What I wish I had packed this summer in the bay area (updated)
About one year ago, I wrote a blog post about what to wear during the summer in the Bay Area. This summer, I did not read that blog post before I returned.
As a personal stylist who is constantly traveling back and forth for work between the Bay Area and NYC, packing is especially difficult. But you would think by now I’d have it down.
I flew from NYC to Oakland in August, unsure of how long I would be staying, and somehow managed to bring only one suitcase. It weighed exactly 52 pounds. As I breathed a sigh of relief when the airline agent didn’t charge me for those extra two pounds, I thought I had packed pretty well.
I was wrong.
I have worn the same five things almost every day since I got here. Half of them were purchased after I arrived.
What. The. Fuck.
As I’ve driven from Oakland to the North Bay to Silicon Valley and back into San Francisco, I’ve watched the temperature vary by 25 degrees in a single day while repeatedly cursing my packing decisions.
During those drives, I’d fantasize about what I wished I was wearing and add another item to my list at every stoplight.
After a month of getting dressed in the Bay Area, here’s what I really wish I had packed.
Closed toe shoes
I am embarrassed to admit this, but I brought FIVE pairs of shoes with me!
With the constant temperature changes, keeping my feet warm was a challenge. Boots are not right for August in the Bay Area, but neither are the four pairs of sandals I brought.
A closed toe shoe, like a great loafer or comfortable flat, was what I was missing, and the frustration was real.
The Versatile Pant
The perfect pant for a Bay Area summer needs to do a lot. I want something lightweight enough for a warm day, but substantial enough that I’m not freezing when the temperature drops. Something fashionable that I can wear out, but something that’s also functional enough for a walk through the trees.
Versatile Tops for Versatile Pants
I packed plenty of tops, just not the right tops. A great button down, a cute T-shirt and something a little sexier would have had me covered completely and allowed me to pack even less.
The Perfect Dress
The perfect dress does exist. It can be layered, it can be dressed up, it is comfortable.
A lightweight jacket, of course
If there is one thing I should know by now, it’s to always have a jacket with me in the Bay Area.
A lightweight blazer, denim jacket or cool little trench would have worked with almost everything on this list and saved me from freezing anytime the sun disappeared.
After a month of getting dressed here, I know I could have packed less and worn more if I had focused on versatile pieces that actually worked together. Which, annoyingly, is exactly what I tell my personal styling clients all the time.
Maybe next trip I’ll actually take my own advice.
