wool& Spotlight: Rae Ann Prasnicki

Rae Ann Prasnicki is a nomadic minimalist, based in California, USA.

She works as a software consultant in tech and works remotely as she travels. She has perfected the art of traveling with a wool-based capsule wardrobe, and lives life to the fullest. We interviewed Rae Ann to learn more about her experience with her wool& capsule wardrobe and world-wide travels.

Rae Ann wore the Rowena Swing Dress for 100 days straight.
Read more of the wool& spotlight series here.

Can you tell us a little bit about your background? How did you end up on your path of working remotely and being a nomadic minimalist?

I am a 55-year-old woman living in San Jose, California and the proud mother of two adult children. I currently work in tech as a software consultant. My career has been diverse: I started as a nurse and moved to health insurance where I became interested in IT. When I had my first child and decided to work part-time, I held various jobs including building websites, organizing and cleaning homes, and being a community organizer. When my children got older, and I went through a divorce, I returned to the corporate world so I could increase my income to live out my travel dreams.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a small mining town in Northern Minnesota called Silver Bay. I moved around the state but lived my entire life in Minnesota, and never enjoyed the long winters. When I became an empty nester in 2021, I moved to California. With year-round perfect weather, it seemed like a good place to start my “focus on traveling” dream.

Where do you find inspiration?

I am a believer that life is short. A sign hangs in my bathroom “I just want to go on more adventures. Be around good energy. Connect with people. Learn new things. Grow.” I read that and do something from my list every day. My inspiration is reading the stories of others passionate about travel as well as meeting them when I travel myself.

Tell us about your travel/minimalist lifestyle.

In 2008 a friend suggested I watch “The Story of Stuff”, a 20-minute fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. Honestly, I didn’t think much of it at the time. But as a busy mother, I could see how stuff was consuming our lives. In 2010 I started following a blogger who discussed the new concept of “minimalism” and I became fascinated. I had always been a frugal shopper, buying used as often as possible, but the minimalism concept was appealing because it would allow me to live the dream of “focus on traveling” by owning less. It took me nearly twelve years but I went from owning enough possessions to fill a 4,000 square foot home to only six boxes.

Tell us about your wool& challenge(s), and how long you have been wearing wool&/wool.

I have been wearing wool& since December 1, 2020 (791 days as of January 31, 2023). I have never been interested in fashion and my wardrobe has always been simple (black and grey with a splash of white). As I was maturing in my minimalistic lifestyle I learned owning high-quality clothing was necessary, but I was paralyzed with how to obtain that wardrobe. I saw a wool& Facebook ad regarding the 100 Day Dress Challenge and it appealed to me not because it was wool but because it focused on building a high-quality wardrobe for simplicity and longevity. Rowena and I spent 100 days together in December 2020 and I quickly learned the benefits of wool. I also completed a 30 Day Dress Challenge in a blue Maggie Swing Dress and the Tops Challenge in a red henley tee (which is now discontinued). wool& has also helped me put a little color in my wardrobe.

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Christ the Redeemer Rio Brazil with Poppy.jpg

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What’s something memorable that has happened in the past year?

In December 2022, I took a five-week holiday and traveled throughout South America. I flew over 20,000 miles, visited seven countries, walked 175 miles, and made endless new friends. It was magical. I worked hard to make that trip happen and I am proud I am fulfilling my “focus on traveling” dream. Thanks to wool& I was able to pack less than 10 lbs (4.5 kg) of items for that trip saving me money on baggage fees for the 14 flights.

What sort of impact has wool& had on your life?

wool& has had a significant impact on my life. It has eliminated all anxiety around “what to wear,” reduced my laundry, decreased the time I spend buying clothes, and downsized my wardrobe allowing me to move across the country with only six boxes of possessions.

What is your favorite wool& product?

My favorite wool& dress is the Sierra Tank Dress. I own three and wear one nearly every day. I love how I can add and remove layers and the material is thick enough to make my shape smooth and it holds its shape in all kinds of weather.