I am relocating this month to San Francisco from Washington, DC. Can you suggest what a young, mid-20-something girl needs to survive in the Bay Area for the upcoming climate change. I'm at a loss! —Hal

In San Francisco, as in any large city, you'll need comfortable walking shoes especially with all the steep hills. They are no joke! I'd recommend a comfortable cross-body bag or messenger bag for this reason, too.

Say bye-bye to the heat and humidity of D.C. (something I got experience during a summer-long internship). I've never lived in San Francisco but I remember the weather was beautiful in the summertime, albeit a tad unpredictable and much cooler than I had expected. Layering is essential, so always carry a cardigan, jean jacket, or blazer, especially in the evenings.

The whole San Francisco vibe is more conservative than say, L.A., but equally stylish in its own way. Lots of earth tones and comfortable urban trekkers who look smart and chic because they match their environment, so to speak. In a sense, this is good because you're moving from D.C. so with a few tweaks, you'll be blending-in in no time.

Below are 3 affordable outfit ideas to inspire you. Now I'll turn it over to my savvy readers: What will Hal need in her wardrobe for her move to San Francisco? If you live in SF, we'd love to hear your input.

Bring summer into the office with light and airy pieces.

A relaxed yet pulled-together look for dinner at a nice-ish restaurant.

A cute and sporty look for running errands around the city.

Perforated panels give footwear a fashionable edge and makes boots breezy enough to wear in warm weather. I can see how perforation might repel many women, but I'm actually loving Aldo's flat perforated boot (#3) with its subtle color and architectural silhouette. How about you, would you wear any of these boots?

Browse these and similar styles below...

The Gryson "Lola" doesn't need loud logos to stand out; it's the sleek, two-tone design that makes this stylish tote easy to recognize and admire. ($795 at saksfifthavenue.com)


Love the "Lola" but can't blow next month's rent money on a purse? We understand, and so does Urban Outfitters. Pick up their Deena & Ozzy Split Tote for a similar look at a much more reasonable price. ($58 at urbanoutfitters.com)

Spirited pieces like this fuchsia swing skirt with a contrasting black elastic waistband make LaROK one of the hottest contemporary brands around. Pick it up for $187 at Ssense.


Don't have that kind of cash lying around? Get the look for less with this bright chiffon skirt instead, which is available in either pink or yellow for just $14.80 at Forever21.com.

Sorry for the tease, but the handbag you see above was the only remnant of the HollywoodIntuition collection to be seen at my local Target. I have no clue whether they launched early and sold out or never quite got around to stocking the line but that's all I saw. I would have asked a store employee what the dealio was, but I was in a hurry. Oh well, better luck next time! What did YOU get?




Moving right along…I spotted this woven cross-body bag by Xhilaration on sale for something like $12.98 that reminded me of certain styles of bags by the Sak. In fact, it looks almost identical to the Sak's Janet St. Mini Flap which only costs $18.85, so if you like this style, might as well get the original.




Target's watches have been catching my eye lately. They seem to have affordable imitations of all the latest trends, from watches with a "Betsey Johnson" feel to those with a "Toywatch" flavor.




Final stop in the land of mock-offs: Target's got these adorable little charms that look just like the Juicy Couture charms (shapes like roses, cake, bumble bees, lady bugs, flip-flops, etc.) for just $5.99 each. Scoop 'em up if you're into cute collectibles.

I ended up buying two pairs of rubber flip-flops in a style called "Grammy" for $2.99/pair and I swear these are the most comfortable flip-flops I've ever owned. My dear sweet dog chewed up the pair I got last season so I was thrilled to discover the same flip-flops were back in stock this summer. I don't know if they're as cozy as Havaianas but they are seriously comfy and a great deal at $2.99. Grab a pair if you see them in stores, I couldn't find them at Target.com.

That's all, folks.