FIELD REPORT : KELLYN WILSON

PEOPLE MEETS PRODUCT.

‘Field Report’ is an editorial series hosted in collaboration with Purple Mountain Observatory and Ali George Hinkins. It seeks to showcase members of the wider creative community in PMO gear in their chosen field, whether a literal field, a modern cityscape, a workshop, or a studio space. We aim to dive deep into the subject’s interests, outlets, and disciplines while wearing the latest from Purple Mountain Observatory. 

For this edition of ‘Field Report,’ we took a proverbial trip across the pond to Colorado, where we connected with Kellyn Wilson, a committed outdoors enthusiast and multi-disciplinary creative. If appearances and words are anything to go by, Kellyn is – indeed – a well-rounded individual, embracing a hybrid attitude to landscapes, which sees her skiing, hiking, and running at any given opportunity alongside her fast-paced life as a writer, stylist and consultant working in the outdoors industry. When the time calls, and Kellyn is looking to free herself from the binds of creative exhaustion, she can be found hitting the slopes of Telluride, Colorado, or simply taking her dog for a walk around the small mountain town she calls home.

Like many of us, Kellyn’s surroundings influence her personal style. Having grown up in Colorado around the mountains and participating in outdoor sports, she is naturally inclined towards technical performance clothing. However, this doesn’t entirely define her; she often searches for hybrid solutions that can be worn outdoors and daily. By scrolling through her Instagram, you can see Kellyn wearing shell jackets and Vibram-clad footwear with flowy bottoms and sunglasses – a reflection of her appreciation of outdoor-inspired functionality and versatile clothing. Fortunately, Purple Mountain Observatory supplied Kellyn with exactly what she needed for her Field Report. 

We caught up with Kellyn to learn more about her relationship with the outdoors while growing up, her platform, TOGS, and how she thinks we can make the outdoors safer and more inclusive for women.

PMO: Hi, Kellyn, please tell people who you are and where you’re from.

KW: Hi Ali! My name is Kellyn Wilson, and I live in Telluride, a small mountain town in southwestern Colorado. I’m a writer and skier doing art direction, styling, and consulting for brands.

PMO: Tell us more about TOGS and the platform you have built. 

KW: TOGS is a Substack newsletter co-written by fellow skier Hadley Hammer and me. We both have always felt like we haven’t adhered to the traditional “mountain uniform” as we live and work in mountain communities, and we wanted to create a place for other people who feel the same way. Our readers are passionate about blending mountain with urban style and discovering new brands with sustainable practices. We write TOGS to cater to a diverse audience and hope it celebrates individual style and creativity.

While we’ve only been writing the letter for just under a year, it’s really taken on a life of its own and gathered the BEST community. TOGS readers help each other out with travel questions, gear reviews, clothing links, knitting patterns, you name it. It’s the best.

PMO: I can see from your profile that you’re into skiing! Has this activity been a part of your life since childhood, or did you pick it up later in life?

KW: I was lucky enough that my wonderful parents put me on skis when I was about two years old. It’s been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember! I competed for years in Slopestyle and then Big Mountain and Freeride competitions when I got older. Now, I mainly do film projects and some commercial shoots, and I ski for fun, of course!

PMO: Can you tell us which Purple Mountain Observatory products you selected for your ‘Field Report’ and why?

KW: I have the beautiful grey Waves Light Puffer, perfect for cold Colorado days. The Field Jacket Crinkle Rip, which I often layer with the Waves Crinkle Rip Vest, both in Putty. I love this combo for urban or mountain adventures; it’s just so cool. And the Blocked Terrain Pant in Stone, which are the perfectly baggy hiking pants of my dreams. I love genderless fashion, and these pieces look good on all bodies.

PMO: As someone who spends time outdoors and in urban settings, is it essential for your clothing to serve a dual purpose and be functional in both? How does a brand like Purple Mountain Observatory fill this gap?

KW: Whether I’m in the mountains or the city, I still want to wear clothes that feel like they encapsulate all parts of my personality. It doesn’t feel right to just highlight one facet of who I am, I feel my best when I’m in something functional and comfortable while still being unique and funky. The PMO pieces I’ve been wearing are all of those things. The fabric is technical, but the fit of every piece is so stylish and cool to pair with other things of all aesthetics in my closet. If your clothes can be spontaneous and ready for adventure at any moment, then so can you!

PMO: From running to skiing and hiking with your dog, you are clearly active in the outdoors. What does your current schedule look like for getting out there? Do you have time to get out as much as you want?

KW: I’m so grateful to live in the mountains with trails just outside my door. If it’s snowed enough, I can even ski down the roads, all the way across Main Street to the chair lift. I’m outside nearly every day, even if it’s just for a walk or skiing with my dog. Because of my flexible work schedule and the fact that every day is so different, I can usually build in some time outside. In the wintertime, I’ve been challenging myself to plunge coldly into the river twice a week. It’s hard, but it really is all it’s hyped up to be!

PMO: Following on from my last question, if you haven’t got as much time to get out there as you’d like, what are some little things you do to look after yourself this time of year when the weather can be a big obstacle?

KW: As much as I love the outdoors, I also love getting super cosy inside. I’m a big hobbyist and love to pick up a new craft or partake in a new “side quest”, as it calls to me. Right now, that includes knitting, printmaking, learning to sew, and trying to play Irish Christmas songs on a tin whistle (trying is the keyword here). When the sun goes behind the mountains at 2:30 in the winter here, I really rely on my beloved book club or a girl’s game night to get me out of the house.

PMO: With this varied background in mind, could you tell me about some of your earliest/fondest memories outdoors? Whether that is time with family or friends or just on your own.

KW: It seems like all of my fondest memories have taken place outdoors. Colorado has a really special hut system called the Tenth Mountain Division Huts, and I’ve had so many amazing trips to these off-grid cabins with friends and family. The huts are pretty bare bones, so you pack in your own food, melt snow for water, and chop wood for the fire. After skiing all day, playing some raucous games by the firelight is really as good as it gets in my book.

One of my earliest memories outdoors was camping up on Pikes Peak with my parents, their friends, and their little kids… I was probably around 4. We all sat around the fire as my dad’s friend, Spence, played guitar and sang the timeless children’s song Highway to Hell by AC/DC. Really set the tone for a life of good fun with good people.

PMO: As a woman active in the outdoors, a largely underrepresented space, do you have any words to say about making it safer and more inclusive?

There’s so much work to be done to work toward equality in the outdoors. I could go on and on, but I think if I had to keep it concise, I might just rely on the adage ‘a rising tide lifts all boats.’ The more support we give to women— funding women and femme-led projects, sharing knowledge and resources with women looking to get into the outdoors, amplifying women’s voices in group decision-making settings— makes the outdoors a better and safer place for everyone. Also, more specifically, carry menstrual products in your first aid kits!

PMO: Lastly, what does time spent outdoors afford you personally?

I know I’m not alone in thinking that when I’ve spent time outside, I’m a better version of myself. Being amongst trees makes me calm and level-headed, spending days out in the cold temperates has given me strength and resilience, pushing myself on long hikes has taught me patience, and sleeping under the stars has given me a lot of perspective. 

Thank you, Kellyn, for your time.