My husband and I are visiting San Francisco for the first time and have booked reservations in some fancier restaurants. We are residents of L.A. where everyone can go anywhere without a collared shirt or tie.
Is is acceptable for men to wear sports coat with round neck shirt (no collar) at restaurants like Farallon, Gary Danko, etc?

Yup! I think of SF as even more casual than LA.

"What to wear in San Francisco?"

Clothes preferably

but if not a wine barrel will do

We're not particular here in the Bay Area

Hi Sheila, your DH can wear whatever he wants. There was an article in the SF Chron just this morning about The Fifth Floor restaurant and they mentioned that although a few men were in suits there were lots of women in sparking flipflops and filmy skirts. The comment was they looked like they were dining at a beachside restaurant.

Sheila, in SF "anything goes". Your DH will look just fine with a round neck shirt and jacket. He will probably look more elegant than most of the fellows.

Welcome to SF and have a wonderful time!!

It is true that SF is very casual--you should see what people wear to the symphony--but when we go to an upscale restaurant like Gary Danko, the men always wear sports coats and lots of times, they wear ties. They like to treat it as the special ocaision it is. I think what you have described will be fine. I sometimes think that people who go to upscale restaurants in very casual clothes are trying to send the message that they are so used to dining there it is not a special occasion that warrants dressing up.

BTW Loveitaly--If women think it is OK go to the White House in "dressy" flip flops--an oxymoron as far as I'm concerned-- it can be no surprise that they are worn to dinner in upscale restaurants.

Hi SAB, I had the exact same thought, LOL!!!

Off Topic--but my sister conducts leadership development seminars for women in business and she informed me that about a third of the young women in her last workshop did not think it was inappropriate to wear flip flops to the White House. She told them it was their choice how they wanted to be viewed, but they should be aware that the men and women who ran their companies were, for the most part, people who were appalled by how inappropriate it was.

SAB, that is interesting. I do wear flipflops with capri's and pants, almost everyone in my casual city here in Sacramento Valley does (it gets so hot) and people wear them with cute sundresses also. But as casual as my city is I have not seen anyone wear flipflops when it is not appropriate. Well not yet anyway. But the times are changing!

Personally I don't understand how women (no matter what their age) think that flipflops look good with a dressier outfit. Guess I am showing my age but having said that I do love clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry etc. I love a well put together look.

I am a really casual person (native Californian, enough said - LOL) and even I think flipflops to the white house is inappropriate.

Speaking of what to wear, my husband and I are going to visit San Francisco in the spring, end of March, early April. What's the weather like then? Will a light jacket do for a coat? I have a lightweight, hooded raincoat -- black -- that's big enough to layer, if need be.

Sandy

sandy - the weather in SF will likely be in the 50s-70s during the day, probably into the 40s overnight and *maybe* into the 80s during the day if we get a heat wave. That's a big maybe.

Layers are always your best bet, and a lightweight, hooded raincoat is the best choice for your outerlayer. Easy to layer, easy to carry, useful if there is a storm, etc.

RE: flipflops in the White House; those young ladies probably just weren't taught any better, but didn't they all look clean-cut and nice? No fat bulging out of the tops of too-tight waist-hipbands, no excess legs or cleavage. I don't know why everyone has fussed about this, considering what COULD have shown up in photos.

>> those young ladies probably just weren't taught any better, <<

I read that "those ladies" sold the flip-flops through e-bay, and then used the money to either support their sport, or they donated it to charity. Sounds like a very clever plan to me.

Stu Dudley