Weekends in the great outdoors don't require much in the way of apparel, providing you pack intelligently

Weekends in the country are all about navigating nuances. What may pass for tongue-in-cheek bling in the city can look as classy as plastic gold in deepest Shropshire. On the other hand, you don’t want to patronise anyone by turning up in a reeking wax jacket and bad millinery. They have fashion in the country too, just not the exaggerated variety. 

You’d think you can’t go wrong in jeans. You can. Manicured rips look even sillier in the sticks than in town. If walks are on the agenda (aren’t they half the point?), flares are a no-no. You need something you can tuck into boots. A dark indigo wash makes them smart enough to wear for supper with a pretty blouse or crisp shirt. 

Turning up with mountains of luggage is foolhardy. Cottages can be teeny; sometimes it’s you or the case. Even wheelies can be de trop – they require space to open flat and the wheels can get wedged on gravel paths. 

Something sleek but unpretentious such as the waterproof Rains weekender, which comes in aesthetically pleasing shades of mud, holds all you need, which is not much. Two or three shirts, a pair of trousers, maybe a skirt and some knitwear should do it. 

Lisa wears: Quilted jacket, £219, Barbour; cashmere-silk vest, £175, Me+Em; satin blouse, £148, Reiss; Acne Studios jeans, Lisa’s own; Suede boots, £299, Penelope Chilvers; Pearl and gold-vermeil earrings and rings, from £80, Olivia and Pearl; waterproof weekend bag, £65, Rains; all other jewellery, Lisa’s own

If you’re with dressy folk, a non-crease chiffon dress that can be layered under knits or worn on its own is lovely – and some warm stylish slippers that can double as house shoes. Sabah’s shearling-lined ones are gorgeous and built (by hand) to last. A water- and windproof coat is the mark of a country pro – nothing heavy like sheepskin.  

It’s hard to beat Barbour’s Alexa Chung collection, which looks equally good in town. Knitted tanks are more practical than even the most gorgeous four-ply jumper, as it gets hot on walks. If the house is likely to be freezing, pack a cardigan to layer over the tank and shirt, along with a cashmere scarf. 

Hat-wise, the tweed flat cap debate rages on. I’ve seen huddles of men in country pubs decked out in Mumford & Sons waistcoats and Squire Beckham caps – a sure sign they’ve driven straight down from Clapham. Then again, there’s a reason that flat caps became a rural trope – they keep you dry without stifling you. Go for it.

A ton of slap is frowned upon, even among the Soho Farmhouse set. It’s about the glow. Lumity’s Morning & Night supplement gets rave reviews from customers for its impact on hair and skin. 

And a gorgeous shower gel or handwash from a non-ubiquitous indie label is an excellent gift for friends, or yourself. Bertioli, a sibling brand by the Thyme hotel team, has virtuous credentials, in addition to being a sensory treat. Its Water Meadow Hand and Body Wash is guaranteed to elevate any bathroom – and make your hosts forget any sartorial faux pas. 

Top image: Lisa wears: Quilted jacket, £219, Barbour; cashmere-silk vest, £175, Me+Em; satin blouse, £148, Reiss; Acne Studios jeans, Lisa’s own; Suede boots, £299, Penelope Chilvers; Pearl and gold-vermeil earrings and rings, from £80, Olivia and Pearl; waterproof weekend bag, £65, Rains; all other jewellery, Lisa’s own

Read last week's column: Au revoir, summer – time for a September style update

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