East vs. West Coast Style

It’s always fun to contrast styles of dress from different regions, and at theSTYLetti, we have plenty of opportunities to observe style differences on the east coast of the U.S. versus the west. Liliya and I live on different sides of the country and frequently travel to each other’s. (Of course, Liliya gets around even more, recently sharing a “southern belle” look!)

The Zoe Report recently characterized differences of style on the opposite coasts:

“West Coast fashion tends toward relaxed silhouettes and beachy, feminine vibes, while the East typically exudes a sleeker, more polished bearing.” – The Zoe Report 

Personally, I’m not so sure about the “feminine” part, but I pretty much agree with the rest. Here are a 3 differences I’ve noticed in my wanderings – around Boston, New York, L.A., San Francisco, and Seattle – lately. I wonder to which side you most relate.

Leggings

On the east coast, I tend to see more leggings in solid colors, especially black – whether styled for a dressier-chic everyday look,…

…something casual for the weekend,…

…or to go sporty.

West coast girls seem to go more for leggings with livelier patterns, and I also noticed that accompanying handbags, if they are used, tend to be more casual.

Vintage / Retro

I can’t always tell when someone on the street is wearing something truly vintage, but this New Yorker shared that her white button-down shirt was just that. What I seem to find on the east coast is that vintage/retro clothing is more often treated with subtlety –  often blending with the rest of an ensemble so that it can be seen as a great piece and not necessarily drawing attention to its era.

In contrast, west coast girls are more likely to go for a more playful all-retro look.

Update: Although I have never seen these fabulous women, I have been proven wrong in an article by Harpers Bazaar. Well, it was only a theory. 🙂

Sneaker Style

When it comes to sneakers, I have to hand it to those east coast girls who incorporate them into chic, sophisticated looks – like this groutfit (grey-outfit) with mustard/chestnut accents…

…or this lovely autumn palette with skinny jeans. I love how the bag matches the sneakers – both of burnt sienna.

On the west coast (especially from San Francisco on up the coast), the same style of sneaker is more likely to be styled with grunge/hipster overtones – like this adorable example – with maybe a little less attention paid to color coordination; it’s all good!

These are a few of my observations of differences between east coast and west coast style. If you want to see more, I think that The Zoe Report has an interesting take on it. Do you identify with the style of one coast more than the other?

XO, Janea

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