FS Style

Guest Blogger: The Animal Orchestra

Twenty-something year old fashion blogger Nadia is on an aesthetic adventure, having recently relocated from Melbourne to Sydney to pursue a career in fashion journalism.

On a recent vacation to San Francisco, her newfound friends and their expressive, playful street style inspired Nadia. We asked her to report back and define the style of the city (no small task); here, she shares her thoughts on San Franciscans, shaggy hairstyles and an ‘anything goes’ philosophy.

“In San Francisco, you can be pretty much whoever you want to be. We let the freak flags wave high and proud.”
– Kayla Jones, Glitter for Breakfast.

If there’s one thing that defines San Francisco’s street style, it’s a sense of permissiveness; people wear what they want. There’s a playfulness to it. Better yet, there’s joy in it.

Neither as studied as New York (so wrapped up in its reputation as the fashion capital of the US) nor as sleek as LA, San Francisco is a city dancing to the beat of its own drum.

In San Francisco, a progressive attitude and environmental awareness are de rigueur, both in terms of politics and dress. In a sartorial sense, this means people choose to wear local designers over something mass-produced or stock their wardrobes with mostly vintage.

The climate of the city can be unpredictable – cold, foggy mornings can change to brilliantly sunny afternoons, while misty rain can set in at any time – so, people here master the art of layering. Oversized messenger bags are not only a fashion statement but also a necessity for carrying coats and scarves in preparation for sudden changes in temperature.

In an effort to better understand the city’s style, I spoke to some of its fashion-forward residents, who told me that each district in San Francisco has its own unique flavour. Lydia Hudgens, a fashion photographer who lives in the Mission, feels that her neighbourhood has an edgier feel than others.

“The Mission is hotter [than other regions], nearly 10-15 degrees warmer sometimes and the clothes tend to be on the skimpier side. I feel there’s a certain slouchy, younger crowd. They’re all about vintage chic, shaggy cuts with bangs or asymmetrical appeal, boots, skinny jeans, and thrown together chaos with polished makeup and lips.”

Kayla Jones, a blogger and graphic designer for Nasty Gal, spoke about an “anything goes” philosophy in the way people dress, and describes her own style as schizophrenic.

“My style icons range from Marlene Dietrich, to Jimi Hendrix, to Betty Draper. It tends to be a bit all over the place; I’ve never subscribed to one look or rule.”

Visit Nadia’s blog, The Animal Orchestra.

image credit: The Animal Orchestra.