In elementary school, my best friend Sean had a uniform: those iguana tees that donated a portion of the proceeds to WWF, cargo shorts, and intense hiking boots (those monkey bars during recess were treacherous). Today, I wear hiking boots even when I’m not trekking up the face of a mountain — and I believe that Sean, subconsciously, inspired me. And he’d be excited to learn that he was at least 15 years early to the rising “hikecore” trend. Hiking boots have evolved since our childhood: Based on the needs of the 21st century hiker, some are tricked out with Gore-Tex and other technical features like Thermo tech and Nestfit, while others have morphed into sneaker x hiking boot hybrids.

Professional Look of the Week by Ann Taylor
Clockwise from left to right: Denim Pencil Skirt, Crossbody Bag, Pintuck Tee, Heel Sanadals