“When I first arrived in Anchorage 40 years ago, a city girl from the Mid-West (Chicago/Cleveland/etc), I was impressed by the “dress code” here. It’s not so much a style as it is an attitude. It’s not about what you wear, but who you are and what you do.
It was refreshing that no one cared what you were wearing – bunny boots, fur parkas, down, blue jeans, work boots, a suit, wool caps or cut-offs – so long as you were warm and comfortable enough to get your job done. It didn’t matter if you were a student or a teacher, banker, wait staff, attorney, construction worker, health care professional, flipped burgers, a salesperson or worked in an office. No one was judged by their attire. In fact, what they were wearing usually clued you in as to who they were and what they did. It was common to see a guy in a 3 piece suit having lunch with a friend in Carharts and a hard-hat. It’s just who we are.
Alaskans are an active group. We hunt, boat, ski, bike, fish, run, skate, hike, camp, build, climb, swim and play lots of sports. And hey, with the likes of REI, Lands End, Skinny Raven, the Gap, Nordstrom and many more, Alaskans can be warm, and stylin’, in any profession, sport or recreational activity – regardless of the season. Because Alaskans don’t just endure the weather… we embrace it!”
– Mary Ann
