What's Your Fancy?: Penelope Chilvers Shares Her English Country Style Essentials

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

The year was 2004. Kate Middleton was 22 years old, a student at St. Andrews University, and happily dating Prince William. While attending an event in Oxfordshire, the future royal was photographed wearing a pair of burgundy riding boots by a designer named Penelope Chilvers. It was this pair, the Long Tassel Boots, that not only catapulted Kate into a royal fashion icon, but turned Chilvers into a household designer name.

Having Kate's support after all these years has "been wonderful because she puts across the message to a brand that stands for longevity really well," Chilvers tells T&C. "The boots are her go-to staple for anything she does in the countryside and they just get better and better with age. She was one of the first people in such a public position to not be scared to wear something that isn't new. She's become very popular for it and so has the brand." (In fact, the style even makes an appearance in the upcoming season of The Crown.)

Flash forward to now, Chilvers's iconic footwear has become synonymous with English country styling. "A really good pair of boots is absolutely essential [in the countryside]," Chilvers, who lives in the picturesque Cotswolds, says. "Preferably a boot that you can go out walking in to stay warm and healthy." Equally as important: a tweed jacket and warm socks.

"Because of our unpredictable weather, I think that layering is very important because you never know what kind of day it's going to be," explains Chilvers. "We can't be too precious about it because of the rain and the wind. We're a bit of a mess, really."

"People aren't scared to wear secondhand because it actually looks a bit silly to wear something that's brand new in the countryside," she continues. "We wear our clothes and boots until they've been polished and mended. That's very much a look that I like for myself and for the brand."

Ahead, Chilvers—who launched a new collection with designer India Hicks (also, goddaughter to King Charles III!) earlier this month—shares more of her English country style essentials.

Blizzard Sweater

"Lady [Carole] Bamford's field to fork philosophy of everything being local runs through her work. Her knitwear is made quite close to here. Sometimes she even uses the wool from her own sheep and I like the way it's local and very good quality. I like to wear the sweater with the Nelson Boot, which is one of our best-sellers."

Signature Quilt

"I love the way Marfa Stance layers everything. You can put three layers of Marfa Stance on and you don't look too big. It looks wonderful and it's just great for all weather, and it's cool. I love what she's doing."

Inclement Cropped Tassel Boot - Dark Oak

"Going back to the beginning, I started with my Long Tassel Boot, which was made with a beautiful vegetable-dyed leather and unlined. Since then we've built on that part of the family of tassel boots to include our Inclement range, which has a SympaTex lining (similar to GorTex). They last up to 20 hours in wet weather and stay dry even though they are made of leather and oiled suede. They're very easy."

Inuit Felt Slipper

"We live in a very old house; it's over 300 years old and we've got big old flagstone floors, which are protected by historic bodies. We can't take them up and put in under floor heating or dig under to give proper foundations, so they're always very cold. We always sell our Inuit slippers to customers who say they've got these same old floors without foundations. The slippers have solid rubber soles and are made of felt; they're just the warmest slippers. You can wear them with socks, to run out to get the logs, or see the postman in the garden."

Wool Socks

"If you haven't got a good pair of socks to put on, it's so frustrating. You want a good quality sock that doesn't fall down inside your jeans and can wash well.

I went up to the Arctic Circle to meet the Sami people, who are like the Inuits but on the other side of the Atlantic. They live in very cold climates and really know how to stay warm. I asked them about modern materials versus ancient wool, and they said that wool really has the warmest fiber that you can wear on your feet. It retains heat and it's breathable, and that's something that fascinates me as a footwear designer."

Hacking Jacket

"Katherine Hooker does very beautiful cuts and I know that she has a big following in America. Her coats are timeless and they're great for country events for when you just want to look a little bit smarter than wearing your father's old tweed jacket. I've got two or three of her jackets and I absolutely love them. They're easy to slip on and off with a thick [sweater] underneath. They last forever. I'd pair it with our Finna boots, which has got a bit of a heel. You can wear it with a skirt or cropped jean."

Gaelle Dress

"I love Ulla Johnson's palette. In the country, there are certain colors that just don't work. Although bright orange or fuchsia pink that work in the summer, in winter I don't think it looks so good. So Ulla's palette of beautiful natural color always looks amazing."

Mid Mary Jane Velvet Shoe - Honey/Gold

"A flat shoe for the evening in the country is essential. I think these would look amazing with an Ulla Johnson dress. I'd probably wear those shoes out for lunch or dinner."

BLACKLION Vodka 70 cl

"I like to buy local. I light a candle and have a long bath with a great book with Blacklion Vodka, which is just down the road from here. I like it with Slimeline tonic."

You Might Also Like

• 12 Weekend Getaway Spas For Every Type of Occasion

• 13 Beauty Tools to Up Your At-Home Facial Game