Outdoor gear now means all-black, fully waterproof ensembles finished with reflective detailing, toggles everywhere and hoods that look like balaclavas. But this wasn’t always the way. A long time ago, in a galaxy without GORE-TEX, outdoor clothing was even brighter than the landscapes it was inspired by.
Outdoor clothing of the ’70s and ’80s remains some of the most intriguing, hard-wearing and visually appealing of the whole genre. Brands of the moment like The North Face, Sierra Designs, and L.L. Bean were churning out a range of ground-breaking gear using little more than cotton and canvas. This reliance on traditional fabrics soon meant that outdoor gear was starting to be mixed with prep – on Ivy League campuses around the United States, students began wearing anoraks, mountain parkas, and down-filled vests with their typical outfit of khaki pants and button-down shirts. We’re not entirely sure if this look has an official title, but prep-outdoor works for us.
It’s the sort of thing our pals at Oi Polloi have always done very well, and their now-defunct Deck~Out series remains a goldmine for prep-outdoor-influenced outfits. Truthfully, the fusing of prep & outdoor is one of the main reasons Proper sought to exist in the first place. We don’t care what anyone says – beige khakis paired with a bright orange mountain jacket is a far superior look to black balloon pants and a fully waterproof Arc’teryx hardshell.
Below, you’ll find some of our favourite prep-outdoor picks. They might not be breathable. They’re certainly not ultralight. But they’re infinitely more stylish than anything you’ll find at your local outdoor shop at the minute.
J. Press x Crescent Down Works Italian Vest
The quintessential prep-meets-outdoor garment. Although originally popularised by brands like The North Face and Sierra Designs, down vests have since been replicated by just about every brand under the sun. This J. Press x Crescent Down Works collaboration channels all the ’70s nostalgia, while packaging it in a distinctly modern, premium way.
Baracuta Canvas Garment Dyed Shorts
Before lightweight, breathable nylon, you had to make do with cotton canvas. And for what it lacked in packability, it more than made up for in style points. These Baracuta shorts are built to be seriously hardwearing, with a highly prep-appropriate double-pleat construction and a beautiful garment-dyed finish. Top drawer.
South Korean brand Khakis are absolute maestros when it comes to blending prep with outdoor influences – and this beautifully simple, but perfectly shaped bucket hat is a case in point.
Sierra Designs 60/40 Mountain Parka
This isn’t just a jacket. This is THE jacket. A true outdoor icon: Sierra Designs‘ 60/40 Mountain Parka is irrefutably one of the most important pieces of outerwear in outdoor clothing history. Naturally, we’ve chosen it in The Deer Hunter-appropriate orange – because why wouldn’t we?
Baracuta Madras BD Collar Shirt
When it comes to shirting, you can’t do much better than Baracuta. The brand has produced so many different iterations of checked patterns over the years, but this Madras is one of our favourites. A perfect piece of prep to layer beneath an anorak.
Beams Plus 2 Pleat Tapered Twill Chino
Khaki pants come in all different shapes and sizes, but we like ours to fit exactly like these ones made by Beams Plus. Double pleat, relaxed fitting, and with just the right amount of taper.
Timberland Authentic 3-Eye Lug Handsewn Boat Shoe
If prep and outdoor were to fuse in the form of the shoe, it would take the shape of the Timberland Boat Shoe. The rich chestnut leather of a formal shoe, perched atop the hefty lugged sole you’d expect from a hiking boot, is a match made in heaven. Quite simply, a pair that deserves a place in everyone’s rotation.
Armor-Lux Yellow Breton Raincoat
It’s big, it’s bright, and it makes modern outerwear look absolutely shite. We fell in love with this Armor-Lux Raincoat from the moment we saw it. The perfect piece of outerwear to brighten up any prep-outdoor outfit.
Finishing our list is a fantastic chunk of Filson. The Ranger Anorak is constructed from lightweight waxed cotton and fits the bill perfectly for heritage-inspired outerwear – an area Filson has elevated to an art form.
