(Sasha Matthews • The Student Life)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/tsl.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fashion-Bible-Gorp-Poser-Sasha-Matthews-In-color.png?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/tsl.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fashion-Bible-Gorp-Poser-Sasha-Matthews-In-color.png?fit=715%2C477&ssl=1″ class=”size-full wp-image-73813″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/tsl.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fashion-Bible-Gorp-Poser-Sasha-Matthews-In-color.png?resize=715%2C477&ssl=1″ alt=”A person dressed in expensive clothing stomps through the rain.” width=”715″ height=”477″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/tsl.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fashion-Bible-Gorp-Poser-Sasha-Matthews-In-color.png?w=2732&ssl=1 2732w, https://i0.wp.com/tsl.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fashion-Bible-Gorp-Poser-Sasha-Matthews-In-color.png?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/tsl.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fashion-Bible-Gorp-Poser-Sasha-Matthews-In-color.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/tsl.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fashion-Bible-Gorp-Poser-Sasha-Matthews-In-color.png?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/tsl.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fashion-Bible-Gorp-Poser-Sasha-Matthews-In-color.png?resize=1536%2C1025&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/tsl.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fashion-Bible-Gorp-Poser-Sasha-Matthews-In-color.png?resize=2048%2C1367&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/tsl.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fashion-Bible-Gorp-Poser-Sasha-Matthews-In-color.png?resize=272%2C182&ssl=1 272w, https://i0.wp.com/tsl.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fashion-Bible-Gorp-Poser-Sasha-Matthews-In-color.png?w=1430&ssl=1 1430w, https://i0.wp.com/tsl.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fashion-Bible-Gorp-Poser-Sasha-Matthews-In-color.png?w=2145&ssl=1 2145w” sizes=”(max-width: 715px) 100vw, 715px” data-recalc-dims=”1″>
During the past couple of rainy days, with only the hood of my jacket to rescue me from the atmospheric river that has descended upon Claremont, I have been unable to ignore my classmates’ new stylistic additions: Arc’teryx rain jackets.
Not only has an overpowering and all-absorbing envy of these protective coats taken over me, but I’m also stunned at the sheer amount of these coats that I see in circulation around Claremont McKenna College (CMC).
The question I keep asking myself: “Why does everyone suddenly need an uber-expensive jacket, designed for extreme weather conditions, during the singular rainy week in Southern California?”
Now, of course, there is nothing wrong with being prepared and purchasing a rain-resistant piece of clothing (I sure wish I had).
My issue with this particular item is that the price for an Arc’teryx jacket is over $300.
Is there really no good alternative that will protect you from getting drenched and not cost you an arm and a leg? Why is it this exact model of rain jacket that Claremont students decided was worth that kind of money?
These are questions that have been bugging me long before the winter storms and the Arc’teryx craze.
If I could encapsulate the California fashion scene in one clothing brand, it would undoubtedly be Patagonia. From simple logo t-shirts to puffer jackets, vests, backpacks and fleece pullovers; wherever you go in California, you are guaranteed to spot one of these items, made easily identifiable by the inch-long “Patagonia” label on the left breast pocket area — especially in Silicon Valley, where our finest CMC econ bros are keeping the “Patagonia vest in the office” stereotype alive.
Again, these items are not cheap. Most of them set you back at least $100.
Why are these two high-end, luxury outdoor goods brands — Arc’teryx and Patagonia — such a hit with Claremont students, even when they are not being utilized for their intended purpose of outdoor activity?
This is where “Gorpcore” comes in. “Gorpcore” is used to describe the fashion trend of specialized outdoor clothing being worn as streetwear fashion. That is, in day-to-day life. “Gorpcore” was first coined by Jason Chen in his article for “The Cut” which predicted the rise of the trend’s popularity in 2017. However, the trend didn’t fully catch on with the public until two or three years ago, even though Patagonia and Arc’teryx had been around for decades at that time. Now, the popularization of wearing jackets intended for skiing and pants made for climbing to class is a new phenomenon.
To be clear, I have no issues with the brands themselves, their price points nor their mission. I am not writing this to justify or criticize why gorpcore fashion costs a fortune. This is just a fact of capitalism. And I have no questions for the outdoors community and their reasons for investing in this clothing, as I’m sure they have a perfectly valid explanation based on functionality.
“This is where “Gorpcore” comes in. “Gorpcore” is used to describe the fashion trend of specialized outdoor clothing being worn as streetwear fashion. That is, in day-to-day life.”
But still — why is gorpcore a trend among college students of all demographics?
This was my mindset up until Thanksgiving break, after which my opinions took a turn in favor of gorpcore. What prompted this sudden change, you may ask?
Well, as much as it pains me to say this, a trip to Seattle was what sealed the deal.
When I landed in Washington, I felt like I was in a Patagonia utopia. It was completely unavoidable. I made a couple of jokes about it to my friend who hosted me in Seattle before going into an Arc’teryx store downtown on the day of my departure. I thought: What is a better souvenir to commemorate this trip than the infamous Arc’teryx logo beanie?
And yes, I caved and bought it. First as an ironic memento, which upon my return to Claremont, quickly became my ultimate accessory.
Even though the beanie was the perfect addition to my wardrobe, I felt like a fool and a traitor to my principles. To make matters worse, I am wearing my new favorite patterned Patagonia fleece as I write this very column.
But don’t be so quick to judge! Let me explain myself.
No, I don’t ski. No, I don’t climb. No, I don’t hike. And when I camp, I sleep on an inflatable mattress in the trunk of my car. I cannot claim to need these pieces for functionality — I am a poser. And there is nothing wrong with that.
When I shop, I rely on three main criteria in my decision-making process: fit, design and price.
If the item that I am considering purchasing meets this criteria, then I go for it. And my beanie and fleece not only meet these standards, but excel in them. So why shouldn’t I rock them?
We are all vulnerable to the micro-trends that circulate on social media and in pop culture and even I, a style columnist who is supposed to have a well-defined, personal sense of style, am not immune to these fads.
I was coerced into buying Patagonia and Arc’teryx. And I do not regret it.
But let’s get one thing straight: The dollar amount that I paid for these items is nowhere near the price of an Arc’teryx rain jacket. You will not catch me in one of those, dead or alive.
All of this is to ask you to embrace your gorpcore poser identity if you feel so inclined. You don’t have to be climbing Mount Everest to wear a hat with a cool design on it. And these items don’t have to break your bank — steer away from the outerwear and stick with accessories, or have a scavenge on resale websites like Depop or eBay.
But if you are spending hundreds of dollars on a jacket that you will probably wear a couple of times a year just because of the logo on your chest … maybe consider climbing an actual mountain to justify your purchase.
Elizaveta (Lisa) Gorelik CM ’25 is from Moscow, Russia. She is ecstatic to take out her Patagonia fleece to the Grand Canyon during spring break.
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