Dear reader,
THANK YOU for reading and subscribing. Switching to paid subscriptions is a little scary and complicated but I am entirely grateful for everyone’s encouragement and generous support. I dream of TOGS growing and covering fashion weeks, doing more styling in the wild, maybe even have TOGS collaborations with labels. The world is our oyster!
This creative outlet is so fun for me- I hope it is for you too. I love nothing more than seeing people express themselves. In whatever way that may be. While I feel so lucky to be enveloped by an exceptionally kind community, many mountain towns can be pretty judgmental to those operating outside the box. I know you know what I mean. Where there is a wacky old ski helmet, there is often judgment. If you are wearing something that doesn’t conform to the mountain uniform- you feel the looks. And I know anyone reading from other small towns or smaller pockets of your cities can relate.
This is all to say, it can be intimidating to branch out from the norm in homogenous environments. There’s safety in blending together. It’s the evolutionary reason for zebra’s stripes. If you’re the only pink polka dots in a herd of stripes, you’re going to picked off. But we’re *not* zebras and the celebration of our individuality makes for a better collective. I hope these letters are a contribution to making The Bubble a better place for individual expression. Through fashion or otherwise. A reminder to myself and those reading to celebrate our friends’ creative expression in any and every way. Say it out loud! Never let a kind thought go unsaid. Anyone doing anything outside the status quo takes a little guts.
How to fancify your mountain outfits. Perhaps it will become a series in conjunction with ‘how to mountainify your fancy outfits’. I’m just making up words here, if that’s ok with you. This concept stems from the miserable (to me) feeling of wearing the wrong look for the environment that you’re in. I might absolutely love the outfit, but it may be wrong in one way or another for the setting and that’s uncomfortable. Or feeling like you have an outfit that fits an occasion but it doesn’t feel like YOU. Two very not great feelings that can impact how you move through the world. It can alter an experience!
If I’m going out to eat in a mountain town, or smaller casual location- I’m not going to wear what I’d wear out in Paris. Visa versa. You want to look elevated, but you are still dressing for your specific environment and are therefore confident and comfortable. And that’s the goal, so wear whatever the heck it is that makes you feel good.
A quick Pinterest search for mountain town outfits or mountain outfit inspo yields almost entirely fur jackets and cowboy hats. Whether you live in mountain town and you’re looking for ways to branch outside of the '“uniform” or somewhere else entirely looking for inspiration to switch up a basic outfit, this is for you.
Mountain Town Uniform #1
the ol’ leggings and Blundstones combo.
How I Zhuzhed It Up-
Still a black outfit, but a little baby pop of color. A winter skirt over the same leggings. A similar but elevated boot. And two jacket options-
I want to focus on two things here that I think are the main takeaways- the power that a winter skirt holds and the boots. First, the boots. Do not think that I don’t absolutely adore my Blundstones- I wear them weekly. But I did find that I had a bit of a gap in my wardrobe needs when I was trying to wear a slightly more dressed up winter look and a similar boot. One that was good in the elements, but not a snow boot per se. One that could be dressed down and up, but not as fancy as a tall or heeled boot.
I landed on these from Ganni. Why I like them: The lug sole is cool and very functional in the winter, the black goes with everything, and the tall shaft! The height of the boot makes them look far more elevated because it doesn’t leave a gap with cropped pants or a midi skirt like a pair of Blundstones or booties might.
I bought them majorly discounted and it seems there’s always some for sale out there. I’ve linked a pair that is 75% off here. The platformy lug sole is also functional in that it keeps you up off the cold ground and significantly warmer through the soles of your feet. Think back to high school wearing vans in the winter, good god that was cold. Keep me up and off the ground, thank you!
As always, my goal is to not sell you products, but rather explain why I like something so you can keep those points in mind if you are looking for something that strikes your fancy.
And winter skirts! Such an easy, beautiful, and functional way to dress up the uniform. I’m wearing the same leggings underneath, and yet it’s a completely different look from the outside. This knit material allows for the skirt to be dressed up and down with ease and I’m just happily staying warmer underneath. Two more looks in winter skirts from other days-
Others I love: Gap, Aligne, Woolrich, Bleusalt
Ah winter skirts. They’re cozy, they’re warm, they’re chic. I think men and women should be wearing winter skirts. There I said it. We’d all like a wearable blanket in the winter wouldn’t we?
Mountain Town Uniform #2
Hat, joggers, jacket, slip on shoes. Nothing wrong with it but lets…
Spice it up!
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