Monday, July 20, 2009

Guest Post: West Coast Summer Chic

CC is proud to present another fabulous guest post by the lovely Laura of Under the Sheets... shhh!

Thank you, CC, for asking me to guest post again today. In our last post, CC and I interviewed each other. We thought it went so well that we should try it again. A lot of your comments suggested that Carrie Couture and I talk about the differences between West Coast and East Coast fashion. Interested in what CC has to say about East Coast chic? After reading this post, come visit Under the Sheets-shhh today to read her answers!
I have always felt that West Coast fashion is, in many ways, opposite to East Coast fashion. The main differences are due to the weather. On the West Coast, there isn’t a need for heavy winter coats to shield us from the snow. Instead, we need lighter jackets for the fog and rain.
Since our weather is really two long seasons - spring and fall – ‘West Coast Chic’ can be summed up in more casual and flowing pieces.
For example, sundresses, flowing tops, pocket-tank dress, camisoles, open-toed shoes, layers and leggings. If it’s a little too cold to wear our summer dresses, we pair our outfits with leggings and an over-sized belt (us San Franciscans wear our belts with a dress or even over a tank and jeans/skirt).
West Coast Chic can be summed up in one word: sunshine! We try to look like we’ve been in the sun all day to go with our casual and cool outfits.
This look is better achieved with bronzers and self-tanners due to our ever-changing sun. I believe that tanning in a bottle is almost essential to the West Coast look.
Our summer chic look is usually paired with loose hair. Whether the hair is hanging down in waves for that beach look or loosely pulled back into a ponytail, the feel is carefree, especially when paired with a baby doll dress.

Jeans are also a main attraction of any west coast girl’s closet. Jeans are more acceptable to wear to work. They are often paired with great shoes and oversized purse.
I couldn’t live without my tailored Joe’s jeans.
After living in L.A. and in San Francisco, I have layering down to an art. West Coast chic is all about tanks and t-shirts that are too long. You can layer them and have the longer one hanging out while the shorter one bunches up. Add some necklaces, skinny jeans, and you're one hot layered lady!
CC, we must do this again soon. What do your readers think are some of the differences between West and East coast fashion?
~Laura

68 comments:

stilettolover91 said...

Great post!!! Love the idea of letting other bloggers make blog posts on ur blog!

http://www.hottheels.blogspot.com

Anika said...

West Coast chic seems so appropriate to Perth. Love the West Coast fashion style then, although I do love to indulge in 'East Coast' fashion too :)

The Little Fashion Treasury said...

Rachel and Nicole both look amazing!!!!
Great idea with the guest post, CC!!

Have a fabulous week!!!!
Hugs & Kisses
Martina

www.janetteria.com said...

I love this post! :-)

X♥X♥

Dani @ Weddings Fresh said...

great post! i love our style out here on the west coast--i'm such a jeans and tank girl--couldn't live without 'em!

Linda said...

I thought the second and the third picture was pretty! I enjoyed reading the post. I like the west coast style, but I think I love the city style of east coast.
For me, I like to do the mix of both :D

Angela said...

I so agree with the post.

Mimi said...

This was a great post. I do think the weather affects how we dress, but being from the east coast, I think the style is definitely more urban and uptown chic b/c of the city life and just culture.

Ela said...

Congratulations, Laura!!!
Being from Canada, our styles are very 'East Coast'. Visiting LA and San Francisco, the West Coast definitely has that laid back, effortless cool layered look nailed down!

Diego R. Wyatt said...

It is so funny that this post was written the day I returned to the East Coast from a trip to the West Coast. I was working on a photoshoot in LA for an NYC boutique. West Coast is definitely more easy and breezy, while East Coast is more about structure and function. Great interview!

♥ Cara Mia ♥ said...

a great guest post! thanks for sharing the west coast vibe with us east coast girls :)

erika sorocco said...

Wonderful guest post. I have lived on both the East and West Coast - originally from the East, currently residing on the West - and feel that both have such different, yet amazing styles of dress. Love this! :)

Unknown said...

thank you for the guest post! it really is true that there are major differences between east and west coast styles...I can appreciate the west coast casual vibe but I still love my urban style too. every time that I've traveled to CA people always ask me if I'm a NYer...it's all the black and navy:) and this summer I find that I'm really into bright colors! so the west coast is rubbing off on me...

TheBeautyFile said...

I have always dreamed of being a California girl! I just love the laid back, beachy style of living & dressing!

yiqin; said...

Wow, rachel looks great!!

Make Do Style said...

Fab stuff - love the F Biasica bag

B said...

Awesome post!
I agree, we have a more carefree approach to our dress here in the West :)

Iva Messy said...

Great post! I love it!

{YAY! the Golden Gate!!}

Anonymous said...

awesome post!
xxx

Keith said...

Great post and photos. I hope you're doing well today. Take care.

Raquel said...

nice post! congrats to both of you darlings!
x

Bahrain Fashion said...

Fabulous post! Rachel Bilson always looks so chic-ly put together. I love her XD

Jennifer Fabulous said...

Very interesting! I think I'm a mixture of both. Then again, I do live in the midwest, so that could be why. Lol.

Anonymous said...

Great guest post! I love that :) Love the images she picked but I especially love the last image of the top with all the feathers & beads. So chic!

xo,
Jessica

*Diane* said...

great post! love the images she used!

Maria Confer said...

Beautiful images!!

Guests posts are such a great idea!! Excellent post!

Lisa said...

I definitely agree with you on the layering--the weather in Vancouver is fairly temperate and layers let you stay warm or cool when the temperature fluctuates!

Notion said...

man i love every post you make, you really capture the beauty of women

. said...

Great guest poster! I totally love west coast fashion.

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Fabulous guest post! My fashion personality is bi-coastal. It's great to see perspectives from all sides!

Sharon S said...

Hi there-a really great post, those tailored jeans are just fabulous!!

Delmy said...

Love the laid back chic look

Natalia | Look-A-Porter said...

Such a great post! x

Melissa @ I Pick Pretty said...

Excellent guest post. I'm a southern Californian by provenance, and couldn't agree more with this.

I'd even say the California look can be broken down by city; the San Francisco and LA girls are more urban chic than us San Diego ladies, for example, who go for an even beachier, more casual look.

Calming Corners said...

I am in the midwest. I enjoy east coast fashion. After this post I am gaining some love for the west too.

xo,
CC

Unknown said...

Great post! I wish i lived on the west coast - instead of England xoxox

Pau(Rox) said...

I love this post !!!
XXX :)

Laura Trevey said...

You are on my thank you list today!!
Have a super week,

Laura

Gabbi said...

Wonderful guest spot! Very much agree on the West Coast need for layering. :) Off to read CC's spot now...xo♥

love home|life|style said...

nicole's dress is so cool, and if only I could look like that in a bikini, I would be one happy gal! x

Terence Sambo said...

guest posting sure sounds like a good idea, cool post :o]

Anonymous said...

What a lovely post!

loft in SoHo said...

GREAT POST!!!!!!!!! I love it!
and lovely images as always dear CC!

xxx

Sierra said...

What a wonderful post, love reading about the difference in styles between East and West coast.

E said...

I love West Coast chic since it's so different and laid back than DC style :-) That Nicole Richie look is one of my all-times favs.

Anonymous said...

I really need to go to California, i have a bunch of friends who've moved out there. Great post!

MizzJ said...

Everything you've said here is right on the money!

Anonymous said...

Oooh what a great way to be interactive with other bloggers!!
P.S I was just reading an article about the comeback of West Coast fashion in AM New York this morning!

Hope you had a wonderful Monday.
Cheers,
C

Anonymous said...

i especially love the look on nicole richie
beautiful
love this post, thanks for all your comments back, i look forward to them!!

-cma
check out my blog @
cosmicaroline.blogspot.com

thefatandskinnyonfashion said...

i love rachel bilson's look.

WENDY said...

I love Rachel's dress :) this is an awesome post.. its great to be able to share some ideas.


xo,
black|coffee|crumbs

Chelsea Talks Smack said...

oh how I love the whole summer chic look. love. love.

♥ Marta ♥ said...

I absolutely agree, the two looks are at complete different sides of the spectrum... but they both are individually beautiful and inspiring :)

Niki said...

great guest post! and thanks for linking your readers to another fabulous blog :)

xo Niki

ahautemess.blogspot.com

Amelia said...

Yay for the west coast! Very interesting post :)

Jane Alisa said...

great post, I love Nicole & Rachels style .x.

Kati said...

Rachel Bilson looks so stunning!

Velo said...

nice post... i love the last photo (the girl who wore a fringe top) =)

Haute World said...

Terrific guest post! What I love most about West Coast fashion is the lack of (or less focus on) black. It's so depressing to see so many dark colors even in summer, so I love seeing these yellows, blues and greens. Beautiful! I think even if you live in a city, there's nothing wrong with wearing a flowery maxi dress or layers of turquoise and pink :)

M said...

Love this post.
Xoxo
M

Mom Fashion World said...

i love all the pictures!

the golden gate bridge looks so romantic place!

[LA] said...

OH MY GOD!

REALLY IN LOVE WITH FIRST DRESS!
FANTASTIC!

Thanks for posting it!






lainarollercoaster.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Loved reading this! As a Jersey girl who's now been living in LA for the last few years, I couldn't have agreed more about the differences in style. Fun post!

xo, Becs

Anonymous said...

what great interview answers! I'm still an east coast girl style wise, but I can definitely appreciate adding a little sunshine to daily wear :-)

alexkeller said...

biggest {ahem} difference i've noticed is cleavage - much more in LA than in the midwest!

Anonymous said...

I adore Nicoles dress in that picture its gorgeous xx

Anonymous said...

Very interesting, thanks !
I'm so amused seeing your westcoast / eastcoast " fashion-rivality " !!

Shay said...

great post! I'm definitely a west coast fashion girl. In fact, I just wrote about that yesterday!