Perhaps you've heard this famous quote that's often attributed to Mark Twain: "The coldest winter I ever spent was Summer in San Francisco." Mark Twain didn't actually say that, and it's an exaggeration, of course—I can assure you, winter in Chicago is much, much colder than summer in San Francisco—but the fact that it's often cold and foggy in the morning (and in the late afternoon) really throws people off. One minute it's pleasant and sunny; the next minute, you're buying an I ❤️ SF sweatshirt from a street vendor because you literally can't feel your extremities. Such is the challenge of dressing for a San Francisco summer, and it all goes back to my golden rule: always carry a light jacket.
I have a leopard-print coat by Ganni (you saw it here) that I wear all the time, so when a dress in the same print went on sale, I hopped on it. I was a little worried about it being too babydoll and billowy, but it's actually quite flattering. The neckline is pretty low (yes, that is my bra you can see popping out in many of these photos), but you can also wear it tied in front, which kind of cuts down on the scandalous factor. Normally I try not to show both boobs and legs, but sometimes rules were meant to be broken, plus the shape is so flowy and loose, there's nothing too sultry about it. The dress has long sleeves, which you can't see here, unfortunately—it was so freaking cold when we were taking these photos, I was wearing a down coat too in between shots. Thankfully it also has pocket, and those came in handy too. For reference, I'm wearing a 38, which is what I usually wear in Ganni (it's a Danish brand).
Ironically, I probably wear my leather jacket (last seen here) more in the summer than in the fall, but I'm ok with that. It's the perfect weight for San Francisco summers, because it's not too heavy, but the leather also keeps out the wind. Leather and leopard is something that could look pretty vampy and costumey when put together, but I think the fuller shape of the dress softens it a little.
So while most of my outfit reads fall, I went summery with my accessories: my trusty Cult Gaia bag (last seen here) and my Topshop sandals (last seen last week—I told you I've been living in them recently). I like how the geometric pattern of the bag counteracts the leopard print, and sandals are something I wear almost year-round here. As for my earrings, I found these in a charity thrift store in Carmel, California—there is no logo on the back and the price was probably too good to be true, but I will wear my Chanel knockoffs proudly!
Does this location look familiar to you? It's Alamo Square park, home to the famous Painted Ladies (houses, not actual women) and where we shot this post. It's just a few minutes away from my apartment, and from my favorite happy hour in San Francisco, Bar Crudo. Check both out if you're ever in the neighborhood!
OUTFIT DETAILS: Ganni dress || Banana Republic jacket || Cult Gaia bag || Topshop sandals || vintage Chanel button earrings (similar here)
