This spring break I decided to try something new. I got on a plane at an ungodly hour in the morning and flew to San Francisco for the first time in over 10 years. Not only did I find a city full of beautiful people and amazing views but I discovered what famous California swagger really is. I saw the kind of fashion that you see in magazines and I learned a few things too.
The first thing I noticed was that San Francisco is not as warm-weathered a place as I thought it was going to be, so I was a little underdressed. Men adapted to this by wearing a simple overcoat, usually something with relatively thin fabric like a trench coat. The younger men rocked their trench coats like it was a Californian invention.
I also noticed that people wore a lot of black, something that has been on the rise for a while now. But people wore black not in an antisocial or punk way but in a simple, upscale way. Sometimes it would be black boots or a black coat, but the lack of color only added to the sophistication.
I was also pleasantly surprised to find that light or faded jeans were making a reappearance with the warmer weather. I've preached for a while that dark jeans are in style and I've certainly over-worn my favorite pair of dark jeans, but with sunnier days it's time to bring out the faded jeans again. Nevertheless, do so with a little tact. Ripped jeans were all the rage back in high school and I never quite understood their popularity. Wear faded jeans that fit you well; they don't necessarily have to be baggy because it's spring again. Especially in times such that these, when showing excess luxury and wealth is seen as rude and condescending, subtlety is the key to being well-dressed.
A pair of faded jeans cut slim, a colorful tee and some well-chosen flip flops go a long way on a college campus.
GQ magazine did a photo shoot of swimmer Ryan Lochte a while back, the Olympic medalist, who while in the shadows of you-know-who, manages to strike a clean California-influenced style, which was the focus of the shoot. Interestingly enough, each piece of clothing used was priced under $100; even a magazine that usually plasters glossy Armani and Versace suits is downsizing a little. The photos show Lochte in a variety of laidback clothing, faded jeans being one of them.
Out in the financial district of San Francisco, I also saw a lot of khaki suits. If you're lucky enough to land an internship of some sort for the summer and you're required to wear business attire, I would highly recommend investing in a cotton khaki suit. It's sleek, breathable and best of all, different from everyone else's and can be worn for more than one simple occasion. Pair the suit with sneakers and a polo or jeans and you can easily downgrade your semiformal look to a casual one.
As for San Francisco and me, the views from atop those hills I'll never forget, and the easy style definitely rubbed off on me too.
