So this one’s a bit of a throwback, number one because this San Francisco trip was ages ago. Number two, the look is a recreation of Jackie O’s simple yet unforgettable street style photo in Capri. As far as I’m concerned, Jackie-O circa ‘70s was the height of her reign as American fashion queen. One cannot help but be transported by the sepia photograph of Italian riviera al fresco dining in the spring, as Jackie walks by in her signature oversized sunglasses with her sister by her side. In a crowd of pedestrians, Jackie seems to make time stop in an outfit so simple, yet incredibly chic: a black sweater with a flowy polka dot maxi skirt, cinched at the waist with a statement belt.
I did my own rendition of the look with pieces sourced directly from my closet: an olive maxi skirt with buttons down the middle, a cashmere black sweater that I want to live in forever, and a tan, bejeweled belt (another item I can thank my mother for). Being in the presence of Karl the Fog (yes, San Francisco has a name for the blanket of clouds that seem to be a permanent resident), I opted for over-the-knee suede boots instead of Jackie’s sandals, and cat-eye sunglasses (I have a pair of oversized Prada ones similar to Jackie’s but left them at home, oops!).
In my mid-twenties, I’ve found myself enthralled by simple outfits from mid to late 20th century ladies who understood that setting the style standard doesn’t mean you have to wear something whimsical every day (although, I’m all about that clothing genre, as you guys know if you’ve followed me on this blog for a while). It means you have to wear whatever it is you’re putting on, every single day—even if it’s just a tank top and shorts—with a nonchalant confidence. Embodying this look just does that for me as I walk a less populated cityscape than usual (bear in mind this was a couple months back). I have to say, I miss the hustle and bustle of cities especially San Francisco: the pedestrians polka-dotting the streets, a part of the metropolis’ very fabric.
When I visited San Francisco in these photos a couple months ago, I drank in the bird’s eye view of the city from a high point at the University of San Francisco. From a near aerial view, it still looked like the same breathtaking city I grew up visiting and loving dearly with its Victorian houses in a kaleidoscope of colors. The painted ladies existing alongside more modern skyscrapers and cathedrals with flying buttresses reminiscent of medieval times. To me, the contrast has always enriched the area and seemed to fit beautifully together. But visiting San Francisco in pandemic times made me realize the people walking around with an array of styles and from diverse backgrounds is what truly made this city, and any city special. Granted, more and more people are strolling around San Francisco as it opens up, but I truly miss the city in full swing. I felt the same about Los Angeles as I sat in a Santa Monica coffee shop typing this post.
The pandemic has put cities to sleep for a very long time, and I have a glimmer of hope for California gradually returning to normalcy sooner rather than later.
What city is your favorite in the world?
Keeping it Krischic,
Kristin Vartan
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Keeping it Krischic 