by Renae Virata
Born from a legacy of Hollywood fantasy and fabulous year-round weather, LA style can be most appropriately defined as casual glamour. With there hardly being a reason to ever stay inside (think beach…think shopping…think year-round outdoor cafes), clothes that are easy to wear and easy to live in will never go out of style in the City of Angels.
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Photo credit: PynkCelebrity.com
LA is the queen of trendy, so it’s easy to look good but be comfortable.
• Layers are essential here. Having at least three pieces (scarf / tank / jeans, mini / leggings / oversized top) looks put together but keeps you comfortable.
• Dresses, tunics and rompers. To keep it simple but chic, try one-piece dressing. A funky pair of open-toe booties, flat sandals or cowboy boots will add that extra funkiness in a snap.
• Have a wear-with-everything sweater or jacket. Day temps can plunge 15 or even 20 degrees at night, so be prepared. If you only bring one, bring along a tailored, casual jacket (like twill) or a thick-knit cardigan with a vintage twist that you can wear to Dodger stadium as well as to a dinner. Make it bright and happy in a sunny yellow, orange or kelly green.
• Jeans are a staple. Though skinny jeans are a Hollywood favorite, having any well-fitting pair to throw on that will take you from a day of shopping to dinner is perfect.
• K.I.S.S…then accessorize. It’s California casual but take a cue from the style goddesses of Hollywood and kick it up a notch. Adding a great, cuffed bracelet and earrings, a good scarf, or some punchy leggings will add that extra “flair” that takes your outfit from casual to LA casual.
• Don’t forget your kicks. Most anything goes. Our last trip this summer showed that the weather doesn’t keep anyone from wearing what they want on their feet in order to make their outfit work. We saw everything from thong sandals to knee-high (yes, knee-high) boots. Nothing gets put away in an LA closet (how lucky!).
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If you happen to make your way to Long Beach or Santa Monica, channel your beachy side and feel free to dress down more. It’s not unusual to see the locals donning their two-pieces under a breezy cover-up and denim mini. Flip-flops are a basic here in the summer and light flats give you another comfy alternative.
Travel east about 20 or 30 miles, and you hit the desert. Make sure you wear light breathable natural fabrics, moisturize and drink plenty of water! Temps in the desert can drop quickly at night, so bring an extra long-sleeve sweater or light jacket.
Click on an item to shop this look: Slub cardigan, Arden B. $39; Romper, Alice + Olivia, $297; Wooden platform sandals, $108; Clutch, Lodis, $235
Click on each item to shop this look: Tee, Isabella Oliver, $67.15; Distressed jeans, Siwy Denim, $190; Platform heels, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, $343; Scarf, Fluxus, $50
Click on each item to shop this look: Dress, Alice + Olivia, $367; Heels, Report Signature, $187; Gold clutch, Inge Christopher, $178
MORE FABULOUS OUTFITS!
Professional and tailored in LA
All of the outfits in the links above were created using the My Stylist feature of WeareverTheWeather.com. Input your location, date, and occasion to create your own fabulous outfits and share them with friends through email, Facebook, Twitter and more!
Rihanna
Los Angeles experiences May Grey, and June Gloom during the spring. April starts off the spring season perfectly with a change of 3 average inches of rain to almost zero. May Grey and June Gloom produce cloudy or foggy mornings on the coast which dissipate by the middle of the day for you to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. Think leggings, long-sleeve cardi or jacket, jeans, booties, medium to light scarf, peep-toe flats or heels or open-toe booties.
July – September Average High Temp: 83 degrees F (28.3 degrees C) July – September Average Low Temp: 64 degrees F (17.8 degrees C)A true escape from the humidity and high heat of most other parts of the country, LA experiences the weather of summer dreams: warm and dry. As you move from the coast every mile, the temperature increases just about one degree, so beware of desert heat as you move inland! Think bermuda shorts, rompers, short-sleeve sweater, light knit vest, 3/4 sleeve swing jacket, sandals, open-toe booties.
October – November Average High Temp: 75 degrees F (23.9 degrees C) October – November Average Low Temp: 56 degrees F (13.3 degrees C)The weather continues to be perfectly warm and mild but the nights are much cooler. If you’re by the beach, the already cold Pacific waters will require a cardigan or hoodie to stay warm. November brings a little bit more rain as average rainfall goes from zero to one inch. Think jeans, leggings, booties, light knit, light jacket, medium scarf.
December – February Average High Temp: 68 degrees F (20 degrees C) December – February Average Low Temp: 49 degrees F (9.4 degrees C)Weather is a little crazier in LA this time of year! Temperature ranges on some days can swing 30 degrees F while sprinklings of rain happen throughout for an average of 3 inches monthly. Think jeans, leggings, long tunic sweater, light leather bomber jacket, medium-weight vest, boots or booties.
• The Los Angeles Times fashion site
• The LA Fashion District is 90-blocks of fashion industry goodness – including some ridiculously good bargain-hunting. Definitely a flats-and-tote day.
• Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising has a rad museum that is currently featuring original looks from Gossip Girl (!), The Tudors, and (since it is now it’s new home) Project Runway. Check out their scholarship store for A-MAZING (no, SERIOUSLY) deals on donated items from local retailers, wholesalers, and designers – and support the FIDM Scholarship Foundation to boot.
• Kitson LA | Purveyor of trendy casual apparel and accessories; men, women, kids; 8 locations across LA.
• Fred Segal | A celebrity haunt with a range of clothing pricepoints (but still fabulous style) for everyone; men and women; 2 locations in LA.
• American Rag | Quintessential California style; men, women, home; 1 location in LA.
• Opening Ceremony | A West Hollywood favorite featuring individual designer “shops” within a shop; men and women; 1 location in LA.
• Loehmann’s | For all you bargain shoppers, the location on La Cienega is huge; over 10 in the Greater Los Angeles area.
Great advice on how far from the coast you are…it can be a big surprise to find the weather change with the landscape so quickly!
Living in the LA area, fashion can be all over the board, generally depending on how how far away you are from the beach, and what time of the day it is. There have been times where I’ll have on leggings and a coat in the morning, but by the afternoon it’s 85 degrees. It’s not a place to “pack lightly”, though you won’t have to worry about bringing a parka (unless you go inland a bit to our snowy mountains) And it’s casual, yet still pretty trendy.
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