Clothing should do two things: facilitate your purpose and make you look good.
Those are the rules. What’s your purpose? Where are you going? What are you going to do once you get there? Answer those questions and you’re at least half-way there. The rest is about looking fly.
You gotta stick to that order, though. Function over form.
Here are a couple of girls who have reversed the priorities. Fly as all get out, but only until the tide rolls in. There’s nothing cute about being choked to death by your own bustle.
Whenever you’re spending time in the elements, you wanna think about layers. We’ll start this conversation from the inside out.
Base Layer
This is the part closest to your skin, apart from underwear. I like merino wool. It’s a soft, natural fiber that regulates temperature beautifully. A light merino wool base layer will breathe well enough to keep on for most, if not all day, and can still insulate against the cold even while wet. Sheep don’t shiver, yo.
Middle Layer
This layer is all about keeping the heat in, in style. This is the layer that most people will see for most of the day, so make sure that your signature is all over it.
But remember the vintage clam diggers above: function over form. You want to look good, but you also want pockets. You want long sleeves so that you have the option of rolling them up or leaving them down as weather and activity dictates. Maybe something in flannel or a light hoodie.
Outer Layer
This is the layer that protects you from the elements. Get yourself a waterproof (or at least water resistant) windbreaker. It gets breezy on those island bluffs and a good windbreaker will keep the chill out. Make sure you’ve got a beanie. Wearing one to bed will really go a long way toward keeping you warm and comfortable. A scarf is also an awesome thing to have for so many reasons. A nice bit of cloth can warm you up, help you carry things, keep you clean, and even hold your pants up
Keeping warm, by the way, is largely a function of not getting cold in the first place. Clothing can’t warm you up. It’s just physics. Clothing has no heat of its own that it can transfer to you.
Rather, clothing insulates. It helps to trap the heat energy that your body would otherwise release. If you’re already cold and try to bundle up after the fact, without an external heat source it could be a while before you’re even close to comfortable. And no campfires allowed.
Remember that and be sure to add a layer (or seal off the layers you already have on) the moment you begin to feel you are losing more heat than you want to.
Footwear
I like sandals. Sister Sama likes boots, and although her feet ALWAYS fare better than mine after a long hike, this is an island. I can’t imagine wearing anything other than sandals. But maybe the compromise is to wear your hiking shoes and throw a pair of sandals in your day pack for when you’re on the beach.
I rarely wear socks, but for some people they are an absolute necessity. And again, my feet are odoriferous stumps of shredded callouses, cracked seams, and blisters in various states of disrepair. So unless you’re into that, send a message to Sister Sama and do what she says.
Swimwear
To repeat, this is an island. You will be surrounded by water. Even if you can’t swim, you should definitely pack clothing that will allow you to wade with confidence. I can’t recommend Splashgear highly enough.
If you do swim, you are in for a treat.
The kelp beds all around the island are teeming with aquatic life and the accessible beaches are sheltered and generally calm. Bring a mask and a snorkel for some real fun!
I think that about covers it. We’ll talk about food next time.
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