Since hiking in Los Angeles is the perfect nexus of socializing, exercising and peacocking, I’m not surprised to see a new fashion trend being perfected in LA. I’m calling it the Cool Girl Hiker Trend—you can spot iterations of it from ocean-flecked trails in the Palisades, through Hollywood-adjacent Runyan Canyon, in the fought-over parking spots of Fryman Canyon in the Valley and of course, along the wide fire roads threading Griffith Park.
No matter what the heat index, our Cool Girl Hiker knows to get up early and start out with a light long-sleeve to ward off the marine layer, then strip down as the sun and temperature climb, along with her altitude. “Hiking here isn’t just about breaking a sweat; it’s also a chance for discovery and connection, says Katie Babineau, an exec at Los Angeles athleisure label Beyond Yoga (known for its buttery soft Spacedye separates). “We want our community to always feel comfortable and on trend, whether they’re hitting the trails or grabbing a post-hike meal with friends,” she says. And of course, the ‘fit has to be tight, “ensuring that top of peak pic is epic” as Babineau says. A couple of weeks’ worth of trail visits this year, and I’m seeing that our girl has been browsing FP Movement and the newish Backcountry superstore at the Grove to freshen up her trail style. Here’s an overview of some trending looks on today’s hikers—looking ready for their closeup, no matter what the heat index.
