Keeping Their West Coast Cool
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On a ruthlessly hot August afternoon, we spotted three Californians demonstrating pulled-together weekend looks despite the swelter. Here, they tell us how they make their style work on either coast -- be it 75 degrees and balmy or 98 and humid.
-- Holly E. Thomas and Michelle Thomas
Krista Ellis, 22
A recent transplant from San Francisco, Ellis keeps cool in a lightweight plaid tunic from Urban Outfitters and cotton shorts from American Apparel. A handful of uber-casual accessories round out her look: classic Ray-Bans, a Longchamp nylon tote and flip-flops from Rainbow. As an executive assistant at an economic policy firm, Ellis admires the District's professional polish from 9 to 5. "I think your weekend style can pretty much be your own here, but as far as what people wear to work, that's been the biggest change for me," she says. "I kind of like it because people actually look appropriate for work, whereas in San Francisco you just wear jeans and a trendy top."
While her personal style is based on figure-flattering pieces and investment items, such as a well-constructed pair of trousers, Ellis notes that her look takes on a different translation in the District. "On the West Coast, I wore a little bit more preppy clothes, but now that I'm in D.C., I guess I'm a little more of a hipster," she says. "I haven't actually changed, but on the West Coast, 'hipster' means kind of full-out. Here, even the slightest thing is considered hipster."
Why we stopped her: Ellis balances barely there shorts with a modest top for a suitably youthful weekend ensemble.
Candice Davenport, 24
Davenport, an online marketer who recently relocated to the District from Santa Monica, tackles the oppressive heat with an airy, open-back maxi dress -- "You can usually find me in something short or something backless" -- which she pairs with a low-slung vintage belt, borrowed satchel and braided sandals she scored while vacationing in Hawaii. Davenport's always on the lookout for clothes and accessories she won't spot on anyone else, so she makes a point to purchase while traveling. Her favorite souvenir? A custom-made pair of boots she bought from a cobbler in Istanbul. "I probably spent three times what they're worth to get them fixed, but they're worth it," she says.
