san francisco What to wear?
 

Hi I am planning ahead here reading all these great posts about SF. Can anyone tell me what kind of outwear is necessary for late March/early April? The weather is similar year round, yet I am not sure what will be needed.
Also, is SF a relaxed, casual city or a more dress up city? We will most likely do both casual and nicer dinners.

San Francisco is definitely casual. You can always dress things up if you like, but a simple sport coat for men will work fine.

The weather might still be a bit chilly in March/April - but chilly for us is low 60s and anything below that is downright cold! ;-) If there is no rain, you'll be fine with a wrap at night. And guys will be fine with their sport coat - or a mid-to light jacket. This is the perfect city for sporting a fashionable leather coat.

I love the fact that you rank a simple sport coat as casual. Unfortunately, there are hordes of people - not suggesting the OP is one - who rank a sport coat right up there with a morning coat (full formal). Their idea of casual is cut off jeans and a much-washed, misshapen tee shirt.

You have no idea how many of these I see in some of the best restaurants in NYC (they hardly ever turn people away anymore for improper dress). There was even one poster during the summer who thought it was an imposition to have to bring a SHIRT to europe - even though he planned on dining in some 3* places. I never understood if he planned to wear a t-shirt - or tank - or just go bare-chested.

I understood the importer's drift. Saying a leather coat was weather acceptable gives me a good idea of what to wear. I think casual, but nice is the best way to travel. We will bring some nicer outfits for a few good places, but slacks/khakis and some jeans with nice shirts and jackets should be good.

Definitely bring a coat. San Francisco is not as warm as many people think, witness all the tourists freezing in their shorts and t-shirts on a foggy day in the summer time!

"The weather is similar year round" - definitely not true.

march April should be fine - possibly a late spring storm, but usually April/May and Sept/Oct are the best times weatherwise. (April is normally warmer/clearer than much of the summer)

I remember my first naive trip to San Francisco. I thought I was going to "sunny, warm, California" and ended up wearing everything in my suitcase, layer one over the other, to keep warm. It can get very cool and the wind off of the Bay can be brutal.

Yes, layering clothes is good. Once the sun starts to go down SF can get cold, brrrr. Different areas of SF can have different weather patterns. NorthBeach can be sunny and nice while Financial area cold etc. Other areas will not see the sun at all, all on the same day.

You will have a wonderful trip I am sure!

There is a wind that blows down Market Street that is what the English call "A Lazy Wind". It doesn't bother to go around you it goes straight through. :-B

ed, I have never heard that expression before but it sure fits the wind on Market St. Good description!! Leave it to the dear English to have a good saying about everything.

Layers are your best bet. A light jacket over a sweater should be all you need. A leather jacket is great.

In addition to all the good advice above, do not forget a small packable umbrella and a water-resistant jacket of some kind or a windbreaker. Late March is still the winding-down phase of our rainy season.

...be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.

You might also experience two seasons on the same day in SF standing in the same spot.
Adding to the complexity, you might experience two seasons while driving across SF on the same day.
Layers. Good walking shoes are the most important thing. There might be only 10 "flat" streets in SF.

Totally agree with nytraveler. SF is much dressier than what "casual" is in the Midwest. It is extremely relative. Coasts do not consider dress casual the same thing as they do in Minnesota or Kentucky. My guy refuses to do THEIR "dress casual". Sorry, nytraveler, I try to convince repeatedly and almost every time, I fail. He thinks those are clothes you only wear to go to a wake or church. And there is almost nothing he considers suit worthy. And he is very educated and fits in almost everywhere, EXCEPT FOR THAT. Don't give him no "city-slicker" clothes. And he is NOT alone.

SF is cold at least part of the day. I would bring a GOOD coat. I have used it every time I was there.

A good thing to remember - no matter what time of year it is our nights cool down, so always bring a jacket or coat. Every area of the City seems to have different weather.

I've seen tourists bundled up in 70 degree weather because they come from much warmer climates.

Enjoy your stay.