Only few guys can pull together a look like this, it requires a certain personality. First, the layering: bright yellow crew neck t-shirt, black fleece zip cardigan and dark green velvet blazer with capri pants, converse and a fedora hat. Frank Sinatra once said “Cock your hat-angles are attitudes”. In this case, he committed to the hat and wore it with confidence.
You could easily find a guide on how to dress in a bookstore, but it will only show you “a recipe” of basics outfits. The point is not to dress as every single magazine or to wear the latest trend, is to mix and match and try to maintain your trade mark. Sense of style is underrated and not everyone has it. The key is in the way you pull what you are wearing and it doesn’t matter the brand or price of what you wear. Usually when you meet someone who really knows about fashion, they say they buy from vintage stores, from some high-end designers and from mass market brands (H&M, Zara, Gap, Uniqlo, etc).
Today the day was beautiful, the weather was warm (hot actually), everyone seemed happy walking, riding their bikes, skateboards, driving or running. I walked around Union Sq, Soma, the Mission and Dolores Park, looking for someone with a summer dress, or at least someone wearing vibrant colors. Couldn’t find it, and believe me I WALKED FOR HOURS!
The majority was wearing black or gray. If you open my closet you will see that 80% of my clothing is neutral (black, gray, white, ivory and beige, no brainers) but during the summer time I try to wear some color**. Anyways, Roberto Cavalli once said “Why make everything black, black, black? Fashion should be fun and put a woman in the spotlight with a little bit of danger, you know?” I don’t love the fashion tag in his quote, I rather call it style.
At San Fran people don’t really care for fashion and labels, here is all about your own style, mixing vintage with what you already have. But where are your grandma floral dresses? or your grandpas colorful plaid shirts? Come on… bring it on!
I will keep on looking; hopefully I will have some luck.
**For those of you who don’t know me, that’s me on the pic… I was wearing a summer floral dress)
Indeed, bikes all over the Bay Area.
I specially love the SOCKS! They really put a lot of creativity…
@ Grand Ave/Oakland
Reporting from Bart @ 19th St Oakland