Welcome to TOGS
TOGS, noun, clothes for a particular occasion or activity- “I have my new ski togs on”
What is TOGS
… new Substack newsletter dedicated to functional fashion in the outdoors. TOGS is set to be a place for information and inspiration for outdoor enthusiasts and city dwellers alike when approaching their wardrobe choices.
Who is TOGS
Professional skiers and style lovers Kellyn Wilson and Hadley Hammer
Meet Kellyn
Where are you from, where do you live, where are you writing from, and what are you wearing at this moment!
I’m born and raised here in Colorado and currently live in beautiful Telluride! I’m writing from this teeny tiny little desk that I have set up in our guest room turned roommate coworking space. The light is amazing and my viney pothos plant is framing both sides of the tiny desk, casting little leaf shadows all around. I am wearing cobalt blue merino wool pants from Sønderhaus, the cutest happiest little red cottage clogs from UGG, an old alpaca sweater, and a wonky wool fisherman’s beanie that I knit. It’s all over the place but it’s cozy.
Describe your style
Rooted in Functionality, Playful, Nordic-Inspired, Intentionally Embellished
Where/who do you get inspiration for dressing from?
Menswear, vintage outdoor garb, grandmas, grandpas, my grandma, little kids, Copenhagen Fashion Week street style, my chic mom, fishermen, the Swedes, the French!
Why does style matter to you? How does it improve your life?
There will always be bigger problems than what to put on in the morning, but if you can find joy and creative expression in this small aspect, it will ripple in beautiful confidence-inspiring ways to so many other parts of your life. Everyone is telling a story through what they wear and just like any other medium, it’s an ever-changing practice of trial and error and triumph.
How else do you like to spend your days? Hobbies, jobs, passions, past times?
In the winter, I spend a lot of my time skiing. I like feeling small out in the backcountry as much as I like party lapping with friends on the resort. I also love filling my days with crafting, romping with my dog, Squid, cooking, fixating on obscure hobbies, figuring out next year’s halloween costume, and spending time in my lovely community.
I’m fortunate that many of my jobs are also my passions- Skiing, freelance creative work in art direction, styling, and social media, and occasionally slinging coffee at the Coffee Cowboy here in town.
What’s your hope for TOGS? & what do you hope to get from TOGS?
This platform excites me SO much. I have fallen in love with some newsletters that I subscribe to- I get giddy when a new one rolls out, in a way that other social media forms do not do for me.
The weekly newsletter format emphasizes thoughtful, long-form content. The in-depth material provides such a refreshing counterpoint to fleeting trends and the doom scroll. And it actually creates a space for meaningful community and worthwhile engagement. I hope that TOGS creates an interesting, diverse, supportive, and welcoming community. I hope that in the comments and discussion space, we have an engaged audience where people can ask each other questions, help out, and encourage one another with anything and everything. We’re a niche community, let’s come together!
And I’m so excited to share this journey with Hadley, one of the most respected and admired women in the ski world. She has always forged her own path and inspired so many with her endeavors. She came to me with the idea for this newest adventure, and I am already so grateful for what’s to come.
Meet Hadley
Where are you from, where do you live, where are you writing from, and what are you wearing at this moment!
I’m from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, currently living in Chamonix, France. I have a major thing for pretty mountain ranges. I’m currently writing from a beautiful old farm table I acquired on facebook marketplace. It’s handmade and as it’s all one piece, my friend Seana and I had a festive time moving it in through a window to where it now sits.
I’m wearing a pair of bow-legged style pants (another internet score, hello ebay), a white t-shirt with a croissant on it (staying on brand while in France), a v-neck sweater I’m pretty sure I stole borrowed from my mom, and a cashmere necktie one of my favorite humans gave me for Christmas. And if it counts as wearing, my partner and I’s cat Moab is draped across my lap.
Describe your style
Classic, cozy, with an emphasis on quality and shape.
Where/who do you get inspiration for dressing from?
My love of sweaters definitely comes from my mom who has a pretty epic collection of knits. My dad fostered my love of fashion by gifting me subscription to Vogue when I was probably around 11. They both always dressed in a classic but approachable way and I’m sure a lot of the way I dress derives from them.
I still love magazines. I also find inspiration from the internet-instagram and substacks. And throughout my travels-Japan especially was a street style mecca for me.
Why does style matter to you? How does it improve your life?
Style is an aspect of human behavior I find fascinating. The way we create things that aren’t simply utilitarian. Starting with quilts-they really only ever needed to be sources of warmth. But humans couldn’t help but add patterns, which added emotional meaning. For me, style is about emotions. A way to express your insides by wearing something on the outside. A way to play with emotions. Wrapping myself in big, soft sweaters when I need comfort. Wearing my favorite ski kit when I want to ski better than I feel. Wearing something unique helps me feel less shy.
How else do you like to spend your days? Hobbies, jobs, passions, past times?
If I’m not in the mountains skiing or climbing or simply wandering around, I like being home reading a book or cooking a big meal. I love alone time, and equally love spending time with my friends and family. I like traveling. And also love napping. I’m up for a lot of things, but never will you find me mountain biking.
What’s your hope for TOGS? & what do you hope to get from TOGS?
When I was in my twenties, I lived with two amazing women-Sophie and Leslie. And some of my favorite memories come from when we’d pile on each other’s beds and help one another pack or pick out an outfit for a date or for a ski trip. It was that sisterly experience I never got with my two brothers. TOGS partially came from Leslie’s pushing. And I hope to get the same sort of feeling from this site.
My other hope is that TOGS helps someone express their own emotions. The part of the ski industry I always struggled with is how narrow the accepted style has become…almost like there was a certain uniform you had to wear. A uniform that never really fully encompassed my vision. I hope TOGS widens what people feel like they can wear in both the mountains and the valleys.
Thank you for making it this far, we are so excited to share TOGS with you. See you next Monday for the first newsletter.