The fashionista anxiously clutches her designer purse and approaches with trepidation, relying on the encouragement of her mate.
“Come on!” he says. “Just imagine we’re walking into a department store.”
But this was not the type of store she was used to. In place of beautiful mannequins and pretty displays of shoes, all she could see were rows upon rows of breathable material, clips, buckles and zippers. How did she find herself so far from her natural habitat and in the backpack aisle of popular adventure store MEC?
The answer requires us to rewind—a week prior, to be exact. It was then that I discovered, to my delight, that I was to embark on my first assignment for VITA: an incredible trip to Tofino with Samsung Canada to celebrate the launch of the new Galaxy S8. Naturally, my mind turned to my wardrobe. This floral smock paired with mustard cable knits and a loafer would do just the trick. Yes, that would set the tone.
That was, until I received the itinerary, and one particular element really jumped out: nestled between small plane ride (YIKES!) and two nights’ stay at the legendary Wickaninnish Inn (YES!) was a really big marine mammal … the biggest in fact. That’s right, we were going whale watching! And, I am scared of whales: their sheer size and a distant memory of Jonah. Or was it Pinocchio? One species actually has “killer” in its title. The only place I’m good with this word is when paired with "heel".
So, the bohemian Ralph Lauren esthetic I had planned just wasn’t going to cut it. Nope, it would have to be athleisure. It’s a strange phenomenon, but, when dressing day to day, I normally just do it (I appreciate the irony here) yet, when it comes to sportswear, I lose all sense of style. Like a fish out of water—or, rather, a whale out of ocean?
So that’s how I found myself on the hunt for an outfit that pivots around three main principles: 1) warmth (I’m pretty strict with myself on this rule. Being cold makes me grumpy and I feel athleisure should be accessorized with a smile. RBF doesn’t work in the same way it does in high fashion); 2) comfort (I’m generally less of a stickler on this one (heels, statement earrings, red lips—all awkward to wear but so damn worth it) but, in this case, a three-hour hike merited sneakers and leggings); and 3) disguise (all black was out of the question. There was no way I was going to be mistaken by an orca for a seal and gobbled up! So, I invested in these patterned leggings, which matched my sneakers—perfect … I think?
And, of course, the whole trigger for this excursion: some sort of practical receptacle for my whale watching and hiking essentials (rubber boots, phone, extra layers, money, lipstick). So, I went classic on the backpack—a grey one with mustard-yellow accents—totally workable and, I have to admit, extremely useful! Like the sporty version of Mary Poppins’ tapestry bag (and without the unequal distribution of weight). I’m already saving up for the Gucci one. It’s lucky for my wallet I only found out about these after my trip!
Speaking of wallet, I also invested in a sporty little bag to be worn around the waist. Yes, yes OK, it was a fanny pack. I needed it for quick access to the essential essentials (phone, my lipstick).
After the MEC trip, anything was possible! I fearlessly donned my newly acquired athleisure gear. I hung from the side of the little boat capturing pictures of the two grey whales we spotted only 20-feet away from us (the Galaxy S8’s camera proved especially useful in this endeavour, thanks to its dual-pixel sensor and bright lens that deliver photos that are super crisp and vivid). I chatted with my new friends as we hiked through Tofino’s rainforest. The sky was the limit! Literally. The plane trip on the way over in 70-kilometre winds was my only downfall. Not literally, thank goodness. Although, in my mind, whether we’d make it off alive was definitely touch and go. On the upside, nothing seals friendship like mutual panic.
So what happens when a fashionista is let loose in the wild? All the Fs: friends, fun, fashion … and, a fanny pack. —Tori Clark
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