that the rain will never stop…it's tiresome.You look really cute in this sensible and warm 'rainy day' look.http://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/

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