What to Wear in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a casual city. Jeans, T-shirts and trainers are acceptable almost everywhere, including many good restaurants, and people rarely dress up except for the smartest dinners and clubs. What catches visitors out is the temperature, not the dress code.

The key word is layers. The coast is often cool and grey in the morning, especially from May to July, then warm by afternoon. Inland, in Downtown, Pasadena or the Valley, it can be ten degrees warmer at the same moment. Evenings cool quickly almost all year once the sun goes down (the seasons guide has details), even in summer, so carry a light jacket or sweater if you'll be out late or near the ocean.

The sun is strong, even when it doesn't feel hot. Sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen are daily essentials, not beach extras.

You'll drive more than you walk, but some areas are best on foot: Santa Monica, Venice, Downtown and the hikes around Griffith Park. Bring comfortable shoes, and a pair with grip for trails. Runyon Canyon and the Griffith trails are dusty and steep in places, with little shade.

For the beach, bring sandals and swimwear, but know the Pacific here is cold for much of the year. Many people wade rather than swim, except from late summer into autumn. A wetsuit is standard for surfing.

In winter, add a warmer jacket for the evenings and a compact umbrella for the occasional storm. For the desert on a day trip to Joshua Tree or Palm Springs, dress for real heat in summer and real cold at night in winter; our day trips guide covers those.

Packing list

• A light jacket or sweater for evenings and coastal mornings
• Sunglasses, hat and high-factor sunscreen
• Comfortable walking shoes and trail shoes with grip
• Sandals and swimwear
• One smarter outfit for a nice dinner
• A refillable water bottle for hikes
• A compact umbrella from December to March