Alison O'Hara in Action

The gardening season is gearing up; for some people that means starting their seeds and plotting designs. For people working in the industry, it also means, "Will my boots last another season, or should I order a new pair?" There are two different worlds of gardeners--the ones who sweat and get really sore, and the ones who dead head a few geraniums and tend a tomato plant or two. These gardeners can dress like Martha Stewart and wear kaki pants and white tee-shirts while carrying baskets of cut flowers. But more commonly are those who look like freshly plucked vegetables after a day in the dirt.

Perusing comments on garden fashion on the web, most people claim to garden in blue jeans and gardening clogs. Jeans just couldn't be more uncomfortable. When gardening in the raining they get waterlogged and stay wet for days. Even after rains, when water shakes from the trees and bushes as your pruning means deep discomfort. And clogs? We dig up all sorts of nastiness in New York City. Bathtubs, aquariums, bed mattresses--one gardener in Brooklyn claimed to find a car buried in a backyard, and a homeowner on the Upper West Side told me that she found an Irish Shanty town from the 1800's in her backyard. And then there's the city wildlife. I am not poking around these yards in clogs. I want lace up boots with hard soles and stiff leather.

So to research the stylish and comfortable in garden fashion, I don't look to other gardeners, but rather, women who work in the outdoors and know how to layer. Alison O'Hara, owner and head operator of True North Kayak Adventures in Homer, Alaska is a pro. She always shows up to work looking sharp and ready for anything Alaska weather throws her that day. Here are her recommendations:

Alison swears by Patagonia Stretch Capilene Camis and Hipsters
as a first layer. The material is like a second skin, warm but really light and comfortable. They have all different colors and patterns.

As a mid layer she likes the Ibex Shak Jacket, made from a high tech wool fabric. The cut is very flattering and you could wear it to the garden and then out to lunch.

She also likes Patagonia's Women's El Cap Jacket.

As an outer layer she wears a Arc'teryx Velox hard shell

or if it's raining, a soft shell by Patagonia

The best 3 Season outdoor pants are by Prana Tenaya and these can be paired with stretch cap long underwear for colder weather.

Socks are Smartwool Smart Wool everyday.

And when out on the water, Alison always wears the Filson Tin Cloth Bush Hat As she says, " It's the Crocodile Dundee look, but is very sturdy with a wide brim for max sun protection. It also has a chin strap in case it's blustery. Oil cloth material keeps the rain off your noggin too."

For daily sunscreen she likes Nature's Gate Sport 30 because it's not shiny, oily or laden with chemicals.