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Gardeners' musings

Gardening clothes

Posted by: James Alexander-Sinclair, 29 January 2008, 10.57AM

Gardening hats Does it matter what one wears for gardening? Obviously most people look for warmth in winter, cool in summer and comfort all year; elegance is not really much of a consideration.

My father-in-law, for example, has a waxed jacket which is more hole than jacket. Yet wearing tatty old clothes for gardening is a relatively new phenomenon. If you look at the famous photographs of Vita Sackville-West in her high laced boots (which must have wasted at least 15 minutes of good gardening time just getting into them) or Nancy Lancaster in capri pants and a sombrero it is obvious that style was important. (There are some wonderful pictures, taken by the great Valerie Finnis, in 'Garden People' by Ursula Buchan and Anna Pavord.

Even professional gardeners always maintained a certain decorum - ties, waistcoats and (for the head gardener) a black hat and heavy fob watch. Not for them a pair of holey jeans and a sweater grimy with compost and dusted with spilled rooting powder.

Nowadays anything goes. I have laid a patio in tweed plus fours and I remember once putting up a fence wearing a kilt but that was a short affectation - the wind and splinters got into uncomfortable places. I long ago discovered the advantages of a large hat when gardening; it shelters me from the rain, protects from the sun and - if it is really hot - can be filled with water and slammed on the head as a cooling shower. At the moment I have four. There were more but a dog ate one and another was snaffled as headgear for a bonfire night guy.

Apart from protective hats the most important pieces of gardening gear are good boots (Gertrude Jekyll knew the benefits of sturdy footwear - her boots were painted by William Nicholson in 1920) and, when handling thorny things, a pair of stout gloves.

Monty Don has a range of individual outfits in corduroy and strong cotton that make him look a bit like a 1930's farmworker hoicking sheaves of corn and eating chunks of strong cheddar. Chris Beardshaw has a range of foul weather gear that would make an Icelandic fisherman jealous. Sarah Raven always looks elegantly rumpled and is never seen in mucky jeans. Joe Swift needs to wear a woolly hat.

People fall into habits and often have favourite gardening clothes - not always savoury and occasionally rescued from the jumble sale. It would be interesting to hear what other people wear in the garden...

Comments

  • Lorrie Flannery

    29 January 2008, 01.12PM

    I'm afraid my winter gardening clothes are track suits that are no longer suitable for in the house (no holes though) with t shirts and jumpers in a similar state. Basically I like to go for lots of layers to keep me warm. My gardening shoes came from a DIY shop in France last summer - they are rubber soled (good on muddy soil) with a waterproof upper and they are VERY comfortable so I plan to buy more when I go back next summer. Summer gardening clothes are quite different, I like to wear smartish, loose fitting shorts with short sleeved or sleeveless t shirts so I can get a bit of sun whilst I am working and, of course, I wear sun cream when the sun is shining.

  • Amoret

    29 January 2008, 01.27PM

    Sturdy ankle boots, jeans and tee shirt with various over layers depending on the weather. I have a belt for the Felco holster which is big enough to go over my coat if necessary or can be tightened for over jeans. I have a large collection of hats too but I don't seem to wear them in the garden.

  • Net Essex

    29 January 2008, 07.42PM

    I wear a pair of cream jodpurs that I have had in my draw for years. They are warmer than jeans, fit right into my wellies, dont reveal my underwear when I kneel and no matter what I do to them they always come clean!! Perfect!

  • morning glory

    29 January 2008, 10.12PM

    The most essential pieces of gardening clothing has to be, a body warmer with lots of pockets and a pair of combat trousers also with extra pockets in the sides. They are so useful for all those extra bits of twine, pruning clippers and the all important pocket knife for cuttings.

  • kate hutchinson

    30 January 2008, 01.42PM

    I always end up wearing clothes that i love but which are no longer fit for public view - the T-shirt with a stain or torn jumper.

  • grandiflora

    29 January 2008, 04.49PM

    One of the best things about gardening programmes is looking at what people wear. I'm sure Monty must have hoards of female fans stamping on his cotton jackets to get them to have that "what this old thing, I've had it for years" look. Carol Klein has you running for the sunglasses and Chris Beardshaw goes for the rugged manly look - but at least they all have dirty fingernails - never trust a gardener with smooth hands and clean fingernails. But at least the clothes defineth the man, if you can't remember the name then "the one with the big hat" couldn't be anyone else but you James.

  • Richard Jones

    31 January 2008, 11.39AM

    After gently teasing my 10-year-old daughter about her fascination with Crocs, she got her own back by getting me a pair for Christmas. They are perfect for pottering about in the garden.

  • Obelixx

    31 January 2008, 04.28PM

    I wear old trousers or shorts no longer fit for normal wear and then strappy tops, T-shirts, sweatshrits, old jumpers according to the season. I was given a quilted lumberjack shirt which is brilliant for cold dry days and wear green cotton jacket with zipper and hood when it's wet. I have a waxed cotton hat for sunnny days and rainy days but it doesn't stay on in the wind.

    Footwear is always wellies. I have a pair for summer with no socks, another for spring and autumn with one pair of socks and another for winter that can take 2 or even 3 pairs of socks. Much to my daughter's embarrassment these are all in shades of pink and purple and have matching plastic trugs and gloves which I bought on a whim.

  • Kler

    31 January 2008, 04.56PM

    Currently sporting steel toecap boots with a good grip, cheapish jeans with stretch and a bit of bootleg to prevent compost etc going into boots. Long sleeve long thermal top, small close fitting poloneck fleece, larger fleece, water and windproof shell. Gloves that will dry fairly quickly when grabbing a quick cuppa. Woolly lined hat, glasses that steam up. Not very elegant, especially when popping to tesco on the way home, even worse when muddy!! It's the day job and I wouldn't have it any other way. Summer wear consists of jeans, lighter boots, long T-shirt to protect the bit of your back you always forget to put suncream on when weeding....I'd love to look like Rachel de Thame but I don't think its going to happen soon.

  • rosebud

    31 January 2008, 08.04PM

    Ski wear is fab for winter gardening. If you can pick up a jacket in the sales, you'll never feel the January chill again.

  • Gillian D

    01 February 2008, 08.34AM

    I always wear a pair of craghopper trousers as they have plenty of pockets for all those little things we gardeners carry around with us like pruning knives and such, then on colder days a jumper complete with holes or in summer a comfy Tshirt.All topped off with a gilet or waterproof jacket on those chillier or wet days.

  • Art Myrkle

    01 February 2008, 10.13AM

    I find fingerless wool gloves are just the job in winter and like James, a good felt wide brim hat does the job too - quite natty I think! I think Sarah Raven looks a million dollars in her outfits, she can come and arrange my flowers any time!

  • Jenny B

    01 February 2008, 04.24PM

    I am perfectly comfy in my old and muddy jeans and various careworn fleece's and t-shirts, but I wouldn't like to be seen in public in any of my gardening outfits. I don't believe in doing anything at arms length and by the end of a busy day weeding and pruning etc I could often pass for a scarecrow!

  • Soggz

    02 February 2008, 01.52PM

    As a gardener myself, i find that this time of year, the most useful thing I wear is a brimmed woolen hat(a bit like 'Radar's' hat from M*A*S*H),a good quilted body warmer,cargo trousers and a good set of long johns!

  • Antonia

    02 February 2008, 08.16PM

    Well, I'm afraid it's good old jeans and t-shirt for me, along with jumper, either with holes in or paint all over the sleeves and hubby's National Geographic fleece in winter. Then in summer, I tend to wear my old linen trousers which are cool and comfortable and either a t-shirt or spaghetti straps, the latter sometimes with a light shirt over the top to protect my shoulders. Footwear is always old trainers but I'm not really a hat person, so I have to be careful if it's really sunny and make sure I drink lots.

  • Maeve

    03 February 2008, 05.42PM

    I'm glad not to be the only one who wears old clothes for gardening in! I suddenly feel quite trendy. My garb tends to be layers of old clothing which can be adjusted according to the weather and how hard I'm labouring. For most of the year, footwear is almost always an old pair of walking boots. Can't stand gloves though as I like to feel the plants and soil.

  • The Garden Monkey

    05 February 2008, 11.33AM

    I have gardened in everything from Armani to Army Surplus, but what I wear most often when gardening is a smile.

  • Dunfermline gardener

    08 February 2008, 07.42PM

    When my daughters were teenagers it was quite satisfying to go out in the garden looking suitably shabby and muddy just to see the look of horror and disbelief on their 'street cred' faces. Now I am just shabby and muddy (and contented) because that is inevitable in the garden and my 'street cred' daughters have now grown up and have joined me!

  • The Gardening Fashionista

    08 February 2008, 08.18PM

    Armani indeed. My gardening sartorial statement consists of heavy duty boiler suits 2 sizes too big acquired at regular intervals from the local NFU. Flattering they ain't, but they do simultaneously allow for serious layering in winter and protection from hoary sunburnt arms in summer. Best of all there's not the remotest danger of builders bum. And all those delicious pockets and loops - perfect for felcos, lables, seed packets, bits of string, the essential leatherman etc, while also the occasional repository for long lost delights. Only the other day I unearthed 2x £10 notes and an ancient pack of gauloises (untipped). Those were the days.

  • James A-S

    12 February 2008, 05.51PM

    Scruffiness seems to be the order of the day among most of you - that and comfort. Very sensible. As a matter of interest - does anybody out there garden in wooden clogs or 'tackety boots'? (Reference to Oor Wullie who, for those of a Southern persuasion, is a long running cartoon character from the Sunday Post).

  • jenny b 2

    17 February 2008, 04.37PM

    I garden in old pair of new style zip up dms, cheap jeans cost a fiver in the sale about 2 yrs ago and are now riding up leg, and long grey hoody to avoid builders bum. I feel like my soul is cleansed.

  • Paul Narramore

    26 February 2008, 09.50AM

    April to October - t-shirt and shorts, walking boots. November to March - body warmer with lots of pockets, old jeans and sweat shirt. Vary rarely a cap.

  • Jilly

    16 March 2008, 09.40AM

    I also wear any old clothes that are not fit to be seen out. OLd jeans, tracksuits. The son's old fleece jacket. On the feet wellies, walking boots or old trainers, depending on the weather! Mind you I do find visitors will always knock on the door when Im in my scruff!!!

  • fallen angel

    26 March 2008, 02.45AM

    I wear my green army looking parka, it is great against winds creeping up on you. I wear gardening gloves that keep my hands warm and toasty, And Timberland boots in the winter. Of course I layer if it is really cold out side, sweatpants on top of sweatpants,teeshirts sweatshirts and a hoody..Of course my ever cool looking sunglasses I think I am ready to rock-n-roll...

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