A silly or serious make-over?
Wellies, or Wellington boots in full, used to be as far from the fashion limelight as it is possible to go. Even woolly slippers have more style.

Normally, it is so hard to find a shoe-shop on the high street that sells wellies, you could be forgiven for thinking they hardly count as footwear at all. Not now.

The humble, down-to-earth wellie has finally had a make-over. From lace-ups, to exotic fabrics, to wedge-heels, this seasons’ wellies are bright and eye-catching, striking in design, and beautifully coloured. In bold contrast to its plain green or black and somewhat dowdy tradition, wellie style this winter is as desirable - and pricey - as any city chic boot.

Characterful footwear
The welly has a reputation for being functional and boring. They are named after the Duke of Wellington, himself, a larger than life sort of character.

Made for the outdoor life, they are big, flat and clumpy: a no-nonsense sort of boot. Yet, they also have the power to make you smile, because after all, with all that protection on your feet, outdoor terrain, mud and puddles suddenly become something to revel in rather than avoid.

You may initially feel a little ungainly wearing wellies, but you soon warm to the intrepid and fun-loving outlook they bestow upon their owners.  

All sorts of people are attracted to wellies:
•Parents love to make infants wear them in wet weather to help keep clumsy feet dry.

•People in certain types of occupations wear them for practical reasons: farmers, fishermen and medical staff in operating theatres.

•Music festival goers usually invest in a pair because of the outdoor field locations.

•Land-owning country-types wear luxury brand versions – and people with lifestyle aspirations imitate them.

•Others wear them out of sheer quirkiness - because they just don’t care what anyone thinks of their dress sense

Welly words and phrases
•Welly-wanging – a boot-throwing competition, the furthest wins.  Traditionally done at village fetes and country fairs.

•Welly brigade – upper middle-class and country-types.  Luxury brands to go with upmarket outdoor leisure pursuits of hunting, fishing, and shooting.

•Give it some welly – put energy into something – pushing, hitting and digging. Refers to the robustness of a traditional welly.

•The welly-boot song – a famous ditty by Billy Connolly, a Scottish comedian.

Anatole
February 2005