How to Dress Fashionably in Seattle

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For this edition of Local's Canonical Packing Lists, the squad over at Get Your Travel On has put together this packing guide to aid you lot decide what to pack for Seattle.

Jen, Tracy, Krista, Abby, and Kendra are a group of friends who have made a habit out of escaping together to their favorite cities whenever they tin. They're on a mission to inspire other BFFs to make memories by traveling, and they requite readers the resources they need to programme memorable–and awesome–adventures.

They've got swell advice because between them they've lived over 8 years in Seattle; the best travel tips are from locals! Use their wear tips along with TFG's Universal Packing Lists to create your ain custom Seattle Packing List.

What to Wearable in Seattle

Seattle is arguably the most popular destination in the Pacific Northwest and for practiced reason: it offers the perfect combination of the great outdoors and the busy urban center.

From famous coffee shops to hiking trails, yous can enjoy the concrete jungle and forest all in the same 24-hour interval. As you plan what to pack for Seattle, follow these way tips.

Birkenstock Mules

Seattle Clothing Style

When you're planning what to wear in Seattle, go on in mind that it'due south a coincidental urban center. Looking around, you'll notice that outdoor brands like The Northward Face are popular with the practical and nature-lovin' Seattle folk.

However, the Pacific Northwest is domicile to a ton of creative people who bask putting their ain spin on the term "dressy." With so many contained boutiques, at that place's a special mix of texture, dust, and vintage class, so don't be afraid to become unique with your Seattle packing list.

While this city may not be as funky as Portland, you're bound to see lots of plaid in fall and winter and Birkenstocks in jump and summer!

J.Crew Tippi Sweater

Seattle Conditions

The weather also contributes to defining Seattle style, as well as what to pack for Seattle. We love to layer, which gives us ample opportunity to play with patterns and colors. Many Seattleites intentionally incorporate bright colors into their ensembles to dissimilarity the grayness skies.

Don't be that person who, when choosing what to wear in Seattle, puts on shorts at the showtime sign of sunday in March. It's a trap! Summertime won't actually be hither for several months. And when summer does arrive, information technology's often fairly mild.

Every bit Seattle weather is known to exist fickle, ever check the forecast a few days earlier your trip so you lot know what to expect and pack the correct items.

Once you've researched the weather, yous can focus on creating a capsule travel wardrobe , which should hands fit in a carryon suitcase with the assist of packing cubes to compress your vesture.

The Due north Face Laney Ii Trench Raincoat

Seattle Travel Essentials

Definitely add your umbrella to your Seattle packing list; information technology actually does rain a lot here. However, yous tin can take that a step further and replace your umbrella with a hooded jacket for rainy days.

Nigh locals go this route anyways, as the rain often comes with wind, which can destroy even the best umbrella in seconds. This is especially true if you plan to spend a lot of time downtown, where tall buildings tin can create current of air tunnels.

Take a look at these stylish and Insta-friendly travel raincoats for women!

What to Pack for Seattle in Bound

In that location is cypher anticipated about the weather condition in Seattle in springtime except the old adage, "If you lot don't similar the conditions, wait five minutes." It tin exist 45°F and raining ("rain" here is usually more like "drizzle", though we do get the occasional downpour) or 65°F and sunny, or anywhere in between…sometimes in the infinite of five minutes. This can make creating your Seattle packing list a little difficult.

In spite of potentially clammy weather, spring is a glorious fourth dimension to visit Seattle. Our overwhelmingly numerous copse (seriously, you've never seen and then many in a urban center) burst into blossom and the streets and hills are lined with the fresh, bright green of new leaves and pinkish of blood-red blossoms.

If you happen to exist here in spring, bank check out the University of Washington campus for spectacular carmine blossom viewing. When choosing what to pack for Seattle, don't forget your allergy medicine if y'all're a sneeze factory in spring. Everything here is growing.

Get-go by reading these general tips on packing for spring travel:

How to Pack for Trips with Mixed Weather
How to Layer a Summer Dress for Spring
Feminine Clothing for Jump
All-time Shoes for Traveling in Leap and Autumn

Seattle Leap Packing List

Layers, layers, layers. Did we mention you should pack layers? Forth with the unpredictable weather, yous may be transitioning from strolling in warm sunshine, to shopping an air-conditioned store, to drinking a delicious cocktail on a patio when the sun is going down (though, to our credit, nearly every bar in Seattle with a patio also has estrus lamps! SCORE!)

Seattle ladies similar to keep it casual, so your packing list should friction match. Starting time with jeans and fashionable sneakers and add a floral or geometric patterned flowy superlative. A cardigan is always a good idea, too. Besides being an essential layer, information technology can add a cracking pop of colour to your outfit!

Download our free guide on what to pack for mixed conditions travel!

Skirts in springtime are a go, simply bring a pair of tights simply in case. Packing closed-toe shoes is a good thought since the occasional drizzle can become mud on your toes. Unpleasant.

Nosotros near hate to say it, just if you are planning to go someplace like the theater, the opera, or the symphony, Seattleites don't always dress upward. You may find yourself between Socks And Sandals Guy and a lady in a cocktail dress.

When deciding what to pack for Seattle for a night out, save room in your bag by packing a pair of dressy ballet flats and peradventure a nice jacket to go with your nice jeans.

Your best accompaniment for what to wear in Seattle in bound is a bright or patterned scarf. Yous can use it to go on your cervix warm, add a pop of colour, wrap around your head during an unexpected bout of atmospheric precipitation, or even use it as a coating, should you find yourself at one of Seattle's many parks for an impromptu picnic or sun break.

Discover out why leather jackets are perfect for travel!

What to Pack for Seattle in Summertime

There is naught more fantastic than when summertime finally hits in Seattle. Sidewalk cafes and local parks burst with free energy as sheltered pare eagerly drinks upwardly the sunshine. The best part is that while other parts of the state are cooking in excessive heat with sometimes unbearable humidity, Seattle is entirely comfortable with temperatures that are perfectly warm with simply the right amount of humidity.

Even so, be aware that you may experience different weather depending on when you visit. Locals always joke that summer really starts here on July 5th, every bit the weather for the annual fireworks and barbeque fest that is Independence Day can be striking or miss.

In full general, y'all tin can count on warm temperatures and beautiful sunny days if y'all visit in tardily July, Baronial, or early September. June and early July will also inevitably have some gorgeous days, but good luck predicting when they volition exist.

Start by reading these general tips on packing for summertime travel:

Sheathing Wardrobe for Summer
Versatile Embankment Dresses for Summer
Lightweight Jackets for Easy Layers
Embankment Sandals for Hot Atmospheric condition Vacations

Seattle Summertime Packing List

You'll fit right in sauntering through the farmers market in a flowy sundress or brim and apartment strappy sandals. Add a few pairs of brusk shorts to your Seattle packing list to bear witness off your legs and pair them with some loose layered tank tops for dissimilarity. Y'all may demand a low-cal cardigan in the evening.

Seattle is very walkable and best enjoyed on foot, then bring either sneakers or comfortable flat oxfords that await practiced with ankle socks and bare legs. Accept along one pair of jeans just in instance. For accessories, don't forget your favorite pair of sassy sunglasses. These are the days when they come out of hibernation and should be worn triumphantly.

Here are comfortable walking sandals that are stylish, too!

Another versatile item that doesn't accept up much room is a light silk scarf that tin exist worn in your hair, deed as a belt, or be worn effectually your neck, depending on the rest of your ensemble.

If you visit in the early on part of the season, add a jacket with a hood and possibly another cardigan. Y'all tin can usually get abroad with layering and notwithstanding stay warm and dry if bad conditions hits.

Observe out why we beloved these lightweight jackets for summer travel!

What to Pack for Seattle in Fall

We all adore fall in Seattle. Velvety, vibrant, crunchy, yummy autumn! The well-nigh cozy and romantic of all of the seasons, consider yourself lucky to visit in the autumn. Information technology is a please.

September feels like an extension to the glorious Seattle summertime, with temperatures oft reaching the loftier 70'southward and even blessing us with the occasional (miraculous) day in the depression 80'due south.

October is when things slowly kickoff to transition back to "typical" rainy Seattle weather, leaving united states of america somewhere effectually threescore°F, for the most function.

Simply there is no time to be disappointed about the coming wintertime; nosotros're all as well busy ogling at the richest red leaves we've ever seen. Well, at least since concluding year. The brilliant, turning leaves are almost surprising against the old familiar friend that is the gray Seattle sky.

October peculiarly tends to be THE perfect cinematic companion to this city. Expect deliciously moody mornings as light raindrops back-trail y'all on your walk to the java store.

Start by reading these general tips on packing for autumn travel:

How to Pack for Trips with Mixed Weather
How to Layer Wearing apparel
Employ a Summer Wearing apparel to Pack Light in Fall
Best Shoes for Traveling in Spring and Fall

Seattle Fall Packing Listing

If you lot're planning a Seattle packing list for a trip in September, consult the "summer" tips above, and so add together a sweater and light coat.

If you lot're visiting the urban center in Oct or November, here's the plan for what to clothing in Seattle: Recollect button-down, long-sleeve plaid shirts with skinny jeans. Bring your new fall boots–preferably leather riding boots with a rounded toe and piddling-to-no heel. Wear them with your skinnies or colorful, opaque tights.

Throw on a vest for layering over long shirts, a playful wool coat, and scarves for layering. Yous're going for a mix of edgy and feminine.

What to Pack for Seattle in Winter

Winter is also known every bit the months where the numerous coffee shops and the occasional sunbreak give us locals the strength to make it to bound. Exist prepared for moisture, dark days and the occasional snow (though information technology's rare). The best manner to dress in the winter months is to add more than layers!

December and January are when Seattle sees the majority of its rain. There'south also this "not really pelting, more of a mist" precipitation you volition run across. An umbrella is never a bad thought, but you'll be happier with a waterproof jacket with a hood that can easily fit over layered apparel.

The rain-mist monster volition observe a way to terrorize even the nigh weatherproof hair and makeup, and then behave some essential affect-upwardly products in your purse (a comb, pressed powder, and lip gloss).

Side note: Ruby-red lipstick can assist a pale Seattle complexion. Ya know, the Snowfall White look. Add a tube to your Seattle packing list!

Start by reading these general tips on packing for winter travel:

Capsule Wardrobe for Winter
How to Pack for Cold Atmospheric condition
How to Stay Warm in Cold Weather
The Best Travel Shoes for Winter

Seattle Wintertime Packing Listing

Showtime with black wool tights under a casual shift wearing apparel with a chugalug, add a cardigan, and pair with boots. This creates a warm, layered, comfortable outfit, perfect for acquisition Seattle's hilly neighborhoods.

Striped shirts or other geometric patterned tops with night denim will add that rocker edge you'll want to channel as you're crossing the street in a sudden downpour.

Find out how to plough any ane of your dresses into versatile dresses!

Bring two pairs of shoes, both waterproof. One pair of flat-ish biker-esque boots for everyday wear and ane pair of heeled ankle boots to kick it up a notch at a fancy meal or for cocktails. To save room in your suitcase, wear your bulkier boots on the airplane and pack the other pair.

Accessories like a lightweight patterned scarf and touchscreen gloves exit yous looking sharp while keeping exposed skin areas to a minimum when yous're out walking the urban center.

Discover out what the best women's waterproof leather boots!

Add to your Seattle packing list a adept-sized crossbody pocketbook that's easy to behave. When you lot venture into shops and restaurants, you lot'll want to peel those accessory layers away and having a sizeable bag allows them all to fit inside, lowering the likelihood of them beingness accidentally left backside.

Style Tip

Now a favor we ask of yous, the company: Please help to cheer upward our constant grey heaven backdrop with pops of brightly-colored items.

For your Seattle packing list, bright blouses, sweaters, even a neon belt will make us grinning and help us momentarily forget how many overcast days we have left before summer!

For more than Local'south Approved travel tips, check out Travel Mode Girl's destination packing lists.

Seattle Shopping

If the clothing you chose when you planned what to pack for Seattle doesn't quite piece of work out, y'all can easily update your Seattle packing list with a lilliputian shopping.

You can't go wrong with H&Yard and Forever 21, both located downtown. Also, check out the Nordstrom Rack on 5th and Pine and hit up the flagship Nordstrom across the street. It's a Seattle institution!

If y'all find yourself in Belltown, peradventure while walking to the Infinite Needle, the Endless Knot on First and Bong is not besides expensive and is worth checking out. Other noteworthy stores include Show Pony in the Fremont neighborhood, as well as Horseshoe and Velouria in Ballard, even if it ways renting a car to get at that place. These stores volition also help yous make up one's mind what to wear in Seattle for future visits.

Tip: Worried nigh theft, add items like a coin belt or Cloak-and-dagger Bra Pocket to your packing list for Seattle.

Cheers Jen, Tracy, Krista, Abby, and Kendra for your crawly communication on what to pack for Seattle! Don't forget to bank check out their blog and Seattle Travel Guide for everything you need to know about their hometown.

What are your tips on what to wear in Seattle? Share in the comments!

For more tips on travel packing lists, please read:

What to Wear in Chicago
What to Wear in London
What to Article of clothing in Buenos Aires
What to Wear in Singapore

Suggested Travel Resources:

Lone Planet USA and Canada on a shoestring
Lonely Planet USA (Travel Guide)

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