The Perfect Climate for Your Style

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

The Perfect Climate for Your Style

— by Angie

on September 4, 2014

The climate has a big impact on our personal style. If it’s too hot we struggle to layer or cover up in the manner that makes us feel the most pulled together. If it’s too cold we’re in puffers and thermals that cover our fab outfits for months on end. Throw in hat head and the need to wear a particular style of bottom to pair with appropriate cold weather footwear, and our fashion choices diminish even further.

For me, a relatively mild and dry four season climate seems most conducive to a fashionable look that offers variety. The perfect climate for my style would look something like this:

A hot and dry Summer sans arctic air conditioning so that I can wear sleeved dresses with flat footwear and not feel cold. I am in the minority here since I am comforted by hot weather and enjoy the heat for three months a year.
A sunny and rainy Winter that is above freezing. I love to wear wool coats, turtlenecks and booties and would miss them if I lived in a climate where it was too hot to wear those items. I don’t mind if it snows once a Winter because snow is fun and pretty. But I would not enjoy dressing for a climate where it’s below freezing and snowy for most of Winter because that would limit my fashion choices.
A sunny Autumn that’s crisp and cool so that I can wear jackets and all styles of jeans and trousers.
A sunny Spring that is warmer than Winter so that I can sport lighter toppers like trench coats and leather jackets to give my wool coats a rest.

Although our four season weather in Seattle is milder than on the East Coast and in the Midwest, it’s generally too cold and wet for my liking. This means that I have little opportunity to wear unlayered Summer clothes. My bottoms and footwear choices are more limited throughout the year because of the rain (I would love to wear my flares and bootcut trousers more frequently). And generally, I’m wrapping up a lot more throughout the year than I would like to because I run cold. That said, I’m grateful that we don’t have extremely cold and snowy Winters, that our Autumns are stunning, and that we had the hottest July and August on record this year.

We all have a sweet spot. What’s the perfect climate for your style?

Individual Style

72 comments · Add a comment

Quietgirl

Veteran

That does sound perfect, Angie! When you find that place, don’t tell ANYONE. If you do, everyone may join you!

Normally, our winters on the East Coast aren’t terrible (barring the occasional Nor’easter). Last year, winter was miserable. It was so limiting, fashion-wise. I had to wear warm snow boots everyday!

Usually, I can wait until January to don heavy coats. Most December days, I can wear a wool turtleneck and scarf then add a down puffer vest or other mid-weight jacket. That is my favorite fall!

September 4, 2014 at 3:52 am

Lucy

Veteran

Angie, I think you need to move to Sydney! With the exception of the once-a-year snow, that pretty much covers our weather here!

September 4, 2014 at 4:09 am

Neel

Veteran

The place you described must be heaven :).

For me … I only wish we had 4 seasons, so I could see the surroundings come to life. We have almost 8 months of high summer and 3-4 days of rain in the entire year! The most beautiful time of the year is winter. Mild winter (which in some places is summer!). I love it because it is barbeque and picnic season for us ^_^ And boots and jackets too!

How I long for a 4 season climate! The summer here is almost depressing

September 4, 2014 at 4:11 am

skylurker

Veteran

I’m lucky to live in a mild climate that’s not difficult to dress for, esp as I spend my days inside an office, not outdoors.

September 4, 2014 at 4:13 am

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I just moved a daughter from VA to MA for grad school and spent the year planning for a wardrobe, outerwear and footwear to match her new winters…She resisted me a lot when it came to flat riding boots as she is a boot lover , but all heels… Well, at least she has a great pair of snow boots..LOL.. Waiting for the phone calls that I know will happen once winter hits…

September 4, 2014 at 4:15 am

rute

Veteran

Very interesting. Here we have 3 months of a REALLY hot summer (too hot for my taste).
The rest of the months are not cold, sometimes we have a mild autumn and spring, but on other years it rains almost 7/8 months per year. I have that.
I wear trench and rain boots a lot

September 4, 2014 at 4:17 am

Mona

Veteran

You probably know what i am going to say here. Winters are waaayyy too long and cold here in Canada for my liking. The fact that I run colder than most people makes it all the more troublesome. I layer up like crazy in winter and it was only last year (thanks to YLF) that I realized that I should have a variety of puffers instead of just one to wear all winter long.
I love summers and enjoy immensely to not have to layer up but then arctic A/C turns on in my office and I still have to wear toppers throughout summer.

September 4, 2014 at 4:17 am

April

Veteran

Summer is most challenging for me, style-wise.

My ideal style climate would never go above 80 or below 40 degrees F.

September 4, 2014 at 4:26 am

gryffin

Veteran

I live in the northeast and I agree with Neel that having 4 true seasons is really special. That said when one season is particular long or rough, I talking to you last winter, I do get mighty sick of extreme gear. I wore the same two pairs of snow boots from december unitl almost april. I bought a third at the end of last season just for more variety. My favorite seasons are fall and spring and love winter but only if it’s mild with no snow. Then I am in boot, topper and coat heaven!!

September 4, 2014 at 4:32 am

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Well winter here goes on forever, and that can get depressing. I would be happy if it only snowed once a year, Christmas Day please. Although I do like to wear my sweaters and boots, I would happily pack them all away and move to a warmer climate. Mid ’70’s, dry, sunny, perfect. I’ll keep a sweater out for when I go visit friends in cold places!

September 4, 2014 at 4:45 am

lyn67

Veteran

A sunny, relatively mild and dry of all 4 seasons, would be great. I hate the strong winds and when rains too much in a row. Then I love really hot summers and snowy freezing winters, but only for holidays:-).

September 4, 2014 at 4:49 am

Deb

Veteran

Here in Melbourne, Australia we have four distinct seasons. A warm to hot, dry summer, warm to mild autumn, a cool winter with a sprinkling of really cold days, and a fresh and temperate spring. Annual rainfall is about 650mm which is very manageable. Like many, I love the four distinct seasons for what they have to offer, and all the different ways we can embody fashion to suit them. In former years I have lived in both very hot and truly cold climates and I prefer this middle ground.

September 4, 2014 at 4:54 am

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

We have your first two requirements but not much in way of Autumn and Spring. I love mild winters and year round sun, but would be happy with a longer Spring.

September 4, 2014 at 4:55 am

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, the climate. The climate!!

The climate and the weather affect so many of my fashion decisions. I don’t even know what it would be like to get dressed without an eye to the forecast

I find our winters too long, too cold, and far too grey for my pleasure. I don’t mind wearing snow boots for a couple of months a year, but would prefer it not to stretch to six. How I would love to be able to wear dresses without hose for longer in the year — or even with sheer hose! But no.

On the other hand, it is lovely to see the seasons change, and a fun challenge to learn how to dress fashionably in difficult weather conditions.

September 4, 2014 at 4:57 am

traceyws

Active Member

TraceyLiz, LOL, I can relate! When my daughter left Florida for college in Massachusetts she resisted all ideas of low-heeled boots and warm winter coats (not necessary and they would make her look fat). How well I remember the email that arrived at the first frost with links to land’s End parkas and silk underwear! I’m still laughing 7 years later!

September 4, 2014 at 5:01 am

Laura

(website)

Veteran

What I’m looking for is a place with the Autumn you describe, on a year-round basis. Can someone conjure that up, pretty please? This year, our summer was cool enough that many days qualified as fall-like. I have been a happy girl!

September 4, 2014 at 5:02 am

Windchime

Veteran

I wouldn’t trade our four seasons and have enjoyed seasonal closet changeovers from the time I was a child. Our spring and fall are pretty much perfect, although I could do without the fall time change which plunges us into darkness by suppertime. I wish our winter was no more than three months of cold, sunny weather with consistently enough snow for outdoor sports and our summer was not so humid.

Ideally, each season would be a clearly delineated three months; I enjoy the variety. The problem is that winter dressing goes on for more like six months, while true summer dressing only lasts about six weeks.

September 4, 2014 at 5:18 am

Elly

Veteran

Oh goodness– I think I need to combine the seasons of several places I’ve lived. I need the generally cool and rainy summers from my childhood with a few days a week of shorts weather, then take our early Sept. fall and stretch it to the November fall of the desert, then have a nice 4 month winter (with an escape to somewhere cool but not cold) and have 2 months of spring. Actually, I would be OK without spring entirely if summer was cooler and rainier and winter not so long.

September 4, 2014 at 5:31 am

Thistle

Veteran

I will take the climate you described, but with a much milder summer. :). Would give me far more opportunities to wear the skirts and dresses that I love.

I have lived a lot of places in youth, and where I am now is by far the worst climate wise. But being close to family is important to us, especially with small children.

September 4, 2014 at 5:32 am

Diane G

I like the sound of your ideal climate Angie and I would probably want something very similar.
I would like a Summer that spanned June, July and August with temperatures in the high seventies to low eighties. Autumn would be mellow, starting with cool sunny days and turning to bright and mostly dry crisp, frosty days. Winter would be the classic 3 months from December to February and would have a generous smattering of snow (because I love snow) but very little in the way of rainy days… oh, and no wind either so that my hair always looks perfect :). Spring would be bright, dry and suitable foe all types of mid to lightweight toppers and great shoe choices.
This was fun Angie. I’m now in my own little dreamworld… or is it the novocaine, due to my dental appointment causing that

September 4, 2014 at 5:33 am

Aquamarine

Veteran

Fall in New England is my favorite season. If we are lucky, it’s bright sunny days coupled with cooler temps. Sweaters, light jackets, interesting layers and boots equal fashion Nirvana for me

September 4, 2014 at 5:41 am

Janet

(website)

Veteran

My gripes with the weather here are mostly summer-related. I love living in a four-season climate, but I would love it even more if our spring and fall weather lasted longer. I don’t mind our winters in the mid-Atlantic. They don’t tend to be terribly cold, and we don’t get a lot of snow as a rule, although I don’t mind snow. I do NOT like the freezing rain we tend to get.

I don’t mind some heat but I dislike the humidity. Basically, if you take away some of our humidity and trade out a few weeks of hot summer for the more pleasant spring and fall temps here, I would like it just fine. I do enjoy that just when a season is starting to feel long and I’m sick of my clothes, a new season is just about upon us. I don’t think I’d like to live in a place where it never varies. My sister lives in a southern climate and she misses snow, and I would feel the same way!

September 4, 2014 at 5:53 am

jackiec

Veteran

I like having 4 seasons, but would prefer a little less rain and a little more sun. I love summer but not too hot. My perfect summer is about 25-27 degrees max. Winter can be cold but I prefer cold and clear. I love spring and fall and my ideal temperature is probably 18 degrees and sunny :). I really enjoyed summer here on the west coast too, Angie. I’m getting a little depressed about the upcoming rain this season. He had a couple of downpours this week and I felt sooooo sad…..maybe I need a bright bright coat

September 4, 2014 at 5:56 am

amiable

Veteran

Ooh – great question. I’ve never thought about it.

My first thought is that I also really enjoy having four seasons. This year I’ve enjoyed my summer wardrobe very much, and am a little sad to see summer starting to fade into fall.

I love cozy warm sweaters, so wouldn’t do away with cold winter, even though if I go out I have to wear coats. It wouldn’t need to be as cold as it is here, though — +20F would probably be cold enough

Spring and Fall are my favorites – I can wear pants and nearly any top I choose. Ours aren’t particularly wet nor dry, and I don’t mind the mix that they are.

September 4, 2014 at 6:03 am

Peri

Veteran

I’ve got your ideal Autumn, Winter and Spring, but definitely not your ideal summer. Mine either! Lightbulb moment….beyond the comfort factor, I struggle with summer dressing precisely because it is the only one that is not my ideal. I don’t think 90s and dripping humidity would make anyone’s ideal list, but it didn’t occur to me before that part of the reason I pout about it is that the other seasons are so nice!

September 4, 2014 at 6:26 am

Diana

Veteran

My ideal climate would first and foremost have no precipitation, and no oppressive humidity. Rain, snow, and sweat make me miserable! 365 days of dry and sunny sounds perfect to me.

As for temperature I wouldn’t mind a range as I want to be able to wear winter coats/boots/sweaters as well as sundresses. I would say between 30-80F.

September 4, 2014 at 6:27 am

clearlyclaire

I think I need to move to the Equator. No, wait. I love warm weather but not warm weather clothing! I’m okay without four seasons. i love dry weather, but not the extreme heat we have in Arizona. The Fall, Winter and Spring months are beautiful here, but it’s strange to have such short days during the most perfect weather. It’s a little hard to grill out for dinner when it gets dark at 4:30 in the afternoon. Plus the temperature drops 20 degrees the moment the sun goes down.

Hmmm, I’ve not really answered your question. I’d take a mild, three season climate with a little more variation. I’d have to add a lot more clothes, though!

September 4, 2014 at 6:39 am

Marlene

Veteran

I have lived all up and down the west coast so I have experienced a fairly wide assortment of season options in my travels. My perfect weather area is Marin County in the Bay Area. Perfect all year round! Not too hot or cold and enough seasonal variety to allow closet change-outs!

September 4, 2014 at 6:46 am

Aziraphale

Veteran

Vancouver is pretty close to ideal for me, actually. I could do with slightly less humidity, but I like the mild climate and day-to-day variety. Sunny all the time gets monotonous. I like overcast skies, too. I don’t enjoy torrential downpours, but mostly, when it rains here, it’s a drizzle, which is fine.

My ideal summer would be warm and dry, with the odd day of rain to keep things green. Anything too hot and humid makes me feel crazy! (I have no future plans to visit Singapore). It doesn’t have to be very warm outside before I’m perfectly comfortable in a sleeveless top and shorts.

Autumn should be cool, crisp and mostly dry. A mix of sunny and overcast days makes me happiest. Storms tend to strip trees of their beautiful fall foliage, so I could do without those.

Winter should have only occasional snow, with temperatures just above or below freezing. We need enough precipitation, and cool enough temperatures, for the local mountains to have snow — but not so much that I have to shovel my car out! I can handle very cold weather, but I prefer just below freezing.

An ideal spring should be a lot like fall, temperature-wise, although for some reason I mind the rain less in the spring. Spring should be cool enough that I can still wear more than one layer.

September 4, 2014 at 6:47 am

Eliza

Veteran

I enjoy a four season climate also. Angie, you did my work for me as your preferences are quite similar to mine. Extra thanks for that!

Your description of the preferred spring and fall are spot on for me also. I hate that some years we don’t have a spring experience at all, as it moves from wet and cold to hot and humid.

Summer- if you change your word hot to warm, I am with you all the way.

Winter- eliminate the word rainy and I am right there.

Fun to think about, yet here I am with cold, usually snowy winters, humid summers, and questionable springs. Yet I love where I live.

September 4, 2014 at 6:48 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Fascinating. Most prefer a four season climate and can do without the oppressive heat, but don’t mind a few months of snow.

High five Eliza, Diane, Neel, Mona and Quietgirl. We want to live in the same climate.

Diana, thanks for making me laugh.

Jackie, we have another week of gorgeous late Summer weather, although the days are much shorter. I’m not complaining.

September 4, 2014 at 6:59 am

always trying

Veteran

Our unusually hotter summer made things even worse for me. another thing is getting things for traveling it other climates and not getting more wear out of them when you return home.

September 4, 2014 at 7:03 am

Susie

Veteran

The older I get the more I dislike really cold weather so I love having a fairly short winter that doesn’t get bitterly cold. We don’t get a lot of snow and when we do it rarely lasts so I never have to wear snow boots for days on end, nor do I need them higher than ankle height. Our greater challenge is ice that doesn’t get readily cleared from the roads and causes frequent power outages.

Our summers- with the exception of this one- tend to be hotter than I would prefer. But working in an office allows me to wear things I couldn’t wear if I was outside more. I tend to dress very casually on the weekends in the summer which is fine but it would be nice to be able to wear jeans on the weekends too. Mild temps in spring and fall allow bare legs and shoes without socks for a nice long time. And coat season is fairly short so there is a lot of opportunity to wear toppers without having to add a coat on top.

September 4, 2014 at 7:11 am

MsMary

Veteran

I would like to live in your ideal climate, Angie. We don’t get much spring or fall here and I would enjoy a four-season climate! And it’s rarely cold enough for real winter clothes!

But I wouldn’t give up air conditioning entirely — I just would like it to be above freezing!

September 4, 2014 at 7:15 am

Joy

Veteran

For several years we lived in Southern California (Irvine) and I loved the climate. While it is not a 4-season climate, I was always comfortable. Fashion-wise I discovered that people were more fashionable, maybe because one actually got to wear out items, not pack them away. That meant buying less but maybe more frequently, if that makes sense. I did not miss the seasons, the longing for cooler or warmer weather. We had just enough of that on a daily basis…warm mid-day, cool evenings and mornings. Not freezing, not scorching heat that needed AC, no humidity, little wind…my perfect climate.

September 4, 2014 at 7:22 am

(website)

Veteran

Ideally, I’d only move to FL after October and leave it before May. Live in our Tahoe condo the rest of the time, and enjoy the best of both climates. Instead I seem to be in FL in summers and Tahoe in winter. A backwards snowbird if you will. The extremes of each. Blech. It can be so dry in Tahoe and when moving back after the FL humidity its a shock to the system.
But I will say this has gotten me to round out my closet pretty well to face most weather!

September 4, 2014 at 7:28 am

Jamie

Veteran

Your ideal climate would suit me quite well…with a few tweaks. I prefer cooler, dry days, but I do enjoy cloudy, rainy days as well. I think this is because we get such intense heat and sunlight for the summer that it overwhelms me. Ideally, I would love a climate that allowed me to sport my layers year-round, with the opportunity to wear coats and jackets for longer durations.

September 4, 2014 at 7:51 am

Dana

(website)

Veteran

Angie, what a fun post! I especially love how you paid your gratitude to the Seattle weather gods at the very end.

Quite honestly I could be very happy living in spring and summer weather like I did on Southern California. I don’t really like coats or boots all that much and didn’t miss wearing them. It was cool enough in the winter to wear cashmere sweaters, so I was definitely happy with my variety. Unfortunately I missed friends, family and skiing so I moved back to Denver.

September 4, 2014 at 8:05 am

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

I think you are describing Sonoma County to a T! I could see you hanging a shingle in Healdsburg or Sonoma to advise Bay Area clients a few months of the year…

I was raised in Santa Barbara county and prefer the slightly more distinct seasons of the north bay. I do enjoy a little cold cold, too, and I get it when we are at our cabin in southern oregon. But I don’t have to commute to an office or anything. (When we lived in Pittsburgh PA I did find the sight of little old ladies slogging grocery bags home on the bus in wet gray slush a cautionary tale to not put down roots!)

The worst part of this multi year drought is that I find myself feeling guilty enjoying any mild dry winter weather. Hope we all see lots of rain this year in the west. xo

September 4, 2014 at 8:11 am

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I guess I’m in the minority here, but I don’t need a 4 season climate at all. The heat comforts me, too, Angie – Denver summers are the best – 80’s and 90’s, very little humidity, lots of sunshine. Yes, and not so much air conditioning. If I could have that 8 months of the year and the other 4 months in the 50’s and 60’s so I could wear jeans, boots, and leather jackets, it would be perfect for me. I don’t care if I never see another snowflake or raindrop in my life, and we don’t really get that much of it here, but none would be better.

September 4, 2014 at 8:49 am

shedev

Veteran

Someplace they have never used the term polar vortex. Most years our weather isn’t bad. I’d like it to space itself out more evenly. Our spring and fall weather can be so short that I don’t really consider transitional wardrobe pieces.

September 4, 2014 at 8:53 am

AviaMariah

Veteran

I’ve always lived with four seasons and think I’d really miss it. But I would like our summers to be a bit milder; high 70s to high 80’s with no a/c would be perfect. I like the snow as long as it snows about 1/2 an inch every couple days. That keeps everything looking fresh and pretty without having huge snow drifts. I also could do without the extreme freezing. 30 degrees so it would snow is low enough for me! I’d also like spring and especially fall to last a little longer and winter to be a little shorter. I’m not asking for much I know!!

September 4, 2014 at 8:53 am

Kay

Active Member

My ideal climate is North Carolina. I know this from having been there. I am currently living in the midwest and I truly do not enjoy the extended months of below freezing temps and snow, piles and piles of snow. Like you, snow once a year is okay, tolerable. I am making plans to move south. I love sweaters and boots, and could still wear them in the south in the winter. I love heat, don’t use A/C (except when I’m at work), just a warm weather girl.
You pretty much nailed it for my ideal climate!

September 4, 2014 at 9:05 am

JAileen

Veteran

My perfect climate would be somewhere in the cooler parts of the California coast where it’s foggy, like Point Reyes or Pacifica. Instead I live in the Intermountain West, at elevation, with very hot dry summers, and cold winters with snow.

September 4, 2014 at 9:17 am

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Angie, I want the climate you describe. So maybe I should move to Sydney, as Lucy says!
I like having four seasons, and I like dressing in layers, so I really enjoy the fall and spring. Cold, damp winter gets tiresome for me, but I’m finding that a good boot collection and some wool and cashmere sweaters are helping a lot.

September 4, 2014 at 9:25 am

Active Member

For me it would be slightly cool weather with temps of 15 degrees celsius to 21 degrees, but humidity at 70% so my skin stays hydrated, for my 3 item in every outfit, blazer loving thoughts about style!

September 4, 2014 at 10:41 am

Veteran

I’m moving to New York state, in their snow belt, because I love winter & snow so much. My ideal summer would never get above 75 and only last a couple of months, hence my struggle in my current Texan environment! The rest of the time would be autumn (cool enough for layering jackets & wool knitwear & boots but not requiring a heavy overcoat), winter (below freezing and lots of snow please, although I’d prefer it to stay above 0 F!), and spring (similar temps to the autumn and somehow magically free of slush and mud despite said snowy winters, hehe).

I love four seasons, but I run hot and enjoy wearing cool weather clothes more than hot weather ones, so a cool & cold temp dominate place is perfect for me. And I prefer cloudy days to bright sunny ones!

September 4, 2014 at 11:16 am

sewingmom3

Active Member

Here in GA we have summer and winter. Limited spring and fall. Fall suits my style best. I love jeans, tee and blazer or sweater. I like spring for the same reason. I love dusters. Most of the time, it doesn’t happen.

September 4, 2014 at 1:13 pm

Jeanie

Veteran

I adore weather so I am a 4 season girl. I like a good snowy winter and lots of good rain storms in the fall and spring.. I see weather as an opportunity to wear many different types of clothes.

September 4, 2014 at 1:15 pm

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I like having four seasons and my ideal climate would be to have them in equal duration – 3 months each. I would not mind winter at all for 3 months – it is when it lasts 5-6 months I have a problem with it. Oh and amount of snow – we definitely have too much of it where I live: even driving 2h to Toronto I see big difference in the amount of the snow on the ground. Boo for leaving in Southwestern Ontario snow belt!

September 4, 2014 at 2:07 pm

Caro in Oz

Veteran

It’s the extremes & the duration of those extremes that I find hard – 100F++ for days & days just makes me droop.. No snow here but out winters seem to go on forever too. If I had to pick one climate it would be your autumn Angie. Like many others I do like four seasons. This was especially true when I had a garden

September 4, 2014 at 3:37 pm

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

I am torn between your ideal climate, Angie (with the variation of a lot more rain and grey days – they make me so happy, whereas too much sunlight and heat is oppressive to me) and what Joy described of Southern Claifornia. I think that either of those would make me quite happy.

September 4, 2014 at 3:47 pm

retailgirl

Veteran

Thistle, I hear you! I lived in Milwaukee and the summers were so hot and the winters so cold and snowy! ( then we moved to Burlington, Vt. Out of the frying pan, into the fire! ). Now I’m in southern New England, and except for a few snowstorms, the climate is lovely. When it does snow, it doesn’t stick around. Springs are a little rainy, but fall is glorious and this past summer was great. But I love having four seasons and dressing for four seasons.

September 4, 2014 at 4:25 pm

Debbie

I live with exactly the weather Angie has described. In fact I have more jackets than I need and feel guilty at the end of Winter as I have not worn all of them enough. I live in the fabulous south of Queensland, Australia. While I would welcome a little snow, I am happy that I can travel to it if I want to.

September 4, 2014 at 4:50 pm

Makrame

Veteran

That imaginary place sounds heavenly… Like Suz and Sveta, I don’t mind a couple of months of snow but when winter weather lasts for half a year… that’s a different story. We deal with it by going cross-country skiing often.

September 4, 2014 at 5:15 pm

Truecolors

(website)

Active Member

I grew up in the freezing cold, snowy winters and humid, long, hot summers of Michigan, but as a child it was wonderful! As soon as I reached young adulthood I headed west to California. I live near the coast, so the weather is temperate all year round. Boringly beautiful!

That means that I, too, Angie, don’t get to wear sleeveless dresses too much because of the cool ocean breeze. However, in the winter when it’s raining and chilly, I have a collection of cashmere turtlenecks, jackets, boots and scarves that work perfectly to ward off the chill.

I miss the seasons….sometimes

September 4, 2014 at 5:42 pm

Style Fan

Veteran

I love the changing seasons but I find the winter here very long (5 or 6 months) and very harsh. Winter is extremely cold, sometimes -37 C, for days or weeks at a time and last year we had 15 feet of snow. The summers can be very hot and humid but short. I do not like the heat. Wine.
I love fall. I love the milder temperature. I love the colour of the trees. I love the sweaters and boots. I love the harvest.
Spring is nice because finally winter has ended.
I find I dress for winter in a very functional way. To keep warm.
I would like to live in a place that had a milder winter. But I want all my family and friends to come with me. Also, I love Montreal and the winter there is just as bad. Oh well.

September 4, 2014 at 5:53 pm

Cynthia

(website)

I’d probably do really well in San Francisco, because I’d love to wear boots and not-too-heavy layers all year round. Instead I roast here in the Southern heat.

September 4, 2014 at 5:59 pm

MRL

Veteran

The summers here in DC area are just too hot and humid. I really prefer to not have to wear shorts and sleeveless for casual wear but it’s just too hot to do otherwise. I would love to live somewhere with low humidity and hi temps in the 70’s during the summer.
I don’t mind winter so much as bundling up in heavy sweaters, coats, boots etc is fine by me.

September 4, 2014 at 6:18 pm

Debbie

Veteran

I would like to live in a climate that had more than two seasons hot and hotter. I love fall weather and moderate temperatures.

September 4, 2014 at 6:51 pm

Kaelyn

Veteran

I have the opposite problem–I’m always too hot! I think my perfect climate would be:

A warm but not hot summer (more like spring in real life) with a constant, gentle breeze, so that I don’t melt. I start getting uncomfortable around 80 degrees and by 90 I’m a puddle on the ground. Living in the southeast where it’s not uncommon to get into the 100’s, summer is my least favorite season and I tend to give up after a month of it and wear shorts and a roomy men’s T-shirt with no makeup and my hair pulled back on most days.

A cool, crisp, sunny, DRY autumn. Autumn in the southeast is actually perfect and I wish it stayed like that year-round. I say dry for autumn because it’s my ideal temperature range, and it’s the season I spend the most time outside. I can still get away with short sleeves if I bring a cardigan or light jacket with me for after the sun sets, or I can wear long pants, light sweaters, long sleeves, etc. and be really comfortable. I LOVE wearing boots this time of year.

A mild-cold winter, perfect for layering, pretty coats, knit scarves, and thick sweaters. I love rain and snow as long as it doesn’t turn into ice and make me slip because I’m rather clumsy. In the winter I love wearing a lot of black, gray, and some bright colors like red for contrast. The thing I hate is that it will be really cold outside so I have to dress warmly for that, but the minute I go back inside–say running errands or going out for dinner–it’s boiling and I’m frantically shedding layers and still burning up when I’m down to one layer of clothing. Summer can be the same with extreme AC, but it’s a lot easier/quicker to put on a jacket inside than it is to take off a big, thick coat.

A mild spring, warmer than winter but not hot. In the spring I love wearing short skirts (for me, above the knee is short) and capri pants. I like it warm enough that I don’t get cold but cool enough that I can still layer if I want to. In a perfect world, there’d be no bugs to worry about, either. I have a terrible phobia of all insects that fly, buzz, and sting. And also mosquitoes, which like me a lot better than I like them.

From what I’ve heard about Seattle, it sounds like a climate I’d really be able to get used to. My husband and I are hoping to move out there in the near future.

September 4, 2014 at 9:23 pm

Sal

Veteran

Interesting reading!

While I don’t think the climate here in the Waikato is perfect, from a fashion sense it is pretty good. Hot summer with balmy nights, dry sunny autumn with crisp evenings, cold winter (no snow) with frosts, wind and rain, and a changeable but mild spring.

Our climate is unpredictable so layering is important…but NZers are less into Air Conditioning so that is not so much of an issue (it does not get as hot).

So we get an opportunity to wear everything with no dominant season. I tend to be cautious on too many wintery items however because they are expensive and really only worn for three months. I will still wear parkas and knits now, but have stored my two wool coats away now it is September.

September 4, 2014 at 9:38 pm

Lyn D.

Veteran

Yes, I am truly blessed with our 4-season weather.
Except for the occasional very hot days it is moderate and most conducive to wearing woolies to sleeveless tops and everything in-between

September 4, 2014 at 9:50 pm

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I live with more seasonal variety now than I did living on the Coast of California. But I think I prefer the milder climes of the Coast. Winters are not too bad, but the extremes of Summer are hard. My ideal climate would not have average summer temps of 95. It would be 85. And my ideal climate would bring more rain and fewer fires.

Having said all of that, I feel lucky that I can get in a car and drive to the Coast to see the ocean and feel cool weather, even in August. Or, in January if I want to feel the cold and see some snowpack I can drive 3 hours in the other direction. California has it all.

September 4, 2014 at 10:10 pm

Marley

Veteran

I believe that I live in the perfect climate for my style. Pretty mild year round with subtle changes in temperature (and angle of the sun) during the year. We definitely have 4 seasons, although I realize that most people who live in very distinct seasons would disagree with me.

Because I do not have to concern myself with keeping warm or dry in the fall/winter or cool in the summer, I am able to wear a casual look that also looks pretty effortless – because it IS effortless – I really don’t have to put much thought into my outfits. I know that in the summer I can still wear a cami or tank underneath my top and be comfortable – I also know that if I’m going to be near the beach in the evenings that I will need to bring a topper with me. I also know that in the winter I can wear flares, booties, and not have to worry about protecting myself from frigid temps and the wind – so I get the benefits of wearing the cute winter outfits without all of the hassle of actual surviving the extreme cold weather!

I can honestly say that I do not feel like I am missing out on anything by not experiencing a cold winter or a hot summer. I’d much rather be able to focus on other things, than whether or not I’m going to be warm enough – or cool enough!

September 4, 2014 at 10:43 pm

gardenchick

Veteran

Great question, I’ve been thinking about this all day.

More or less, I live in my ideal weather. The San Francisco Bay Area is moderate, and it mostly suits me.

However, we do get a lot of fog where I live and work. If the weather was about 5 degrees hotter regularly, I could wear more short sleeves, more skirts with bare legs, etc, and not feel cold. But that’s a small complaint.

September 4, 2014 at 10:51 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sounds like Sydney and Southern California come close to my perfect fashion climate, although their Winters are not really conducive to wearing wool coats.

September 5, 2014 at 6:45 am

Lisa

Veteran

Great question. Perfect climate for me is cool but not often wet weather. This way I can sport my favorite look, bootcut jeans, boots, and a jacket or blazer outdoors. It’s layered but not overly layered as done for winter months.

September 5, 2014 at 7:41 am

Petra

Good post! The weather has always dictated what I wear, so I don’t always get to wear what I really like! I am originally from Auckland, NZ, so loved the changeable weather there. Then I lived on the Gold Coast in Queensland, for 20 odd years, where it was way too hot and humid all year so you had to live in air-con most of the year as it was like an oven outside, and now we’ve moved to Melbourne where I’m so looking forward to the changeable weather again I now have no idea what to wear!!!

September 5, 2014 at 5:39 pm

Sihaya

Veteran

I too love a warm summer as long as it’s not humid. A mild and sunny fall is also love because I love the feel of crisp fall clothes.

September 5, 2014 at 7:51 pm

cheryl

Veteran

Such a fun read! I do not like feeling bulky or layered up and I have to do that so many months of the year. I do love snow but I would love a fashion climate of 60-80 degrees. Cool enough for sweaters, jeans and boots but warm enough for tees, shorts and sandals or tennies.

September 6, 2014 at 6:34 am

Cee

Summer is way too hot and draining these days for my liking, so I much prefer the cool to colder seasons as I love the feeling of being snug and cosy.

I live in turtlenecks for that reason alone

September 8, 2014 at 10:35 pm

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