San Francisco. The City by the Bay. A place of innovation, breathtaking views, and… confusing weather. I remember moving here, so excited to explore, but completely stumped on what to wear. One minute it's sunny, the next it's foggy and freezing. I quickly learned that dressing for San Francisco is an art form, a constant negotiation with microclimates and the ever-present wind.
When I first arrived, I made all the classic mistakes. I’d leave the house in a t-shirt, confident in the morning sunshine, only to be shivering by lunchtime. Or I'd overdress, layering up for what I thought would be a cold day, and end up sweating through the afternoon. It felt like I needed a whole different wardrobe just for this one city! I even considered buying one of those touristy "I survived San Francisco weather" shirts, but then I decided to figure out how to dress properly instead.
My first big breakthrough came when I noticed everyone wearing hoodies. Seriously, everyone. At first, I didn’t get it. But then I realized the genius of the hoodie. It's the perfect San Francisco garment. Easy to put on, easy to take off. It's the ultimate adaptable layer. I quickly adopted the hoodie as my go-to. I'd wear it in the morning, take it off when the sun peeked out, then put it back on as the fog rolled in. It became a sort of San Francisco uniform for me.
That’s also why everyone complains about San Francisco being “cold.” It's always just on the edge – too cold without a hoodie, too warm with one. It's a constant state of hoodie-related flux.
Eventually, I realized that the hoodie wasn't always enough. I needed a more nuanced approach, a jacket for every potential San Francisco weather scenario. I started experimenting, observing what other people were wearing, and slowly building my San Francisco-appropriate outerwear collection.
Here's what I learned, broken down by weather type:
It took me way too long to appreciate the power of a good windbreaker. I always thought they were just for hiking or something. But then I realized, duh, they're called windbreakers for a reason! San Francisco is a windy city, and a windbreaker can make all the difference between a miserable day and a comfortable one. I now keep one in my car at all times.
Living on the East Coast before moving to San Francisco, I had a whole section of my closet dedicated to "fall jackets." Now, I realize that a fall jacket is pretty much a year-round jacket in San Francisco, especially if you live out in the Sunset. I've found that a waxed jacket is perfect for those perpetually damp days.