Autumn and winter breaks are, even now, more realistic when you own your own UK seaside holiday home. Make the most of a break later in the year by having the right clothes and help the planet too. Check out our Style Guide to Autumn and Winter clothing.
One of the great joys of a UK seaside holiday home is that it is your holiday home that you can escape to all year round. Right now we all have to be mindful of the rules around travel, but chances are a Suffolk holiday home, for example, will be more accessible and practicable than a flight overseas, for a long time to come.
And if the weather is an issue for you, stop right there. As the saying goes, ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, provided you have appropriate clothing’. In fact, ‘appropriate clothing’ has never been more...appropriate.
The appeal of fast fashion is fading fast. We need to care for the planet, so it’s about investment pieces now. It’s about having fewer clothes that last longer. The right, long lasting, items will serve you well as you enjoy your UK holiday home breaks, at the same time as reducing your carbon footprint by cutting down your air miles. Here’s our style guide to autumn and winter clothes for your holiday home:
1. Boots
From chalets in Mablethorpe to Suffolk cottages by the sea, a walk is better in the right boots
Boots have changed. The traditionalist in your soul might think it hankers for a leather sole, on leather walking boots. You’d change your mind, and your boots, if you pulled on such a pair. What you really want is comfort, and that means waterproof and light weight. For autumn and winter, and for anything approaching a serious walk, you need to plant your feet in something suitable.
2. Wellies
Always an option of course, especially for the shorter stroll from your chalet to the beach
There’s so much more to wellies nowadays. Little people might grow out of their boots but grown up people never grow out of splashing in puddles. Colours and style touches are fun, and country style green says something about you in its timeless way. Hunter have a great range of all things wellington boots.
For a longer walk you’ll want a boot that’s shorter in the leg. In short, a walking boot. Look for waterproof fabrics, and good soles. Try them on and take time choosing, as fit is crucial. Brands to consider are Merrell, The North Face and, for a lighter weight boot, Adidas.
3. Socks
Why you need to stock up with socks at your holiday lodge
A happy walk is a blister free walk. You’ve known it since childhood. Plus, there’s something lovely about good socks anyway. There’s a cosiness to them; a comforting feeling. And when you start looking you’ll soon get the feeling that there’s more to socks than perhaps you thought. All sorts of words come into the frame. Words like ‘thermal’ and ‘merino’ and ‘double layer’. There are ‘heavy weight’ socks and ‘mid weight’ socks.
Tempting though it is, as a natural fabric, cotton isn’t always the best choice. It can absorb moisture and, because it won’t dry inside your boots, it can cause those blisters. Smartwool is a brand to look out for. Their Light Crew Sock is ideal for lighter hikes. Try Bridgedale too. Their Summit Knee Sock is great for the chillier days.
4. The Coat
Cutting a dash in a luxury lodge in Norfolk, or striding out to Great Yarmouth beach from your static caravan, you do it best in the right coat
Let’s be honest, the key word here, like it or not, is probably waterproof. But there’s the whole issue of style too. It’s not a matter of catwalk trends it’s more to do with you and your style. Are you for instance the sort of person who feels, and looks, right in a garment with lots of zips and an adjustable hood? A walkers waterproof. If you are then the Berghaus Deluge Pro Waterproof is definitely worth a look. It’s from a trusted brand, it’s lightweight and durable, and it’s very reasonably priced.
When it comes to what we might call proper hiking jackets the cost does go up a bit. If you’re thinking top quality you’re probably looking for something really waterproof and that almost certainly means it has a layer of Gore-Tex in it. It’s pretty much the gold standard in waterproof and breathable membranes. If, though, your style is more ‘country living’ then one brand will always spring to mind. Barbour, and in particular their waxed jackets, have been at the centre of British country style for decades. Nowadays they have an ever increasing range of clothing, with really useful seasonal nuances. The added advantage of a Barbour style jacket or coat is that it works just as well over formal clothes - and that versatility does make for good value.
5. The Hat
Roaming around Redcar or strolling near your Suffolk holiday home, you’ll get ahead in the right hat.
Head gear raise the same question; what’s your personal style. Are you a knitted beanie or a wax drifter? They are not the only options of course but they do represent the breadth of choice and styles. If the beanie style is your thing it’s as well to choose a practical hat from an outdoor brand. There are lots of beanies that are fine, but fashionable rather than reliable. Go for brands such as Montaine. Also definitely worth a look are Sealskinz who offer a knitted beanie that’s waterproof. If you want to make a brand statement while you’re walking the Rab Knockout Beanie will be your kind of hat. Between the beanie and the drifter there is the baseball cap. Again, for walking you need something that does the job. We’re not talking wearing it back to front, and we’re certainly not talking street dance. The North Face have the baseball style Dryvent Outdoor Hat which is an ideal multifunctional cap.
But, if drifter is your look, look around. There’s plenty of choice but some are distinctly summer, or sun, hats. More realistic for autumn and winter are hats such as the Vintage Wax Fedora from Barbour or the various styles available from Failsworth. Too tight and a hat can hurt. Too loose and it can be really irritating.
6. The Bag
Keep a good Bag hung up in your lodge because - a wander is wonderful
It’s a fact of life that deciding what’s needed on a day out, or an hour or so’s stroll, can cause family tension. There’s the ‘we’ll take this just in case, and this will be handy to have with us, and we’ll take a flask for emergencies’ faction. And there’s the ‘let’s just lock up and go’ brigade. It’s not a question of right or wrong (no, really) but there is a brilliant solution. Have the right bag. If the bag is big enough to take some of what some perceive as essential - that’s good. If it’s suitably small enough to prevent taking the proverbial kitchen sink too - that’s also good. Happiness will reign.
There is bags of choice in bags nowadays, and the gender divide has long since disappeared. It is of course possible to spend a lot of money on a designer piece but in reality it’s practicality that counts here. Think backpack. This does not have to be a huge, metal framed, piece of kit as used by the SAS. Go for something light weight and comfortable to carry. There are different sizes to choose from so select one that will carry all you need but also feel right on your back. Check that the straps are adjusted for maximum comfort. Berghaus have an excellent 32L capacity bag - the Fast Hike 32 - which ticks a lot of boxes, although it’s not particularly waterproof. For a waterproof bag at a budget price the Mountain Warehouse Ventura is a good choice. The North Face are worth a look, and so too is the range from Osprey.
Right, Socks on, boots on, got the bag packed. Pull on the coat. Got the hat? Let’s go….
MAKE THE MOST OF AUTUMN IN YOUR UK HOLIDAY HOME
LAYER UP FOR COMFORT AND STYLE WITH OUR ULTIMATE AUTUMN HOLIDAY HOME WARDROBE GUIDE
It’s time to think about your autumn holiday home wardrobe. For comfort, and style, that means it’s time to think about layering. Let’s take this a layer at a time. Because there are different levels of layering. If you see what we mean….
THE PRACTICAL LEVEL OF LAYERING
It’s not to say that there is no style in these garments, it’s just that this level of layering is to do with a more ‘outdoorsy’ approach. These are clothes that are rooted in the technical aspects of layering. What that means is you’re employing two or three thinner layers of clothes instead of one heavy gauge sweater. The result is that warm air is trapped between those thin layers creating better insulation. And, as a bonus, you can take off - or add - layers depending on how hot or cold you’re getting.
For this idea you need, ideally, to consider three layers of clothing. The Base Layer - for moisture management, The Mid Layer - for insulation, and The Outer Layer - for protection. That’s weather protection; we’re not talking dangerous pursuits here. Unless you want to…
IF YOUR HOLIDAY HOME IS NEAR, SAY, THE LINCOLNSHIRE WOLDS, OR IN NORTH YORKSHIRE, YOU MIGHT CHOOSE TO SPEND SOME OF YOUR TIME TAKING A WALK WITH A MORE DETERMINED APPROACH
If hiking rather than wandering is more your thing this level of layering is a good idea.
Think about The Base Layer first. Synthetic materials can work, but for all round versatility and comfort, go for Merino wool. Over that, as your Mid Layer, a good fleece is top choice. There’s a huge selection available, and a huge price range out there nowadays. Choose one that suits your pocket obviously, but also the level of warmth you think you might need. If you’re not into all weather endurance hiking you won’t need polar level insulation. On top, for your Outer Layer, decide first if you want a ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ shell. Waterproof is important. (Sorry. It happens). A simple rule is that soft shell are warmer and hard shell are more about waterproofing; but there’s a lot more to it than that.
You’ll find loads of advice, tips and products online. Take your time because the research will pay off. These can be investment pieces. Buying fewer, better, longer lasting items is a good policy. In the long term it’s better value. In the bigger picture it’s better for the planet.
THE FASHIONABLE LEVEL OF LAYERING YOUR CLOTHES FOR VISITING YOUR SEASIDE HOLIDAY HOME
It’s not to say that there is no practicality in these garments, it’s just that this level of layering is to do with a more ‘style based’ approach. (See how balanced this blog is?!) A stroll around Clacton on Sea beach, or a saunter on the Suffolk coast, are holiday home pleasures that don’t need ‘kit’ so much as comfort; with style. But, with the year moving a tiny bit beyond you feeling comfortable in T Shirt and shorts it’s time to rethink what that style looks like. And feels like.
In many ways this is getting easier. The lines between ‘sports’ clothes and ‘leisure’ clothes are blurring. (How many days have you worn track suit bottoms, indoors, at home, when you were not engaged in sport lately? Be honest.)
The lines between the genders are getting pretty blurred here too. Take for example a classic V or crew neck sweater over a plain T shirt. It works for men and women. It never loses its timeless look and you can play around with variations on colours and fabrics. Treat yourself to something in cashmere for the sweater, or splash out on a T Shirt that’s several levels above supermarket label. Or you can go high street for maximum value. But as a layered look it works every time.
FROM SUFFOLK HOLIDAY HOMES TO LINCOLNSHIRE CARAVANS - TOP TIPS FOR AUTUMN ARE ALL ABOUT TOP LAYERS
For your topmost layer there are two key pieces that are well worth considering. First up is the ever, and increasingly, popular wax jacket. Barbour is the name most people think of when it comes to this outdoor staple. Nowadays the brand have several versions and styles to choose from.
The ‘Barbour jacket’ is rapidly becoming more than an outdoor, layering, essential. It can take you anywhere in these increasingly ‘smart casual’ times. And that means it’s worth looking at as one of your investment pieces.
It’s another one of those ‘works for both genders’ things but a Barbour looks, and performs, brilliantly over a T shirt and possibly a light sweater on warmer days, and it really does the business over a chunky knit on colder occasions.
Then there’s the versatile and very comfortable gilet. (Did you know it comes from the French word for cardigan? Every day’s school day!). Because it’s sleeveless the gilet is brilliant for pulling on over any number of layers. It looks great over a polo neck sweater if the day its a bit breezy, but it’s just as stylish over a shirt on a milder morning. Time was the gilet was available only in functional greens but today you can buy them in every colour imaginable.
Do we need to talk about more heavy duty top layers? Well, let’s be practical and think about the possibility that you might set off on a less than promising day. The words you need to tap into Google (other search engines are available) are probably ‘walking coats’. In this category you’re going to find a choice ranging from insulated jackets from brands like Rab, to really functional kit from labels such as Berghaus and The North Face. Also, several brands now offer various takes on the ‘parka’. Usually a bit longer than an insulated jacket it’s a useful alternative, and it’s another piece that takes you anywhere.
OR YOU COULD LAYER YOUR LAYERS
You probably guessed that we’d get here. There’s nothing to stop you mixing and matching really practical layers with more stylish layers of course. Logically you might consider a practical top layer makes most sense, with a more fashionable, and less ‘rugged’ piece underneath. It’s in the same mindset as mixing a bit of high end designer with a bit of high street. And we all like to do that. Don’t we?
It’s not to say that there is no practicality in these garments, it’s just that this level of layering is to do with a more ‘style based’ approach. (See how balanced this blog is?!) A stroll around Clacton on Sea beach, or a saunter on the Suffolk coast, are holiday home pleasures that don’t need ‘kit’ so much as comfort; with style. But, with the year moving a tiny bit beyond you feeling comfortable in T Shirt and shorts it’s time to rethink what that style looks like. And feels like.
In many ways this is getting easier. The lines between ‘sports’ clothes and ‘leisure’ clothes are blurring. (How many days have you worn track suit bottoms, indoors, at home, when you were not engaged in sport lately? Be honest.)
The lines between the genders are getting pretty blurred here too. Take for example a classic V or crew neck sweater over a plain T shirt. It works for men and women. It never loses its timeless look. And you can play around with variations on colours and fabrics. Treat yourself to something in cashmere for the sweater, or splash out on a T Shirt that’s several levels above supermarket label. Or you can go high street for maximum value. But as a layered look it works every time.
