Tais Elyse Designer. Stylist. Shopper

In my previous posts, I have written on how to dress smartly for the workplace because let’s face it: most people in the Bay Area use lax office dress codes as an excuse to attire themselves in frumpy semblances of suits. But dressing for nightlife can also be as equally as baffling, especially when there are practically no prohibitions on what you can wear. But isn’t that why dressing for nightlife can also be so much fun?  It gives you the opportunity to add that dash of swagger to your look that you normally withhold when dressing for other occasions. Here is a list of events that will definitely keep your evenings jam-packed. And read on for an outfit perfect for any late night escapades, from watching an avant-garde play to bar-hopping with friends.  

What To Do:

Witness theater of the future at the FURY Factory Theater Fest (via 7x7)

Take in a SF-centric film at the Intercontinental  Hotel’s Summer Movie Series (via Refinery 29)

Grab a second dinner at one of these late-night eateries (via Refinery 29)

Be a ladykiller at one of these “hook-up” bars (via City’s Best SF)

What to Wear:

T by Alexander Wang Leather Combo Ponte Jacket, available at Azalea, 411 Hayes Street San Francisco

Since the Bay Area doesn’t actually have a real summer, you will most likely need a jacket for the chilly nights. This is where this T by Alexander Wang jacket should enter your life. The jacket’s color and silhouette is fuss-free, but the leather panels lend just the right amount of edge that you need to own the pavement.

Wings and Horns S/S Double Layer Gauze Shirt, available at Acrimony, 333 Hayes Street, San Francisco

The short-sleeve shirt isn’t just a staple of IT nerds. The right shirt and a few styling tricks can make you look casual yet polished at the same time. Here’s how to wear it:

·  The shirt should be fitted, including in the sleeves. A good rule would be to check that there is room for only one or two fingers in the sleeve’s circumference. The sleeves should also hit mid-bicep.

·  Choose a shirt in a pattern or color other than the oxford white, blue, or pink that you would wear to the office (like this Wings and Horns shirt).  

·  For a casual, insouciant look, leave the top buttons undone and your shirt untucked. Just make sure the shirt’s hemline doesn’t extend past your fly.

Levis 511 Skinny Jeans in Slick Mick, available at Levis, 300 Post St, San Francisco

You probably don’t need me to tell you: wear fitted or (even better), tailored pants. You can’t go wrong with jeans in a dark wash.

Bass Compass Sneak, available at Urban Outfitters, 80 Powell St, San Francisco

Complete your look with the most casual shoe of all: a pair of sneakers.