Are clothes tools, or are they decoration?
When I think about it, they're probably both. But the side I care about more is their role as a “tool.”
On a ride through cold air, I once discovered, “Oh, if I do it this way I can ride comfortably even on a freezing winter day!” For me, that feeling was a jolt, like electricity zapping through my body, a shock and a thrill.
Clothes that actually work with the weather and the environment. Clothes that move with your body and your senses. Ever since I learned that, for me clothes have to work as tools first, before they're decoration.
My pick: PATAGONIA Baggies Shorts
Yanase also called them a “classic” in the Vol.2 blog, but these super-miracle-long-selling PATAGONIA Baggies Shorts are the item I really want to push.
Not chasing trends.
Keeping a classic going as a classic.
Not constantly churning out something new, but continuing to make things that last.
And all of that connecting back to protecting the planet.
Baggies Shorts have barely changed since they first went on sale, and people have loved them for over 40 years. I feel like Patagonia's whole philosophy lives inside them.
What makes them great is really simple: they're light, easy to move in, and quick to dry.
There are no special gimmicks, but little things like the drawstring waist instead of a belt mean nothing digs in or gets in your way. They're comfy enough to sleep in. (Hey, it happens some days.)
Morning Shorts Style
I recently started running in the mornings.
There's a line in “Hello! Orange Sunshine” by JUDY AND MARY, one of my all-time favorite bands, ♪about shaping a slim body into a tough one
and I've taken it to heart, so I'm right in the middle of getting slim and tough...! The goal is a healthy body!!!
I still worry about getting sunburned, though, so I pair them with the PATAGONIA M’s L/S Cap Cool Sun Shirt, which is all about UV protection and wicking.
When you're running, the lighter you are the better, and this light, easy-moving combo does its job as a tool perfectly.
Everyday Shorts Style
Morning activity done, time to recharge for the day ahead!!! Just throw on a hoodie and you've switched to a casual look that's perfect for this time of year.
The hoodie is the PATAGONIA W’s ’95 Oval Logo Daily Hoody, which came out this season. The ’95 oval logo was just too cute, so I had to get it. That one is totally about clothes as decoration, I admit.
A hoodie with shorts is the ultimate classic combo. It's enough to head out into town, and it's a style I often wear when I'm working in the shop, too.
Baggies Shorts tend to be thought of first as “amphibious” shorts, but they fit right in with casual outfits like this, and they're great for pedaling a bike, too.
Personally, I love pairing shorts with BEDROCK SANDALS' Mountain Clog, and having fun mixing in different socks.
Today I went with the Burgundy from the alpine plant field guide series.
Trends alone don't last more than 40 years.
Something that excels as a tool can also be loved as decoration. Something that makes your body comfortable can also set the mood for your whole day. (By “set the mood” I don't just mean calming down; I also mean lifting your spirits, enjoying the season, or getting yourself fired up.)
They slip easily into either style; a tool you can really use, and at the same time decoration that genuinely makes you want to wear it.
Maybe the reason Baggies Shorts have been loved for so long is that they naturally have both of those sides.
There's still so much depth to “how to choose and enjoy clothes,” and I'm going to keep exploring it.
Next month, the theme will be “Outdoor Event Style.” It's the season when one fun event after another comes along, after all! Stay tuned ♪
