Well Styled: How Wellness Expert Kelsey Patel Dresses For Hiking, Travel & More

As a wellness expert, Reiki master, writer, speaker, meditation teacher, certified yoga instructor, hotel owner, and new mom, Kelsey Patel has a lot of endeavors to manage. The Los Angeles-based guide (and mindbodygreen collective member) is known for her cheery disposition and bright attitude—she lights up any space she enters with vibrant energy. But she also brings with her an immense sense of calm and intentionality. 

For Patel, she’s often fitting in movement whenever she can in her busy schedule. So it’s important that her workout attire works for day-to-day, too. “This is an active look, but it’s still stylish enough for running errands,” she says. “It's super comfortable, and when I wear it I feel totally confident. The colors pop a little bit and yet look put together.

The base of the look is a classic set from Beyond Yoga: “I’ve had this legging and top set from Beyond Yoga for years. I wear it once a week, and it never fades,” she says. A two-piece yoga set should be a staple in any wardrobe, as it’s durable enough for workouts, comfortable enough for leisure, and stylish enough for being out-and-about—this option from Beyond Yoga comes in a dozen-plus colorways, 10 sizes, and made with a high-performance, moisture-wicking fabric.    

As for her elements of fun, Patel’s wearing pieces from the New Balance x Staud collab. “I just loved this New Balance x Staud collab. I felt like you could get such great pieces for a reasonable price,” she says. “The Staud jacket is a nice basic, but then has subtle hints of color. These sneakers were well priced, and you can wear them for basically everything—so you're getting use out of them.” 

Given wellness is Patel’s work, what she wears to meetings still counts as well-being, no? “I’ll wear something like this to meetings with my clients,” says Patel, noting that she loves a simple, classic aesthetic—with eye-catching flares, like the shoes or bag.

“I love that the shoes are flats, but have a style that makes me feel dressed and polished. They’re so versatile,” she says about the GANNI numbers. “The Bottega Veneta bag is compact, but a really good size. Plus the color works for any time of year.” 

The Closed Denim Jeans are, “comfy, stretchy, and work with all different types of styles,’ she says. We love the Closed Denim Style Straight-X (below) because the denim is made with a process that reduces chemical, water, and energy waste—and the fabric is a blend of 76% regenerative cotton and 24% recycled cotton. 

Travel and time off can be vital part of maintaining health—there are endless mental health benefits of travel, from improved cognitive function to decreased cortisol. But the act of traveling—you know, the hassles of being at the airport, and so on—is anything but relaxing. 

For Patel, simplicity is key: “Clean, comfortable, and I don’t have to think about what I'm wearing to get dressed. Just a simple solid color, denim, and some color. It's more elevated than wearing a black leggings,” she says. 

And truly, you can’t go wrong with a half-zip sweater, like the one from Mango Patel is wearing here. “Picked up this sweater for a trip to Europe, and now I wear it all the time,” she says. There are several similar styles, like the one below from Reformation, made from 100% organic cotton.  

As a true resident of Southern California, Patel loves hiking—and looking stylish while doing so. As the owner of the Miracle Manor hotel in Coachella Valley (nearby Joshua Tree and Palm Springs), she gets to spend a lot of time out in the sunny SoCal landscape. A biker short and tang effortlessly transitions to evening chills with the addition of an overcoat. 

“We go to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree where it’s hot in the day, but then gets very cold at night. I need something cozy that I can put on to stay warm,” she says of her Anine Bing shearling coat. (The coat is sold out, but there’s an excellent fleece option from Canada Goose below—it’s made with a special type of sustainable fleece that is oh-so-cozy.)