Wilderness chic

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Wilderness chic (Also know as Outdoor chic/fashion) is a current fashion fad that is centered around the look of hikers, climbers, and mountaineers. This fashion fad is particularly prominent in Japan and on college campuses across the United States. The fad consists of clothing designed for mountaineering worn during normal daily activities. Outdoor clothing is worn for daily casual wear because of its durability since outdoor gear is normally designed to withstand rough weather conditions and terrain one might encounter in rural and sometimes urban environments and also because of its versatility.

[edit] Clothing

Among the most popular brands are Arc'teryx, The North Face, Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, Marmot, and Columbia Sportswear. Ugg boots are increasingly popular among sorority girls, although originally designed for high altitude or extremely cold conditions. Although they first appeared a few years earlier, Timberland boots are yet another example of a fashionable item that originally came with a practical outdoors use.

This aesthetic has also been relatively popular in Scotland, both urban and rural, for a number of years. Although this probably has as much to do with Scotland's climate as it does fashion and is not influenced by fads elsewhere, the term "Wilderness chic" would not be recognized in Scotland and the aesthetic is mostly confined to coats, jackets and boots, rather than any other accessories. Cold winters and a rainy climate often make it practical clothing rather than purely fashionable. Popular brands include Norwegian manufacturers Helly Hansen and British brands Berghaus and Regatta.

[edit] Accessories

The trend extends beyond clothing and on to accessories carried by individuals. Nalgene bottles can commonly be seen hanging by carabiners from the straps of North Face backpacks across college campuses. These backpacks were originally designed to carry hiking and camping supplies but are now used as common bookbags.

[edit] Wilderness chic in popular culture

This trend is also noticeable in recent television shows and movies. The success of television shows such as Man vs. Wild, Survivorman, and Everest: Beyond the Limit exacerbate the popularity of the wilderness lifestyle. Also, films such as Vertical Limit and Into Thin Air portray the fad.