One word you can completely forget about when describing L.A. style is “complicated.” In the land of endless sunshine, palm trees, and all of the hiking trails you can imagine, sticking to a laid-back dress code is tantamount. Around these parts, sweatsuits replace tailored suits, with sneaker and sandals beating out boots as the primary footwear of choice. But don’t get it confused: When it’s time to handle business or meet friends for a night out, Los Angelenos just as easily pull off fashion-forward blouses, polished blazers, and other elevated items. After moving to the city less than a year ago, I started to take note of how the L.A. crowd prefers to express themselves through fashion. During my research, a few sartorial similarities definitely bubbled up, emerging as the key trends SoCal girls gravitate towards the most. Among them, a few expected favorites like white pants and tank tops, but there were also plenty of surprises too. Whether you’ve always wanted to emulate the cool, take-it-easy approach of West Coast style, or just want to know which trends to add to your lineup this season, keep scrolling for the seven summer trends L.A. girls can’t stop wearing.
This is the West Coast we’re talking about, where the sun shines almost every single day of the year, and being outdoors comes second nature. With a shorts set, the delicate balance between low-key and trendy is easily achieved. While they’re pretty much a thing all around the globe right now, L.A. girls like to wear them over a bikini (for days at the beach, duh!), with a tank top, or simply on their own.
Buy the matching Printed Cotton-blend Shorts ($50).
Buy the matching Poplin Shorts ($155).
Whether they’re pleated, cargo, or high-waisted, you can bet L.A. girls keep a collection of white pants at the ready. It completes that tropical, warm-weather vibe that’s such a hallmark of the city, and looking at the practicality, it’s often a lighter alternative to heavy cotton jeans. This trend is pretty effortless to style, so it’s easily adaptable to any closet, no matter your location.
A quintessential part of the Los Angeleno identity is being prepared to handle temperature extremes at a moment’s notice. With a Mediterranean climate, hot dry, days and cool nights are the norm, and that’s where lightweight fabrics like plissé come in. It’s breezy enough to keep you cool during the day yet still covered enough to avoid night chills when the sun goes down. Another note: This material is also so damn sophisticated.
This might not immediately stick out as a “summer” trend, but remember what I told you about L.A.’s cool nights? Yup, it’s a very real thing, and around 6 p.m., if you’re in the city, just know you want to be armed with a jacket. The L.A. fashion crowd loves to keep cozy in a structured blazer. Throw it on with knit pants or shorts and stay warm.
California girls are no stranger to prints, and like the sun, L.A. fashion people prefer to shine bright with their pants. Prints of all sorts are on the menu here. From geometric to floral to tie-dye, I’ve noticed them often paired with a simple tank or crop tops to complete the laid-back vibe.
White tee shirts are still proving a popular classic, but racerback tank tops have certainly surpassed them among the L.A. fashion crowd. Influencers and celebs wear tank tops year-round here. I like them because they’re a flattering basic that’s a little more interesting than a plain T-shirt. Try it with baggy high-waisted trousers for a The Row–inspired take.
Floss tops aka those tie-tops that wrap around your midriff are a major trend right now, and SoCal girls have particularly embraced it with open arms. Consider it an amped-up version of a crop top. Incorporate this L.A.-approved trend into your wardrobe with a pencil skirt, low-rise jeans, or sweats.
