Dressing formula for summer in San Francisco?

Blog

Forum

Finds

Dressing formula for summer in San Francisco?

gardenchick

Veteran

As I write this, it's about 58 degrees out, proejcted to get up to...63?

Brrrr!

Curious if anyone has mastered the business casual dressing formula for A summer in San Francisco. I run cold, so won't wear sandals or shoes without socks unless it gets over 75 or so.

I know to dress in layers...any other thoughts? My wardrobe feels confused!

11 years ago

Dressing

8 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

JAileen

Veteran

I see that you live in the Bay Area. Did you just move there? As you know the temps can vary wildly depending on where you live and work. SF can be quite cold while Marin can be balmy, for example. So it depends. It seems to me if you're mainly in the cold part, then you can just wear what the rest of the world wears in the the spring and fall. It's a little harder if you're commuting from warm to cold or vice versa. Then I would dress for where I was most of the day, with the ability to layer on or off. Regardless of the official season, I dress for actual temperatures. And if that means a coat in July, so be it.

11 years ago

Kristin SF

Veteran

When I was living in the city, I only wore my down jackets in the summer, lol. Seriously. So for business casual, one thing I would be sure to bring with you is a good coat, like JAileen says. I like quilted down jackets, they can be dressed up for a day at the office.

Be sure to have a nice selection of toppers, too. When I worked in a more formal office setting, I always wore blazers. Once I moved to a more casual workplace, I wore sweaters, cardigans, wraps. And always with some kind of coat.

Now that I work further down the peninsula, it can still be cold, so I leave a flannel wrap in my office for colder days/days when the AC is out of control.

11 years ago

gardenchick

Veteran

Thanks for the responses. We moved back here from the East Coast three years ago. But every "summer" I get confused!

I put away my California winter clothes last week when we got a heat wave, and now it seems like I need them again!

I guess I have to bite the bullet and get that coat that works for 50-65 degrees. And also keep looking out for good toppers since I don't have too many.

Kristin SF the flannel wrap is probably a good call too.

11 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

Last week was an anomaly.

I still bring my wool jacket to work with me - no use in daytime but at night I often want to have it. And there's always a wool cardigan in my bag.

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

...and 5 hours later from the starting post, the temperature has shot up to... 55F!! Woo hoo!

Hehe. One of the problems that always comes up for me, is that it upsets people to see me in a puffer in summer. It doesn't matter how cold it is; they just get upset. (Very visually oriented, people.) Half the time, I just upset people. However, I've been trying to improve on this front by wearing Uniqulo heattech tops under my silky blouses. They're pretty good (but only sold in winter).

On the nylons front, I do seriously double up. Or wear boots that cover up my wool socks. I trade the puffers for wool (mostly). If I try taking my coat off, I definitely always have a sweater or shawl handy.

Some companies will give you a space heater if you ask...

11 years ago

cciele

Veteran

I keep a cardigan at the office. And as far as outer wear goes, I really like my leather jackets at around the mid-50s

11 years ago

gardenchick

Veteran

Thanks for commiserating with me!

Lots of warmth on this forum if not outside...

11 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Fortunately, you've got actual locals to advise you.
I spent August in SF many years ago and, being from the South, was in disbelief (and cold!) a lot. I had brought one trench, one sweater, a vest--otherwise more warmer-weather items. I lived in the sweater and trench!

Sounds like you have a grip on the actual temps, and you do layers--is it that you are trying to turn that into more polished work-wear, or develop better capsules so you have good, convenient options ? Do you need some clothing that looks more cheery for "summer" but still has the necessary warmth--like sweaters in brighter colors or coats and toppers that are your "summer coats" you don't wear as much in winter? Maybe you need toppers that are more comfortable for all-day wear, as opposed to in warmer weather, I may wear a jacket just for polish to get to and fro, but take it off during the day. There was a discussion recently on the problem of finding really comfortable jackets, or like knits, ponte, sweater-blazers, and so on. And I like the idea of undergarments when the temps stay cool all day and you don't have to un-layer, because that stretches the season of wear of some items--I'm trying to do more of that so that I can wear some of my favorite, good-quality items more often--2-3 season wear.

11 years ago

Category