When it comes to festival style, everyone has their weak spot. For me it’s definitely wellies. I spend all day every day analysing risk/reward ratios, but put me in front of a lineup and I’ll make the same questionable footwear decisions I did when I was 19.
Think back to your first festival. When did you buy your wellies? Half an hour before you left?
Step into nearly any wellies section around festival season and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Rubber sneakers from Topshop from Topshop??
Ugh.
Okay fine, so Topshop don’t make wellies but you get my drift. We’ve all done it because nobody wants to spend more than £50 on something they’ll basically only wear once a year. Except here’s the thing about festivals: you wear your wellies way more than you think.
That cute pair of ankle rain boots from Zara you grabbed before Glastonbury three years ago to wear whenever it “maybe rained? Kind of?” will NOT be “totally fine” when the heavens open and unleash an “aggressively British” bank holiday weekend. Believe me.
I learned that lesson the hard way. I survived four hours before mud was soaking through the cheap material onto my socks and Saturday afternoon found me walking around like a penguin keeping my socks from sloshing about in my boots. Meanwhile, my friend Maya stood next to me looking like a regular ol’ grown-up who bought sensible boots way before the train festival crowd descended.
Moral of the story: buy wellies that go with your outfit, instead of ruining it. I learned that lesson years ago but it occurred to me recently that this advice actually works for festival dressing as a whole. Sometimes the sensible option can be the coolest option, you just have to know how to spot it.
Festivals don’t have to mean hotpants and wellies that scream “LOOK AT ME I’M WASTING EVERYTHING”. Trust me, those wellies are versatile. I promise.
First up: Hunter. Because of course we have to talk about Hunter. You know them, I know you know them.
They’re everywhere, and okay fine I have a bit of an issue with that (everyone tries to avoid the crowds by doing their own thing, but when it comes to wellies we all end up in the same muddy place). But the classic Hunter Original Tall in matte black is a thing of beauty. They’ll keep your feet dry ALL weekend long.
I’ve had mine for five years and they’ve seen Glastonbury twice, Latitude three times, and GOD knows how many office “team bonding” days where someone suggests “team building activities in the outdoors” and I am the ONLY PERSON PREPARED. You just have to stay away from the high-gloss ones that look like you’re wearing your Grandma’s boots. Matte black, matte navy, that beautiful Hunter green – these finishings will blend into your outfits better than the shiny versions.
I wear mine with everything from my favourite festival jeans to that £280 Ganni dress I love. They work because they aren’t scream-WELLIES IN COUTURE at you. But if Hunter is too ubiquitous for you (boo – I know what you’re thinking but bear with me), check out my second favourite wellies brand: Aigle.
French. Classic. They’ve been making wellies forever and KNOW what they’re doing when it comes to wearable rubber boots.
I borrowed a pair of their Parcours boots in green from my sister last summer before heading to End of the Road. Mine were dirty from a divorce party (yes that’s a thing) so I didn’t feel bad about trying them on. Holy.
Moly. Game changer. These things are made for walking.
The neoprene lining means your feet won’t sweat and die after an hour of festival-ing around. They also have AMAZING grip – I watched half of EOTR festival-goers slip ankle-deep in mud while I stomped power-walking around like a mountain goat on salt. Expect to spend around £150 on a pair of Aigles but trust me, it’s worth every penny and they’ll last you for YEARS plus actual hiking trips if that’s your jam.
The biggest lesson I learned from investing in a good pair of wellies is that it actually transforms your whole festival wardrobe. Instead of throwing on wellies and immediately having half your outfit compromised by rain-ready shoes, you can FASHION NAJAARD ABOUT FESTIVAL LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN BEING with good boots. I have sort of developed a uniform now.
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Band tee, high waist denim, oversized blazer to tie around my waist when it heats up, and Hunters. It’s easy, comfortable and won’t look like you just gave up and threw on wellies before trudging through the mud. Danish brand Ilse Jacobsen make these lace-up rubber boots that look almost hiking boot-esque but are 100% waterproof.
I could probably wear THESE and never need another pair of festival wellies because they look like actual shoes. As in, boots that don’t look weird with everything you own. Theyre £160 but I hate that they’re so expensive because I need them.
Same story for Joules. I used to roll my eyes at Joules when it came to wellies. Fun colours?
Cute prints? Kids aesthetic?? WRONG.
Their wellies game has stepped it up recently and they do some subtle prints and interesting colours that actually work. The adjustable back strap on their taller styles is GENIUS. Thin leggings?
Thin line under your boots. Chunky tights? Thick line.
Bada bing bada boom. Enough coverage to stay dry but not feel like you’re wearing questionable briefs. I also really like these waterproof ankle boots from Australian brand Merry People that my colleague Sarah swears by.
They look like normal boots but are fully waterproof, which means you can wear them with cropped trousers and actually look like you’re going to brunch instead of music festival-ing in muddy puddles. The key with these is wearing them like normal shoes instead of trying to hide them under long jeans. Speaking of which, tuck those jeans into your boots!
Instant more put together/festival summer look. One of the first things I learned when buying wellies was to pay attention to the grip. Those slippery-bottom wellies?
THEY SOLELY SLIDE when they get wet. Like mini ice skates. Get good treads on your boots that are designed for walking on wet surfaces.
Learn from my mistakes. The other thing to look for is lining. Unlined wellies are torture.
There’s nothing worse than sweaty feet in rubber boots. Look for something with either neoprene lining or a fabric lining. You’ll never go back to regular wellies, I promise you.
The height of your wellies is also something I feel you should strategize. Tall = more coverage but hotter and harder to walk in if you’re not used to battling mud in wellies. I find that the mid-height options are usually the best of both worlds.
Honestly, once you invest in a good pair of wellies you’ll never look at festival packing the same way again. No more “just in case it rains” backup shoes that actually end up being worn because your cheap wellies leak like sieves. Throw on a pair of waterproof boots and you know YOU and your feet are totally prepared for anything.
Hell, once you invest in a good pair of wellies you’ll take better care of them after festivals.
Rinse them off with water after EACH festival (don’t just wipe them down and call it a day like a cheap-boot girl). Dry them off completely and store them correctly so they keep their shape.
Sounds boujee? Maybe. But when you spend £150 on a pair of boots you ONLY wear for festivals, taking care of them will ensure they last YEARS instead of cracking after one season.
Trust. Green Man, this summer, yo. I’ll be cycling around (actually cycling, not half-wheeling it like last year) happily knowing that my feet will be dry and comfortable whatever Wales throws at me.
Whether that’s my tried and tested Hunters or a pair of these drool-worthy Ilse Jacobsen lace-ups I’m still trying to talk myself into. Trust me on this: good wellies are the secret to a happy festival experience. Feet down = happier you, and who doesn’t want that?
