WTW in SF Bay Area end of July?

velvetychocolate

Last minute business trip, and I'm going along. My summer wear is decidely casual and not all that fab due to very hot weather that I'm still not used to.

Will I actually be able to wear dressier jeans which I normally don't get to wear at all during summer? I'm thinking smart casual instead of my usual very casual. I might need one or two dressier outfits which I think I can manage, but the rest of the time, what kinds of things should I take? It seems like my closet has a split personality - somewhat dressy and very casual.

What would you consider "smart casual" for summer?

Thanks

13 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from GGB

Meredith1953

Veteran

If you will be in the City itself then jeans can definitely be worn in July. I would also take a couple of layering pieces and a cute jacket as it can be windy there. Also occasionally rainy. Smart casual sounds good!

13 years ago

velvetychocolate

Veteran

You mean I will be able to wear a jacket in July??? YAY!

We'll spend a little time in SF, and some time in the San Jose area as well.

13 years ago

christieanne

Veteran

Jeans - in SF yes. And you need a sweater or jacket - not all day maybe (not promising though!) but in AM/PM. Otherwise you will end up buying a SF sweatshirt and be immediately pegged as tourist. Foggy mornings and evenings. If you are going down by the water or on a Bay cruise you need layers. Actually, layering is the best course of dress here.

In SJ, it is much much warmer so a casual dress or bermudas may feel better than long denim. There is a 20-30 degree swing within a 40 mile range of SF. Microclimates!

In the Bay Area everywhere though, smart casual is the norm. Denim is pretty much everywhere for day and night. If you are going out for dinner, just do a dressier top and shoe with the jeans. You will fit right in. Of course this could be a good time to wear dressier clothes if you want too - that would fit in too. We are a very diverse area

Sounds like a fun trip. Check out http://www.sfgate.com for local newspaper online if you want ideas of waht is going on around town, restaurants, etc. Also Chowhound is great for restaurant ideas. Tons of shopping all over so that's an easy one. And museums!

13 years ago

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Thank you Christianne and Meredith!

I really appreciate the extra insight about taking a jacket or knit layer. I'd have been there in my very hot weather clothes. And no, I didn't really want to be buying a sweatshirt...lol!

Ok - so warmer by a lot in San Jose. I have some nicer bermuda type shorts and so on. Plus some skirts as well. I'll bring dressier jeans and tops/jackets for SF.

Thanks again

13 years ago

Meredith1953

Veteran

I didn't even think to comment about the San Jose part! Christieanne is quite right about it being MUCH warmer there.

13 years ago

cciele

Veteran

Yup those ladies have gotten you sorted out.

I can't emphasize the importance of layers enough. I've been in SF at night with a leather jacket in the summer and have bee freezing! But there are occasional heat waves that will make enven SF hot... so check the weather.

In general though in the summer SF and the coast will be cool and the more South or east you go the more the temperature will go up.

13 years ago

tinapete

Active Member

Cool and foggy with bay and ocean breezes likely in SF in July. SJ can be in the 90's for days with no breeze which increases smog. These are the two extremes and with the strange weather fluctuations we're having, anything can happen. Last week hot, up to 90's, this week mid-seventies in SJ. I, myself, am a cool weather person and prefer the fog.
Be prepared with layers and have fun!

13 years ago

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Yes the ladies have you all sorted! Dressy tops and dark denim jeans sounds great. Definitely bring a cardigan and jacket. And shorts and tanks for the South Bay and warmer days (it can totally vary from one day to the next). Summer can actually be the coldest time in SF because the fog rolls in morning and evening. Wasn't it Mark Twain who said "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco"?

13 years ago

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Thanks again everyone - it sure sounds like I'm going to two different places...

I am reasonably well sorted for extremely hot weather (well, it's a bit too casual, but I'll figure something out), but not as well sorted yet for cool/foggy'ish. I think it's just a matter of a mental switch - in that I *can* take a pair of jeans and a jacket, or wear dressier pencil skirts that would normally be way to hot to wear at this time of year. It'll be like the opposite of going to a warm-weather place at Christmas or something. Where you just can't wrap your head around being able to wear seemingly out-of-season clothes.

13 years ago

christieanne

Veteran

Exactly VC! it is a cooler summer even for us this year so far - which does not mean that July will stay the same of course.

Yes GP - I love that Twain quote

13 years ago

sarah

Veteran

Like Mark Twain said, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco". It can be very chilly when the fog rolls in, but whether it does depends a lot on where you are in the city (and in the Bay Area, generally), so be prepared for everything. You will certainly be able to wear your jeans. I used to work in Berkeley and live in SF, and I'd get so cold going home at night, from the East Bay to the City!

13 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Well, I think the locals have you pretty well covered but just wanted to add that depending on where you are in SF it can get really windy as well! I know from experience that a lightweight floaty skirt is not really the best idea there...

I would bring a trench, a scarf, jeans, and lots of layers.

13 years ago

GGB

Active Member

I'd defnitely check the weather forecast for SF and SJ just before you go -- both can vary a lot. Good idea to bring things that can be layered either way. No worries about denim at all -- you will fit right in. Have fun!

13 years ago

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