The NYTimes post today about the Tribes of San Francisco was an interesting examination of style in San Francisco. Having lived in San Francisco for a year I agree that sartorial needs here are more balanced with functional ones that reflect a more outdoors if not exactly athletic lifestyle. The article however misses a key component of dressing in this city- the weather. Layers aren't necessarily about styling, they are also about dealing with the shifting temperatures through the day and across the different parts of the city. It was a learning curve to get this right which included how to tie, wrap or carry a shed layer.
It was also an education in why some garments really work there like polar fleece- its not only warm, its light to carry. A pleasant surprise was the denim jacket which has it's workwear roots here from the Gold Rush era. Mine got a lot more wear in SF than in NYC. Something about it's weight which was too heavy for east coast warm weather or too light for cool weather was more appropriate here. The corduroy collared, blanket lined Storm Rider was more meaningful in NYC - but I always wished it was longer and less heavy. I love some of the newer interpretations of the engineer jacket, but ironically what's fashionable despite it's genre is not something that always 'works' that well.
