Reader Noelle wrote in with the following query:
I’m a Northern California girl too and despite it being lovely and in the 70′s/sunny lately, I know well enough that rain is on the way and it’s about time I invest in some wellies, preferably Hunter boots. What say you?
What is this rain you speak of, Noelle? I was under the impression that the rain was gone until fall! I don’t own a pair of wellies myself (I’ve been sticking to my trusty riding boots this winter and spring) but I absolutely love them. They are irresistibly English (“plucky booties,” as Edina Monsoon would call them) and have enjoyed a major style revival in the past few years thanks to a few choices girls (Kate Moss, Sienna Miller) sporting them at various spring music festivals. Most importantly, they are durable, comfortable and excellent for puddle jumping!
Noelle is unsure of what color to purchase, and how to style her new boots. If opting for classic Hunter boots, I vote for neutral and traditional colors–black or green. I’m not loving the idea of brown, although I can’t exactly articulate why. More and more trend-forward styles are made available each season, so a bright color or pattern is also an option. Bright hues are a wonderful choice if you tend to wear a lot of neutral colors.
I love the juxtaposition of a tough pair of wellies paired with a more romantic, bohemian outfit. I also love them with a classic nautical pairing. Below I have styled three different looks and provided a list of Hunter boot alternatives in a variety of price-points.
Casual Weekday
A tough pair of wellies and denim jacket paired with a wispy floral dress offers a great contrast. I love mixing patterns in like palettes, although a solid-color scarf could easily swapped in for a less busy look. A canvas tote (N for Noelle!) can hold everything you need, and even a few of your purchases. I find these to be a nice alternative to purses when dressing casually.
Chinese Laundry Bog Boot, $60; American Eagle Denim Jacket, $40; Of Two Minds Dress, $305; Maria La Rosa Cashmere Socks, $80; Alphabet Bags Canvas Tote, $20; Tiffany Bean Pendant, $280; Topshop Scarf, $28; ASOS Silver Rings, $9/each; Aeropostale Fedora, $13
Weekend Shopping
When pairing wellies with jeans or pants, choose an ultra-skinny pair. I am totally obsessed with navy and white striped shirts and sweaters lately, in a long-sleeve boatneck style, they feel very Parisian. Another obsession? Parkas. I just purchased a light style for spring in army green and I am wearing it constantly. While utilitarian, they look great with more classic looks and romantic looks.
Tretorn Skerry Vinter Boot, $60; Uniqlo Military Parka, $120; Alexander Wang Striped Sweatshirt, $118; Dorothy Perkins Black Skinny Jeans, $30; Muji Umbrella, $14; Marc by Marc Jacobs Tote, $148; Timex Jumbo Plastic Watch, $75
Easygoing Weekend
AKA, the festival look! I can’t resist pairing boots with cut-off shorts, and while it’s a look a lot of people hate or simply don’t think they can pull off, I love it. Full, vintage-style tops paired with waistcoats are one of my favorite looks for spring. In fact, I am dying to break out my Liberty print Kate Moss for Topshop vest from last spring.
Target Zetta Tall Rain Boot, $20; Topshop Tiered Blouse, $55; Paris Blues Cut-Off Shorts, $25; Farah Waistcoat, $85; Nordstrom Trouser Socks, $12; Kenneth Jay Lane Peanut Pendant Necklace, $38; Topshop Metal Aviators, $24; Isabel Marant Hoop Earrings, $120; Fossil Canvas Crossbody Bag, $48
More Boot Options
Hunter Original Boot, $110
Dunlop Wellies, $25
Eddie Bauer Le Chameau Iris Wellie, $80
Aigle Benylsport Boot, $110
Burberry Check Wellies, $176
George Houndstooth Wellies, $25
Jimmy Choo Wellies, $400
Hunter Original Gloss Boot, $120
Liberty London for Target Floral Wellies, From $30 @ eBay
Chooka Rain Boots, $70
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Rain boots are a godsend. I went to school in Santa Barbara and when it did rain it poured. Having the ability to walk wherever without fear of getting wet is extremely liberating in the rain. I usually wear mine with my skinny jeans and my brown double breasted empire waist coat or a pair of slim slouchy jeans, peacoat and a beret
Wellies are a must here in Portland – I own 4 pairs but have the mock croc Hunter versions on the buy list.
While Hunter Wellies are a staple in my wardrobe – I live in the city and walk everywhere – I have to admit, I’ve been rather disappointed with mine. I own a black pair, and the color drastically faded to a dull almost grey within a couple wears. They are also prone to white streaking (the company even warns of this on the website) but the suggested remedy – wiping the boots down with warm, soapy water, does nothing to remedy the streaks! I’ve tried other solutions, even going so far as to buy a cleaning solvent for them, but nothing has worked! I know other people that have had this problem as well. Therefore, as much as I love the look, I’m rather upset that I spent so much money on these boots!
Question: Does anyone know if they make Wellies (or some equivalent) for men? I’m constantly on the lookout, as a not-as-tall-as-I’d-like-to-be guy, of stylish ways to keep the bottoms of my inevitably-a-hair-too-long pants dry in the rain!
I am loving the yellow ones. reminfds me of my yellow rain boots when young…
Doesn’t old navy carry these?
Yay! Thanks for the post, Penny! Love the looks too. Way cooler than anything I could’ve picked out. Hope the rain is gone till fall but if that’s the case then we are in for some (more) serious drought issues. Off to Zappos to pick some out! I’ve been dying for these ever since I saw pics of Kate being so easygoing and chic in hers at whatever music festival.
The second outfit looks exactly like my weekend go-to wardrobe. I looove me a striped long-sleeve shirt.
;) I need to stop reading your fashion posts- this is the second time this month I’ve read something on here and thought to myself “wow, I NEED to have that!” however, in defense of buying a shiny new pair of rainboots: I had previously bought the pair listed from Target- they now have invisible holes along the bottom that leave my feet sopping wet. now that it’s spring, hopefully me new boots will be put to good use. I love the yellow boots in the second outfit, but I often regret bold color decisions like that, so I stuck to navy. and now I’m off to search for some images of this festival look (boots + shorts) though I have a feeling I couldn’t pull it off!