And the bottom half? Skinny jeans make me feel too attached these days. I prefer looser pants, but they’re totally impractical for tucking in wellies – and if I wear short wellies, they just drag. Should I go back to skinnies or – horror – embrace sportswear?

No, no, no, said Fullerton; “there is an option between leggings and jeans”. The first is to opt for velvet or velor pants, with a straight or narrow leg – M.S. made the first one every year, in a multitude of slightly different colors and shapes. This also breaks the jeans + sweater formula. Can I wear my new favorite straight leg jeans with rubber boots? Absolutely, says Fullerton – a slightly looser pair tucked into jeans looks more modern anyway, or with shorter wellies I just need to wear chunky socks to fill in the gaps and keep my legs warm. On the hat side, a baseball cap – in suede or waxed leather – is a much cooler option than a traditional fedora or baker-style cap.

However, I spend a lot of my time indoors, working in my small office and trying not to keep my little electric heater on all the time (it costs a ton to run, dries out my skin and makes my incredibly static hair). I default to tracksuit bottoms, a chunky sweater, and well-worn sheepskin slippers – not exactly an inspiring office look.

“By doing this, you can very easily fall into misery and depression,” warns Fullerton. “If you have nice things, wear them. Keep this happiness in your clothes. That means ditching the cute cashmere cardigan in favor of the moth-eaten sweater, or investing in a nice pair of velvet slippers, sticking a sheepskin sole on them, and wearing them with a pair of fun socks. Again, layering is key for added warmth – “but make it charming”. A layered top doesn’t have to be a standard thermal garment: Fullerton says to look to places like Boden or Me+Em for their layered tops that feature a ruffle at the cuffs or neck, then throw on a vest over a top. sweater or cardigan for an extra layer of warmth.

This might also be my kilt moment – ​​but worn with a chunky sweater and with a chunky pair of boots to add a bit of punk edge: an easy look to wear indoors or out. And “put on jewelry, lipstick and get your nails done.” It’s just that little bit of elevation.

One of the scenarios that seems to cause me the most grief these days is what to dress for going out. I dig out my old clothes and put them back on – they look brash and overdone here, or again, not warm enough to tackle a November dinner that involves a little walk.

Velvet, Fullerton says, is my new best friend: It’s warm, it’s glamorous, and if it gets mud on it, it will come off when the mud dries. A velvet dress can be layered over a thin thermal; velvet pants paired with a cute blouse (and a camisole underneath) makes it look like I made an effort while really just being a variation on jeans and a cute top.

At the end of our two-hour Zoom session, I feel much more joyful and positively inspired. Yes, I may have to make some investments. And those fitted pants can probably stay put away for now. But I feel like I’ve found myself again. All I have to do now is go shopping.

Watch One: Out for Dinner

I would normally default to wearing wide-leg pants in the evening, but that often seems like too much fabric to have lying around. These Boden velvet pants are a great alternative – warm and comfortable, but still on me given the print. The blouse brings out the leopard, but it’s very easy to wear (and would look great with jeans); the quilted jacket adds warmth and glamor and flats are always easier when it comes to making your way around a farmyard.