I moved to the countryside and felt dowdier by the day – here’s how I got my style back

What about the bottom half? Skinny jeans make me feel too trussed up these days. I prefer a baggier trouser, but that’s totally impractical for welly tucking – and if I’m wearing a short welly, they just drag. Do I need to return to the skinnies, or – horror – embrace athleisurewear?

No, no, no, says Fullerton; “there’s an option between the leggings and jeans”. One is to go for cord or velvet trousers, in a straight or narrow leg – M&S does the former every year, in a multitude of colours and slightly different shapes. That also breaks up the jeans + jumper formula. Can I wear my new favourite barrel-leg jeans with wellies? Absolutely, says Fullerton – a slightly baggier pair tucked into jeans looks more modern anyway, or with a shorter welly I just need to wear some chunky socks to fill any gaps and keep my legs cosy. Hat-wise, a baseball cap – in suede or waxed leather – is a much cooler option than a trad fedora, or a baker-boy style cap.

I spend a good proportion of my time indoors, however, working in my tiny study and trying not to keep my little electric heater permanently on (it costs a bomb to run, dries my skin and makes my hair go madly static). I default to tracksuit bottoms, a big jumper and very worn sheepskin slippers – not exactly an inspirational office look.

“You can very easily spiral into misery and depression when you’re doing that,” warns Fullerton. “If you’ve got lovely things, wear them. Keep that happiness in your clothes.” That means pulling out the lovely cashmere cardigan in favour of the moth-eaten jumper, or investing in a beautiful pair of velvet house slippers, sticking a sheepskin sole inside and wearing them with a fun pair of socks. Again, layering is key, for warmth – “but make it lovely”. A layering top doesn’t have to be a bog-standard thermal: Fullerton advises looking to places like Boden or Me+Em for their layering tops which come with a frill at the cuff or neck, and then throwing a waistcoat on top of a jumper or cardigan for an extra layer of warmth.

This could also be my moment for a kilt – but worn with a chunky jumper and with a stout pair of boots to add a bit of a punk edge: an easy look for indoors or outdoors. And “put jewellery on, and lipstick, and have your nails done. It’s just that little bit of elevation.”

One of the scenarios that seems to cause me the most grief nowadays is what to wear to go out. I pull out my old out-out clothes and put them back again – they look brash and overdone up here, or once again, not warm enough to tackle a November dinner party that involves a bit of a walk.

Velvet, says Fullerton, is my new best friend: it’s warm, it’s glamorous, and if it gets mud on it, it’ll brush off when the mud dries. A velvet dress can be layered with a thin thermal; a pair of velvet trousers paired with a pretty blouse (and a camisole underneath) makes it look like I’ve made an effort while actually just being a variation on jeans and a nice top.

At the end of our two-hour Zoom session I’m feeling much cheerier, and positively inspired. Yes I may have to make some investments. And those tailored trousers can probably stay packed away for now. But I feel as if I’ve got myself back again. Now I just need to go shopping.

Look one: Out for dinner

I’d normally default to a wide trouser in the evening, but that often feels like too much material to drag around. These velvet Boden trousers are a great alternative – warm and comfortable, but still feel like me given the print. The blouse makes the leopard pop, but is super-easy to wear (and would look great with jeans); the quilted jacket adds warmth and glamour and flat shoes are always easier when it comes to picking your way across a farmyard.