Picnicking in Style

Each summer we have so many opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy hikes and picnics with friends and loved ones. But the question is, how do we do it in style? Fortunately, the fabrics used for today’s outdoor clothing provide the best of both worlds. Today’s athletic retailers offer skirts, skorts and shorts made to reflect the most current styles. However, unlike their department store counterparts, these pieces wash and dry easily while wicking away rain and resisting humidity.

Today’s outdoor pants are shaped for hiking, comfortable enough to wear all day, and usually contain cleverly hidden zippered pockets for cellphones and other small items. Many hiking pants also offer the option to zip the pant legs off below the knee so that you have impromptu walking shorts when hot weather hits. But the best part about many outdoor pants is that some of them can double as your favorite pair of khakis and be worn to the office, all the while remaining comfortable and on-trend.

Getting outdoors is important for the body and soul, but being mindful of the sun and its effect on health is even more important. While it's great to cover ourselves in sunscreen, we often need more. The best feature of this year’s outdoor wear includes something very important — built in sun protection. Many active wear companies have taken note of the recent uptick in melanoma and have responded accordingly. It’s easy to find swimsuits, rash guards, T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, and even pants that include built-in sun protection equivalent to SPF 50.

While you're out, don't forget to pack a picnic lunch. Dutch designer Jeriel Bobbe recently designed my favorite picnic basket of all time since it does more than carry lunch. Bobbe often lamented the fact that there were very few comfortable benches in the parks near his home, so he rose to the challenge. When folded, Bobbe's basket looks like any other since it offers compartments to keep food, plates and cutlery. But if you take a few seconds to fold it out, this picnic basket transforms into an elegant table for two with two cushioned seats attached. It has even been designed to hook easily on the back of a bicycle.

Embrace the outdoors and do it in style. But while you are out and about, don't forget accessories such as a BPA-free water bottle, sunscreen, a geo-caching device and a selfie stick to show your friends that you actually did reach a mountain's summit.

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