Fashion In the Wild …

Last week I took a little vacation to PA and camped out for the weekend. It was grand. No phone. No TV. No distractions. It did get me to thinking about what to wear, how to style my hair, etc. I broke many cardinal fashion rules on this trip and must do my due diligence to ensure you folks do not make the same mistakes I did. That being said, here are some tips for being fashionable in the wild …

First – remember that camping means close quarters (tent, cabin, etc.), a lack of showers & varying weather elements. So how does one prep their hair and gear for this? I’ll tell ya how!

Let’s start with hair:

Yep, I spent most of the camping trip looking like this fella. Don’t be me. Invest in some good hair bands, a wrap and clips or bobby pins to keep your hair pulled back & tame. Since washing it may not be feasible, grab yourself some dry shampoo to keep your hair somewhat clean. Minimize the use of heavy hair products with strong scents. In addition to frizz you surely don’t want your head to become a bug haven.

Clothing:

When it comes to clothing & camping, more is more! You want to pack enough clothing to wear layers when necessary. The weather changes in an instant when in the great outdoors. I learned this the hard way when it went from 80 degrees and sweltering by day to me curled up in the fetal position clamoring to turn the heat on by night (yes we were in a cabin with electricity. I camp my way, you camp yours!)

You really want to pack for multiple seasons when camping. Summer gear is a must – tanks, tees, shorts, etc. You also want to include some fall/winter gear like sweatpants, long sleeves shirts, a lightweight jacket. Hats, gloves & a scarf are also a must. These items are small enough to fit into a backpack so they won’t weigh you down.

Remember to roll with synthetic material. Anything too heavy is a no-no, as is cotton which absorbs water easily. And trust me there is nothing worse than being wet & cold while camping!

Shoes:

It’s crucial to have good shoes when camping. Another lesson learned by me. I packed flip flops and ONLY flip flops. Bad call. Flip flops are great for simply sitting around and going to the beach or lake. However, if a walk or hike is a part of your camping experience, flip flops are the absolute worst! They provide no support and are easily broken. You can also injure yourself if you step on something and it goes right through the flimsy material known as whatever is used to make flip flops. Hiking boots or some other supportive footwear is the way to go. Uggs are also a stylish (and warm) alternative when it comes to proper footwear.

Here’s hoping you’re more fashion conscious than I was for your next camping trip!

Photo credit: http://www.crookedbrains.net/2008/07/links.html