A practical & presentable hobby wardrobe

Escaping fantasy; Embracing reality.

I’m fortunate to have a robust and fulfilling list of hobbies that I participate in regularly. I recently moved from Seattle, WA to the Bay Area, CA. While I had an active roster of hobbies back in Seattle, a big reason for the move was that many of the activities I like are enjoyable (by my standards) for a larger portion of the year in the temperate bay area climate. Add a few activities I wasn’t doing in Seattle, a different climate, and an ever-changing body, most of my shopping this end of summer has actually been in support of my hobbies!

However, curating a hobby wardrobe can be a real conundrum if you also care about fashion and aesthetic (I imagine that’s why you’re here?) So I thought I’d be transparent about where I landed, and how I got here.

Let’s start with a fantasy-self board I created a few weeks back.

On the surface, this board looks realistic and reasonable. But I knew at the time I made it that I was prioritizing a certain aesthetic over my own instincts and fit preferences. For example, I like the idea of Blundstone boots, but I can’t find the right fit, and I don’t like how they look on me. Also, I know that I’m not comfortable sailing in jeans (I’ve gone sailing 6 times in the last few months and never once wore jeans) and I’m not always comfortable wearing leggings either. So why are jeans and leggings the predominant bottom option here? Lastly, I find that a dark sports bra with dark leggings emphasizes my tummy in a way that I’m not comfortable with, so right off the bat, that won’t be what I reach for!

Making this board was a great exercise in spelling out the assumptions I had in my head about what it means to be stylish for these activities.

When I let the fantasy-self fester in my mind unfettered, I found making decisions impossible. This fantasy mindset prevented me from buying things that worked (i.e., the pair of Athleta pants that fit great and were practical but not “chic enough”), and encouraging me to buy things that probably wouldn’t work (i.e. returning a whole order from Outdoor Voices).

The act of documenting my so-called ‘dream’ hobby wardrobe helped me realize it really wasn’t that special or perfect, and it wasn’t right for me.

Next, let’s take a look at where I actually landed and how I got there.

I’m always a proponent of trying on clothing in-person, for any type of clothing, but especially athletic-wear due to the necessity of function-first.

Over the last few months, I’ve tried on and found my size and preferred styles at many stores, including Lululemon, Athleta, REI and a few local running stores in my area.

The Criteria: Practical & Presentable

As of writing, I’m participating in varying degrees of hobby/ athletic activities 5-6 times a week, including: walking, hiking, sailing, yoga, running, casual cycling, and lifting.

Given this large range of activities, I wanted most items to be flexible enough to work for many settings, and easily mix and match. I also wanted to:

• Incorporate things I already owned (including a long-sleeve merino top, 2x Athleta sports bras, one pair of running shorts, my rain jacket, and a pair of Tevas)

• Stay reasonably within a color palette

• Only buy what fits my unique body comfortably

• Prioritize layerability for changes in temperature and season

• Find things that were durable and easy to machine wash

• Pick bottoms with stretchy waist bands to afford for fluctuations over the course of the day and over time

• Look reasonably presentable and express some elements of my personality and aesthetic (i.e. minimal, sophisticated but not preppy)

Picking a color palette

One of the key differences between my ‘dream’ hobby wardrobe and the one I went with is color palette. I liked the idea of a very edited monochromatic white, gray and blue palette, but when it came down to it, I couldn’t find the fit I liked in those colors. And that’s ok! I did decide to stick with a muted (colors have gray in them) palette which works well with my soft coloring. Also, I’ve been strategic about the use and placement of color - specifically I like wearing more ‘colorful’ bottoms with white tops, or a monochromatic look with top and bottom matching. Although a white top is not always the most robust solution (i.e. risk of stains), when I try other colors I often regret it! Know thyself.

Choosing how to bring in visual interest

In my opinion, not everything in a hobby wardrobe needs to be equally visually interesting or expressive. I personally accepted that my running shoes should be 100% function first, color / appearance second. To accommodate that, I like having a matching shirt and shorts, because I do feel that a monochromatic look conveys Fashion, despite a less aesthetic pair of shoes. And, I chose a sleek version of a hydration pack that resonates with my more minimal aesthetic. It’s the little things that count.

As of writing, my hobby wardrobe is comprised of:

• Three off-white bras comfortable enough for casual wear, and compressive enough for running. They’re also all full-coverage enough to wear on their own with high-waisted shorts. Two are the seamless kind from Athleta and one is a Cloud bra from Lululemon.

• Two pairs of full-length leggings, both from Quince, one navy, one blue-gray

• Two running shorts, both the REI Active Pursuits 4.5”

• Three long-sleeve tops, two lightweight tops from Mountain Hardware, one merino wool from Icebreaker (I like long sleeves year-round for sun protection!)

• One long windbreaker from Athleta

• One short rain / snowboard jacket from Mountain Hardware

• One hydration pack from REI brand

• One pair of hiking shoes from ON

• One pair of water sandals from Teva

• One pair of running shoe from ASICS

And because bodies and needs change, I also have (and am not using)

• Two pairs of Quince leggings in a smaller size

• One pair of Lululemon biker shorts in a smaller size

I’m considering parting with:

• A boxy white short-sleeve top from Athleta that I liked better on my body when I was a different size

• One Patagonia down jacket that is too heavy / warm for the Bay Area

• An Athleta skort that I bought on sale, it gets really swampy (TMI??)

And, I’ve already parted with:

• Two sports bras - (notably, both were in colors other than white) due to fit issues - one not supportive enough (Quince) and the other too tight on the band (Oiselle). Realizing I was ready to part with these immediately reduced my desire to buy more sports bras, similar to how I wrote about the distraction of the ‘wrong thing.’

• One pair of On running shoes that wore out!

• One pair of Tevas that I wore out!

And if you’re interested, a few folks also sharing on hobby wardrobes / athleisure: Every Body Gets Dressed, and Jessica Rose Williams.

For paid subscribers, keep reading for how much I spent on my hobbies & this wardrobe in 2024: