One thing that has been super fun in starting this Substack is that I often have friends asking me for recommendations that range far and wide in scope. One, “where is a good place to get furniture reupholstered in Missoula?” Another, “Do you have any clothes that I could wear for a music video shoot?” One of my favorites, from animal bodyworker and life coach & thoughtful human extraordinaire, Kris:
I work with horses in western Montana (& further afield) and I want to figure out my ‘horse uniform.’ I need clothes that stand up to hard work, but I want to look professional and make a statement. I’m looking for long sleeves with no words or logos, a wide brimmed hat, work pants that are flattering and have pockets. I’ll probably get steel toe work boots soon, and need clothes that will work in summer and winter. Rugged hipster cowgirl-ish!?
Admittedly I’ve been sitting on this question for longer than I should, but mostly because I was having so much fun envisioning what this could look like and generating ideas, but Kris, today I have some ideas for you!! I think that a lot of these ideas are both timeless and speak to current trends, and also perfect for fall. Although today is focused on women’s wear l, I think a lot of these styles have male counterparts or are gender-neutral. When putting together a vision for what this work uniform might look like, I was looking for natural fibers, classic lines and minimal design, as well as function when working with large animals out in the elements- hot sun, cold wind, rain/snow/mud, and everything in-between. (This email is a long one, so you may need to open in the Substack app or in your browser to catch it all.) A quick note that I usually try to buy secondhand when possible, and I’ve found Gem to be helpful in searching a wide range of secondhand sites.
Here we go, from top to bottom!
Headwear- when thinking about both sun protection as well as winter warmth, two styles of hats came to mind. One, a lightweight brimmed hat that would provide a lot of sun protection. Two, a cozy warm hat that will stay put and not fall into your eyes.
Sing Hat Company is a woman-owned company based in Jackson, Wyoming. The hats are lovingly crafted in-house by a team of women, led by Christy Sing Robertson. I first learned of these hats through a dear friend who wore one to a farm party this summer, and I’ve coveted one ever since.
Lloyd is an independent clothing company based in Vancouver, Canada. I love the lines of their fleece toques, as well as the colors, close fit, and unique design.
Neck- When working outside, neckwear is super helpful in similar ways as hats- for sun protection in the summer and warmth in the winter. I think a great vintage cotton bandana, hand-dyed silk scarf, or knit scarf is not only functional, but a great accessory to any outfit.
August is a favorite shop of mine in northern Michigan. Well curated, beautiful to spend time in, and has great new and vintage wares.
Walrus Baby Textiles uses plant dyes to create beautiful color and pattern on a number of different textiles- the silk scarves look particularly dreamy.
I know my horse friend Kris is a great craftswoman, but this pattern looks totally doable for beginners (in fact, its on my list to make in a bright cobalt blue!).
Core- I have so many ideas for baselayers, shirts, mid-layers, and jackets, so I’m including just a few photos and a myriad of links.
Baselayers- It is possible I’ll become a broken record when speaking about how great Mairin clothing is (and the founder both here & interviewed here), but I think you couldn’t do any better than a merino wool long sleeve or tank top in any season. Made of wool from the American West and US made to boot, these un-dyed and plant dyed baselayers are great for any season.
Tops- I have a slew of short and long sleeve shirts (many that I own) that I think would be super functional for summer and winter alike. Most (all?) are made in the USA of sustainable fabrics and are sturdy and durable enough for everyday wear, tear, and washing. Le Bon Shoppe ease tees are thick and durable, and have great structure that help them look polished. Jungmaven's garments are tried and true- durable and get better with age. Hemp is a natural, restorative, heritage crop that has so many benefits to us and the earth. Love this cotton, made in LA chambray shirt that is boxy enough to look great, but still durable enough for everyday work. I fully stand by any Imogene + Willie tee or tank. Linen is a great natural fabric that provides durability, sun protection, and temperature regulation. Threw this one in just for fun ;)
Mid-Layers- This category may be even more robust than the tops, but might be my favorite! I pulled some overshirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, chore jackets, and vests for a variety of uses and seasons. This overshirt is from Los Angeles based Big Bud Press and would look great both over a baselayer for chilly mornings or layered with a vest on colder afternoons. This fleece snap shirt is thin enough to layer and warm enough for cold winter days. Mairin's wool sweater is handknit and a dream to wear and rugged enough to withstand the heavy outdoor work that comes with tending to horses. This one is similar at a bit of a lower price point. It isn’t 100% wool, but I imagine would get the job done. I have a Hey Gang sweatshirt, and the more I wear it, the better it gets. This vest is wool and at the top of my winter list- I imagine wearing it just about every day as a layer or on it’s own.
Jackets- Four chore coats to start us off: Shaina Mote, Hey Gang, Colorado-based Ripton (love the zip pocket), and Rudy Jude (I couldn’t not). Chore jackets are having a moment, and I’m here for it. I imagine if it is downright freezing Kris will be in her old insulated winter gear she had for backcountry skiing and has mended and retired to the work-clothes pile, but I thought it’d be fun to include a couple of jackets, one a total dream jacket, one great for around town, and one that looks rugged enough to get horsey in, but also looks good enough to wear every day.
Bottoms & Boots- Whew, we’re almost there!
Bottoms- Both the ranch jean and miner overalls look like they’d be great for everyday mucking about. I have a pair of the overalls and although they begin stiff, they soften and wear well. Shelter seems to be out of my favorite raw denim brewers, but these light blue canvas brewers would be a fun pop of color! I absolutely love the Rudy Jude utility jeans that I have, but fair warning, the sizing can be wonky. When you get it dialed in, these pants fit like a dream. Finally, I love the look of these rain pants. I know next to nothing about them, but the suspenders seem helpful when your hands are full of hooves.
Boots- If you’ve made it this far, well done! I have just two boot recommendations, and I’m not confident that they’re just the right thing for the job, but they’d look damn good! :) Blundstone’s are my go to boot always, and these ones come with a steel toe cap, great for any mishaps that might occur. The ranch boot looks fun, too, but perhaps less practical for day to day work.
Kris, thanks for the super fun question to ruminate on! If you’re interested in Kris’ work in both the animal bodywork and life coaching realms, please give her site a visit.
Please let me know what you loved from this issue in the comments below- I’m always so curious to see what piques the interest of everyone!
Until next time, thanks for reading! xo
Came over here from Sunday Scaries post...so well done! My favorite was the vintage neck scarves - I hope you do more themed posts like this!
Thanks for including me!