HELP!

jane129

I am moving to San Francisco from Boston for the summer. I am a law student; will be working as a clerk in a small firm. I need to pack - today! - everything (clothes, accessories, toiletries, books, and electronics) and I'm having trouble deciding what to bring. I know SF can be chilly so I want to bring jackets and sweaters but that suitcse is getting heavy fast, especially with all the shoes. I am also bringing hiking/camping gear to use on weekends.

Plus, I have to put everything else in my room into boxes/storage so my subletter has a place for his stuff.

Any advice on the following would be GREATLY appreciated:
(a) How to pare down what I am bringing
(b) how to pack more of it into a suitcase ( I already do the "roll" method)
(c) How to pick a theme or color palette or what have you that I can live with for the summer - because I know doing so will help wth (a)
(d) Any other tips!

15 years ago

General

11 replies

Latest reply was from Frances

Maya

Veteran

Can you ship a few boxes to your new place? I was lucky enough to live within driving distance of my college, but most of my roommates were from out of state (frequently out of country) and that was the only way to go.

15 years ago

sinead

Active Member

Jane, I'm not in San Fransisco, but from my summer visits, yes, it can be surprisingly cold. I took light sweaters and ended up having to buy a heavy one while there. Since sweaters are bulky but light as far as weight, would shipping a box out there help you? Just an idea.

S. over at academichic packed for a year in Europe and has some great posts on how she managed. I think layers are key, and pieces that can be dressed up or down with accessories.

Can't wait to hear what the San Fransisco ladies have to say! And good luck!

15 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Yup, I was going to suggest academichic.com also.

Good luck !!!!!

Would it be an option to mail anything out to SF ?

15 years ago

Rosie

Veteran

Layers are definitely key! I'm an attorney in the Bay Area - it would be helpful to know what kind of firm you'll be working at. I know you said it is small, which frankly means the dress code is harder to know. (Also, if you want to message me with the name of the firm, I will see if I know anyone there to take you under their wing.) At least one good suit is essential because chances are high that you will be able to sit in on client meetings/depos/ADR/court appearances.

Layers are for sure key. A trench coat that is water resisitant (if not waterproof) is also a good idea. Are you wanting to buy new stuff or use what you have? San Francisco is a really hilly city and people frequently walk or take public transport, which is pretty good. I suggest a nice pair of really comfy flats to slip on for walking around, which will also keep your heels in better shape.

Do you know the office dress code?

15 years ago

jane129

Member

Hey everyone,
Thanks for the tips! I am going to look into mailing things to see how the rates compare with overweight luggage fees. I saw that post on Academichic and forgot about it! Thanks for the reminders.

15 years ago

Dashrashi

Veteran

TRENCH COAT. If you've got one. I was in law school in Boston, working in SF last summer, and had to buy a coat for the morning commute in June. It offended my sensibilities but at least I was warm.

15 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

Layers, layers, layers, there's a reason why no one has air conditioners in their windows. It very rarely gets hot enough to warrant installing one.

15 years ago

Dashrashi

Veteran

I used to turn on the heater in my sublet bedroom at night on a regular basis--while wearing yoga pants, a t-shirt, and a hoodie to bed. Bring pajamas, even if you're not a regular pajama wearer!

Also, I figured out that since I was going to be working 5/7 of the time I was there, I really needed to cut back on the amount of solely-casual (i.e. could not really be repurposed for work) clothes I would normally have brought along. I think I ended up with only about 7 t-shirts and maybe 3 pairs of jeans and 1 pair of shorts (really really low for me for a whole summer) and used almost all my packing space on work clothes (two suits--bought another out there--and a whole lot of business-casual-plus separates).

15 years ago

Sihaya

Veteran

Good luck with your move. You might want to check out the posts on the capsule challenges to see how you pare things down. I used inspiration for those when I had to pack all my clothes into one suitcase for a two and half week trip. San Francisco, you definitely want some layers as it can be cool.

15 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

definitely a trench coat and some spring scarves. i'd pack suit separates that coordinate so that you can mix and match. good luck!

15 years ago

Frances

Active Member

Jane, I'm also in SF and can vouch for the excellent advice my Bay Area neighbors have given you. The City itself tends to be solidly, unrelentingly fogged in for most of July and August. This year is not looking too promising either thus far. Usually our rainy season ends at the end of April and we have some lovely, warmer spring weather in May and June. Not so this year. The rain keeps returning and returning, and the cold won't seem to let up either. The wind was so bad this past Saturday that it felt like January. I have not been able to retire my wool peacoat to the closet or to turn off my heater lately. Yes, bring a warm trenchcoat if possible.

In short, as everyone always says here, "Layers are key." Dashrashi made a great point about favoring your professional attire. You can easily adapt it for going out on weekends, as SF can be both a hip, trendy city (think biker and skater culture) as well as a dressy and polished city. Maybe bring one outfit for hiking, as you'll definitely want to take advantage of our beautiful trails, and one pair of dark jeans for the weekend that can also be dressed up with heels. I know you don't have a lot of time for research right now, but if you haven't been over there yet, Corporette has a lot of great tips for summering at a law firm.

15 years ago

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