Gorpcore Queen Sabrina Bloedorn on Influencing, Gear Education & Styling

How do you think about style beyond just clothing?

For me, my style ties back to sci-fi, clean lines, futuristic design language. I took an AP Art History class that sparked an obsession with Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture, which further led me to Japanese animation and design philosophy. That theme shows up in my home, in where I want to travel, in everything. Clothing is just one output of that. So instead of walking into a store and hoping inspiration hits, I ask myself: what shapes, colors, and aesthetics am I consistently drawn to in other parts of life?

How does the word influencer land with you? How do you define what you do?

It’s tricky. I think a lot of us fall into it by accident. I grew up on Instagram—I posted more before I was an influencer than I do now. It was just fun. Then suddenly you gain a following and it becomes a job. And then there’s responsibility: what you recommend matters.

But I’m okay with the label for now because influencing has no ceiling. Before this, I ran a small design brand—Nila Designs—but sewing everything myself became too much. Now I’m connected to Vancouver manufacturers through friends from Lululemon, so I’m building out a brand again. Influencing is a stepping stone.

Have you gotten criticism? How do you handle it?

I get negative comments, always from the same type of person—usually men—saying things like, “You’d never survive in the Amazon wearing that.” And I’m like… I never said I would? Some people take my content way too literally.

The truth is, I wear toned-down versions of my outfits while hiking, then dress them up for photos because I love sci-fi aesthetics and spooky, futuristic silhouettes. It’s almost cosplay. If you saw me on a trail, the balaclava is down, sunglasses off, hat maybe on. But for the photo, I love leaning into that world-building.

The good thing is, my community often defends me before I even see rude comments. Women step in and say, “Let her wear what she wants.” It’s really sweet.

How would you describe your approach to winter outfits—both style and function—beyond what you curate for Instagram?

I never show my layering process. But if I did, you’d see I’m basically wearing the same base layers under everything. Working at Lululemon taught me so much about fabric: breathability, nylon versus polyester blends, natural fibers. Your body will sweat, and if your fabric traps that moisture, that’s discomfort. So I always start with merino wool base layers. That’s the foundation.

Then depending on the weather, I add pieces. Some of the fun, wild-looking outfits aren’t necessarily performance-heavy themselves, the performance comes from the layering underneath. If it’s not a heavy snow day, I’ll choose a windbreaker instead of a Gore-Tex shell. Or I’ll pack the Gore-Tex and only wear it at the summit. I think about layering a lot.

How do you consider purpose-driven and trend-driven gear in your wardrobe styling?

I am definitely not ultralight. Some of my coolest pieces are too heavy for multi-day trips. The fabric is technical, yes, but the weight isn’t. So I’m conscious of that and try to make it clear when something is for day hikes, not thru-hikes.

Gorpcore does take on a life of its own. People chase the avant-garde side of it, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I do think brands are getting better at blending performance with design, and some ultralight companies actually look super cool now. But I always tell people: research matters. Know what’s meant for what.

And honestly, the accessories are where I have the most fun.

Can you share some favorite accessories and core outerwear pieces right now?

My sunglasses collection alone is insane—accessories can make or break an outfit, and I lean into them hard. Some of my favorites: Oakley Plazmas, Oakley Eye Jackets, Oakley Katos, District Vision Koharu, and Ridar Sunglasses Fever.

Right now, I’m rocking a three-layer shell and pant set from Peak Performance—the jacket has a removable snow skirt you can wrap around your waist. I’m obsessed. A backpack from Raide Research that's ultralight and has great camera access. Oakley Plasmas. A textured boot from Vivo Barefoot. A Merrell x Sweaty Betty windbreaker with removable sleeves. And a shag-textured mid-layer from Portland's Gnuhr. It’s weird and perfect.

What about when you're contracted to post pieces that aren't really your taste? Do you have go-to strategies for styling things you don't naturally love?

Oh my god, yes. I feel like a lot of brands literally send me pieces thinking, “This isn’t cool… can she make it cool?” Some technical brands have incredible fabric development but aren’t thinking about color or silhouette. So I lean into accessories. I also use color theory a lot. Nature already knows how to pair colors—flowers, landscapes, everything is harmonious. So I match my outfit palette to the environment, which makes the overall image more interesting.

Accessories save me. If the jacket is boring, I elevate the look through everything around it.

How do you balance technical performance with aesthetics?

Honestly, brands are making this easier. Peak Performance, Nike x Jacquemus, And Wander—all of these companies understand both function and design. I have a few European websites I browse because they curate the coolest technical pieces from multiple brands. It’s the easiest way to see outdoor gear that’s both high-quality and stylish. Two websites I use are Ka-yo and Saison Shop.

Where do you see women’s winter gorpcore going?

My worry is that some companies will focus too heavily on fashion and ignore technical quality. I recently tested pieces from a brand where the technical execution was shockingly bad. Because I worked at Arc’teryx and Lululemon and I’ve field-tested so much gear, I can compare things directly. Safety matters. Winter is not a season where you can fake technical performance. I hope the community pushes back and reinforces that looking cool is great, but staying alive in the mountains matters more.

Any other advice on finding personal style?

If you can, learn to sew. It saved me. Where I grew up, nothing in stores matched my taste, so I made things myself. Many people get stuck wearing high street brands like Aritzia because it’s everywhere—even if it’s not them. Sewing gave me freedom.