Pacific Northwest Fashion for Summer

This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a commission if you click on a link, or make a purchase using the links in this post. All opinions are my own.

When you think of the Pacific Northwest fashion, what most people would think of is grunge. And, truth be told, we do have that on lockdown. It’s true, plaid is always in vogue in this area of the world. Winter, spring, summer or fall, we do love our plaid.

If you’re traveling to Seattle, Portland, or anywhere in the PNW it’s good to know that the Pacific Northwest is incredibly casual. Dressing up means pearls with your goretex. You think I’m kidding, I’m not. If you go to the symphony wearing Birkenstocks and socks, no one will bat an eye. In fact, the Seattle Symphony encourages it!

The casual, laid back, come as you are attitude is something I love about Pacific Northwest fashion. Everyone is invited, no matter what makes them comfortable. When I go visit other cities, I have to remind myself that this isn’t how the rest of the country dresses. And, there is something great about that too, everywhere has its charms. The smartly dressed gals of New York, to the glitzy babes of Las Vegas, everyday fashion is different in every region. When I travel to the south, I find myself wearing more bright colors and patterns. When I’m home, in Washington, I’m happy to rock clothes that are cute, but also are well suited to the Pacific Northwest lifestyle.

So how does one dress for Pacific Northwest fashion in the summer?

Layers

In the summer months, remember to dress in layers. If you’re visiting the area and looking at the highs for the day, and think, it looks lovely! Well, you are right. Summers in the Pacific Northwest are incredible. But, temperatures can easily drop 20 degrees at night. Queue the layers. You’ll be comfortable all day long if you have something to slip on your arms when the temperature dips. Or even during the day, 75 in town feels hot, but 75 on the water, with the wind blowing feels quite chilly.

Sunglasses

Seattleites buy more sunglasses per capita than any other city. Rain is synonyms with Seattle. But, in the summer months, there is very little rain, and lots of sun. You’ll need a good pair of sunglasses to survive the summer months. Even when the sun is being shy, the clouds are still bright. I don’t know how to explain it, but once you experience it, you’ll understand. Trust me, you need a pair of good sunglasses.

Shoes

Shoes that can get dirty. Life in the Pacific Northwest is all about the outdoors. A normal summer day for us may start hiking a local trail to see some sights, biking to a local brewery for lunch, and dropping crab pots for dinner. You need active shoes to keep up with you! This doesn’t always mean sneakers, although it can. But also includes boat shoes, rugged flats, hiking boots, and active sandals.

 

Like this? If you’re traveling to the PNW maybe you’d be interested in a Weekend in Vancouver, what to do at Finnriver Cidery (one of my favorite Washington spots!), and if you’re embracing the PNW style, How to Wear Sneakers with Jeans!