posted too soon. I have black as my basic for pants and skirts. Tops are generally multi-colored to hide randon drip from Starbucks cup or whatever. I do bring black and white tops if the pattern is conducive to hiding tiny spills. Most important for me is comfortable, well broken in shoes as I walk every where. I will admit to carrying band-aids for times I’ve mis-judged my shoe comfort.
I used to live in Santa Monica and now live in another coastal Ca town. The silver jeans and top will be fine for going out to dinner.
California is a casual and coastal Ca even more casual. You will see a lot of women out and about in their workout attire. Jeans, T-shirt or a cute top with flats. Any of the brands such as Rothy and Allbirds discussed in the Dressing Young thread would work. For a jacket what you have is nice but I’d have something warmer. Fleece or some version of a Patagonia vest or featherweight Patagonia jacket would be good for the early morning or evening. I missed when you’re coming but Santa Monica can have June gloom. You want layers because Santa Monica can be 10-15 degrees cooler than even West LA.
While it might not be the most fashionable I pretty much always bring one of those packable down jackets. The shorter ones are a bit more stylish than the ones that go past the butt. They are cozy. If worn in fog (a likely occurrence in coastal CA) - they still keep you warm and they dry almost instantly. They are so light weight they can be kept in a larger handbag.
Uniqlo has a great selection.
When I travel, I bring my Burberry knock-off wrap.
It is something like the picture in the link below, but in grey & black, and because it’s a knock-off, it was a fraction of the cost of the real thing. I mean, seriously, not more than $25.
I’ve found this wrap perfect for chilly conditions, not only outside, but inside when the AC is blasting. I jokingly call it my blankie, because when I’m in a hotel room, I will often curl up and fall asleep with it wrapped around me.
It’s a must have, for me! Year-round! Also perfect for first thing in the morning groggy coffee drinking with the dog curled up on one corner!
If you’re here this weekend I hope you brought a jacket. June gloom is in full force.
@mom60 - we are. But, I’ve been fine with what I brought. Definitely prefer when the sun comes out around 2:00 pm, though!
I am casual. Very casual. I can’t imagine I would ever buy the silver jeans, but I love them! (Beforem seeing them I imagined some kind of disco pants, lol). The style is jeans-y so I think they are a fun thing to wear wherever (well, maybe not for a hike…)
(Sure, no one cares what she wears, but going on a trip is a festive thing to be celebrated 
). Seize the day!
@Hoggirl - we enjoyed a tapas place in Santa Monica called The Misfit. It’s right downtown.
There’s another wonderful place further out on Pico called Lunetta all Day that we went to for brunch. Wonderful eggs with orangey yolks, yum.
We had drinks and apps at Misfit the first night we were here! Couldn’t see ds that night - he had to work late.
We brunched at Blue Daisy, Huckleberry, and Lunetta. All great!
I will not come out here in June again, though. So gray until 2:00 pm or so.
Now headed to Carlsbad to see my college roommate.
I’m also getting a puffy jacket before my next trip! ?
@Hoggirl - I’m afraid Carlsbad will be gloomy too. I’m in a San Diego beach town and June gloom is in full force. I always recommend September and October to visit if you aren’t tied to a summer vacation schedule. We have gorgeous weather those months and most tourists are gone.
If you make it to La Jolla, there is a place called the Marine Room. Great food (on the pricey side) and drinks, and the waves crashing into the side of the building are spectacular. I recommend their cocktail hour (4-5 pm, no reservations needed). Loved it!
@showmom858 - indeed Carlsbad was gloomy!!
All the locals/natives also suggested September/October. Won’t happen this year, but I will definitely keep that in mind going forward! We aren’t tied to a summer vacation schedule but need to visit my mil during that time of year this year.
I was pretty chilly the whole time. The lack of sunshine and the temps not quite hitting 70 degrees were just a mental block for me, I think! I’m used to upper 80s/low 90s with considerable higher heat indices. By comparison, 68 degrees is “cold.”
I had balked at the idea of taking my black leather jacket. Just seemed “wrong” for June. However, when we met and went out with some of ds’s friends, two of the young women not only had on black leather jackets but also little booties!
@Hoggirl the lack of sunshine this time of year in a lot of coastal Ca can be depressing. This year for some reason I’ve been hit hard by the lack of any sun for multiple days. I always feel badly for tourists who are thinking they are going to spend their holiday on the beach. Definitely come back again in September or October. You will be rewarded with little crowds and warm sunny days.
@Hoggirl this year we have had a lot of gloom in May and June. Some years we have less, but this is the typical weather pattern here near the coast as the deserts heat up and the ocean water is still cool it causes our thick marine layer. I have a D with a June birthday and a D with an October birthday. The D born in October had many more beach birhtday parties than her sister. I hope you will come back next time in the fall to visit.
@mom60 - I understand lack of sunshine from our living in the UK for two years! Dreary weather can have quite the impact on one’s mood!
Fortunately, we live in Florida and get lots of great beach days! 
It was chilly and gray the majority of the time we were there last month. It did put a damper on our vacation. I’ve been to CA twice now in September/October and it was wonderful. Going back in October to Santa Barbara.