Sartorially speaking...
…it really oughtn’t to matter.
At least, that’s what I tell myself whenever I survey my photos post a hike and observe - ruefully - how a dull outfit or a chapped lower lip demotes an otherwise-pretty picture from gram status. And it’s what my tough adventurous side wants me to believe. “You’re in the jungle, baby - un-glam is the real glam. Get out there, get messy, get your hair tangled, who cares whether or not you remembered to put on concealer?” In all the blogs about dressing for a hike, fashion - prominently - does not figure. Going by that, you might believe that the outdoors community has no time for couture.
I call bull on that.
Because here’s a truth that many pretend to deny - us hiking bloggers have the photographic element in mind when we hike. Yes, the hiking itself is for the nature immersion and the health benefits and the self-love and the sheer joy of exploration - but also, always, the photos. They’re what attract the attention of followers and algorithms, and they’re our little piece of validation reminding a future self that we actually did hike that 14er. And when we aim our tripod at the perfect congruence of sun and summit and strike a pose, you bet your ass we’ll hate it if we come out looking just short of perfect because our waistband scrunched up or our top looked washed out in the sunlight. The latter happened to me recently, near the Stanford Dish. We were doing a sunset hike, the colours were out of this world, hubs took a photo of me. It could have been a winner, but - I was wearing the wrong shade of blue. The picture never made it online. But that was also the day I wished someone - some honest, understanding, fashion-conscious fellow hiker - had pointed me towards the guide on how to pair outfits with scenery for the best photographic pop.
Someday, I hope to start a fashion revolution where the trail is as much a runway as any runway (minus the heels). For now, I’ve cobbled together my very own trail fashion guide, based on enough personal experiments and stalking of celeb-ish hiking blogs that I can promise it’s legit. I hope to keep updating this list over time and create a go-to all-weather resource of sorts, one that will help hikers as much as all the advice about moisture-wicking synthetics and buying $$$ of thermal underwear. Because hey - when you’re out pursuing an activity you love, you have every right to look fantastic doing so.
In lieu of an authoritative outfit-scenery pairing guide, try to match what you’re wearing to the general terrain you’ll be hitting. A hot day through rocky passes? Shades of cream, blue and peach work. A forest trail? Black with a jewel-toned tee or hoodie to make the colours pop. Lakes? Pick happy pastel colours for posing against the water. The time of day matters too. Spring afternoon? Bright reds and pinks will help you bloom. Chasing sunsets? Rich tones of wine, olive, brown and orange are perfect. Look up pictures of the trail at different times of the day so that you know exactly what kind of colours to expect.
By and large, what you wear to the gym will work on a hike. Sports bras, tank tops, leggings, all perfect. Just avoid the booty shorts - see below point.
Invest in a nice pair of thigh-length denim shorts. They don’t roll up, they don’t give you wedgies and they can withstand a catastrophic amount of dust. For a different aesthetic, try biker shorts. They’re long enough that the leg part won’t awkwardly roll up (ahem, booty shorts), and will look super-flattering in side profile shots.
If you’re susceptible to bloating, or simply want to minimise how your stomach looks, wear long tees or shirts over your pants. Or, wear high-waisted leggings or biker shorts that naturally slim your appearance.
Never mind what the websites say - cotton is absolutely fine to wear, and is in fact ideal for the hotter hikes. So if you have shirts or tops you like to wear on regular outings, go ahead and wear them on a hike. Just have an outer layer handy for if it gets cold.
Searched through your wardrobe and realised all you have are ash-grey yoga pants and a sports bra with the cookies missing? One word - Target. Reasonable prices, and a surprisingly wide range of activewear.
Choose your outerwear with care. Some hoodies can look very lumpy, for which a good solution is wearing a well-fitted top that won’t bunch up when you put the hoodie on. Perhaps the best for milder weather is a denim jacket, or even leather if you’re feeling fancy. Colder weather, I’ll have to come back to once I’ve hiked in it
(we get loooong summers here in California).Hiking shoes - now here’s where I’m going to say function over form. You need something that has good traction, so an ordinary running shoe won’t cut it. Try to invest in something highly rated, even if it means a few extra dollars. I spent around $160 for my The North Face shoes, and I’m yet to regret it. (Bonus - if you squint hard enough at my photos, you’ll see that they have cute pink accents.)
More tips to come, as and when I test and validate them. And next week - a guide to skincare and makeup.