after doing a post about my little day hike on saturday, i started thinking about how to dress for a hike while still being stylish. comfort is number one when dressing for more athletic adventures like hiking, cycling, swimming, or sports. whenever i’m getting ready to do anything of that sort, i usually find myself in outdoorsy shops like rei. they have really amazing gear and apparel made with all sorts of fancy trademarked fabrics like gore-tex® and conduit™ and infidry™. they all seem really practical, but i have to say, most of it is less than attractive. do i really have to look like some sort of super-hero/astronaut to go on a hike?

so after some heavy internet searching, i came up with this snazzy little guide loosely based on pictures of hikers i’ve seen in silly nature books from the 70’s.

union suit: ll bean
if it’s a particularly chilly day, i recommend wearing long johns underneath your outfit. i am in love with this bright red union suit from ll bean, though i understand that this might cause some logistical problems. you could also swap this out for a nice set of long underwear from smartwool.

thermal henley: chloe sevigny for opening ceremony
i picked this one because it’s so stylish, but you can easily find a thermal shirt at a thrift shop or american apparel for a much better price.

flannel shirt: pendleton meets opening ceremony
ditto on the flannel shirt. if you keep your eye out, you can definitely score a vintage pendleton at a thrift shop for a really good price. and you just can’t beat those beautiful pendleton colors.

parka: fjallraven
this might be the one item you would want to splurge on for the winter months. when i saw the fjallraven crystal lite parka on the steven alan website, i died. it is hands down the perfect utilitarian parka that will last a lifetime. it’s pricey, but i seriously think it would be worth it. i’m saving my pennies right now!

skinny jeans: cheap monday
i’m one of those people who can’t stand extra bulk on my legs while hiking. i like the streamlined look and fit of skinny jeans, but they can sometimes be restricting. i own this pair of cheap mondays in the very stretch dark wash. they’re so incredibly stretchy and comfortable that they feel like leggings.

wool socks: smartwool
i know you’ve heard me talk about my love of smartwool socks before. if you don’t have a pair, get some! they’re more expensive than regular socks, but once you try them, you’ll never go back to cotton. they’re super warm but still breathable, so you’re feet never get sweaty. these outdoorsman socks are super thick, so they’re perfect to scrunch up a bit and tuck your jeans into.

wafflestompers: alico
i really love the look of the classic vintage “wafflestompers” with red laces. unfortunately, they’re very rare and hard to find (for obvious reasons) and i don’t know if i would want to wear someone’s old, used hiking boots anyway. alico has some really classic boots without all the silly pink and blue decorations you see on most women’s hiking boots. throw on some red laces and you’re good to go!

backpack: fjallraven
and of course, you’ll need to bring a few supplies and a light lunch on your hike. why not go for a colorful little fjallraven backpack? the mini comes in a million pretty colors. or you can try one of their larger, vintage packs. if you’re doing a hiking/camping trip, just switch out the day pack for a retro, external frame backpack. i got one from jansport (who knew?) that i absolutely love.

alright, now enjoy your hike!