Country Vogue: A Guide to Women's Country Style
There is a particular way of dressing that sits somewhere between the practical and the considered. It isn’t fashion, exactly, though it has its own codes and its own quiet rules. It is what happens when a woman who lives in or around the countryside chooses clothes with the same care she gives to everything else: the right jacket for a day at the races, the right boots for a walk that might end at a pub, the right scarf for a morning that started cold and turned warm by eleven.
Country Vogue, as an idea, has always existed. It just hasn’t always had a name.
What Country Vogue actually means
Country Vogue has been appearing in Country Life, Tatler and Country and Town House for many years but not as a fashion trend. Instead, it describes a wardrobe based on comfortable materials such as tweed, wax, suede, cashmere and leather with a few great quality items that can be worn in various ways depending upon what you are doing. The colours used tend to be earthy shades; muted green; brown; and the odd splash of seasonal colour from a new season’s Schoffel blouse or a Fairfax & Favor scarf.
It is the intention behind this style of dressing which differentiates it from pure functional country dressing. A woman who wears a Barbour Beadnell jacket over a Schoffel Sandsend quarter zip top layer with a pair of Dubarry Galway boots has not simply dressed for the weather, she has dressed for her day. This is the difference, and the difference is important.
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The pieces that define the look
A Country Vogue wardrobe only needs a few key pieces. In fact, they can be described as “curated”. A small collection of items that complement each other by providing layers and versatility. They should also have longevity and not appear out of place when moving from one occasion to another.
One of the core elements of the Country Vogue wardrobe is the tweed jacket or blazer. It is not the traditional type of tweed jacket used for hunting; it’s an item designed for social occasions. The Eliza Herringbone jacket from Fairfax & Favor is an excellent example. It has a classic single-breasted structure with a Norfolk herringbone wool construction. This will allow you to wear it over knitwear during colder months or simply on its own with a linen blouse in the spring. Alternatively, there are many similar options available such as the Bracken Tweed Coat from Dubarry which provides additional length for women preferring more coverage.
Knitwear is the next essential element of the country vogue wardrobe. Merino knit tops from brands like Schoffel and Dubarry are ideal. These provide warmth while remaining slim enough so that they do not add bulk beneath a tweed jacket. Noble Wilde offers some interesting alternatives based upon their possum merino knit products, made in New Zealand using a unique blend that is 30% warmer than conventional wool.
Finally, a gilet completes all of these elements. The Schoffel Lyndon fleece gilet is constructed from Italian Pontetorto Tecnopile fleece and has become almost de facto attire at events such as the Game Fair and country shows.
While boots may seem an unnecessary expense, two pairs can cover most situations for most situations. For wetter conditions, consider purchasing a pair of GORE-TEX-lined Dubarry Galways offering genuine outdoor protection and waterproofing. On drier days, Spanish suede Fairfax & Favor Reginas, with scalloped gold hardware at the ankle, will help keep your overall appearance intact.
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Dressing for the occasion
The beauty of Country Vogue lies in its ability to be flexible. The foundation pieces remain the same; however, the way you combine them can vary.
In combination with dark slim-fit jeans and high-heeled Regina boots, a tweed blazer over a fine-gauge roll-neck creates a perfectly suited look for either a horse racing event like Cheltenham, or a local point-to-point. When paired with a silken scarf from Schöffel and a Hicks & Brown fedora, this outfit exudes the perfect blend of sophistication and elegance.
However, when attending events such as the Badminton Horse Trials or the Staffordshire County Show, the atmosphere begins to shift. A checked shirt layered beneath a fleece gilet and a Barbour Beadnell jacket worn open along with flat suede boots or waterproof Le Chameau wellies is simply a practical way of spending hours on foot in a field. In addition, carrying a cross-body bag from either Dubarry or Barbour will keep your hands free throughout the day.
Once again, when going out for lunch at a local country pub or attending some other casual gathering, the layers may begin to disappear. This is achieved through wearing a Schoffel linen blouse, slim fitting trousers and a pair of Chelsea boots by Fairfax & Favor.
Ultimately, the key here is that it’s not about looking formal; it’s more about looking proper.
You don’t want to dress up for the wrong event altogether. Wearing technical field wear to a social event will have the same effect as wearing urban black attire at a country-based function. It may be best to keep the shooting jacket within the confines of the gun room. It may also be best to take a fedora to the races. These are not rigidly defined dress codes; rather common sense guidelines.
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Colour, pattern, and the details
Country palettes are muted, earthy and reflect the natural surroundings of the countryside; with earth tones such as olive, sage, forest green, chestnut, oatmeal and burgundy. As noted by Debrett’s, black is typically viewed as a city colour and looks like it when used in the countryside. Navy is the preferred alternative to black.
Any patterns that appear can be tasteful. A herringbone tweed suit. A classic country-inspired shirt from Schoffel. A tartan scarf made by Barbour. The reason these patterns can be layered so easily is due to their muted tones and the fact they all fall within a similar tonal range.
Accessories will make or break your look, much more than any one piece of clothing. That is why the Fairfax & Favor accessories line was created with the sole purpose of making collections work. For example, a Regina belt features the exact same hardware design as the Regina Boot. The Mannington Silk Scarf sits perfectly under the collar of a Wax Jacket. And, a fedora (made by Hicks & Brown) features matching perforated nubuck details. This is true collection dressing and yet still does not look like you have tried too hard.
A small feather attached to the ribbon of a hat, a silk square placed in the breast pocket of a coat, a quality leather belt. These are some examples of how you can add detail to a great outfit to elevate it and show the difference between someone that has put thought into creating an outfit and just someone that dresses correctly.
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Building a wardrobe, not following a trend
Country Vogue is one of those aesthetics that doesn’t come in and then out again. Tweed wasn’t “coming back” this season, as tweed has always been a staple in the wardrobes of these women and therefore their purchasing habits reflect that - fewer purchases, higher quality purchases, longer retention of purchased products. The Barbour is re-waxed when needed; the Dubarrys are re-soled; the cashmere is air-dried and folded, not tumbled.
By late 2025, BBC Culture reported that country-coded dressing had infiltrated everyday life, even into some of the most urbanised areas. Perhaps this is true of many of the new adopters. For those women who have always dressed like this, it’s just what you do.
The core brands supporting this type of wardrobe, including Barbour, Schoffel, Fairfax & Favor, Dubarry, Penelope Chilvers, are not driven by trends. Although colour palettes change with every season and silhouettes are occasionally updated, very little about the foundation changes from year-to-year. This is exactly why. A great country wardrobe does not build itself in a season. It builds itself over seasons.
In addition to stocking our own branded line, Brocklehursts in Bakewell carry all of the brands mentioned above through three retail locations within walking distance of each other, located directly in the centre of the Peak District. The women’s assortment alone contains hundreds of different styles. Our team knows the product lines, sizing and brands inside out. There is nowhere else that can provide a starting point for someone looking to create or revamp a country wardrobe.
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