One thing I love about living in Northern California and having adventurous friends is sometimes, you get texts with invites to go on a trip the very next day.
I wasn’t planning on visiting the Sonoma Coast this month, but when my friend Justina told me she needed company for her trip to Timber Cove in Jenner, I said COUNT ME IN. And then quickly ran to my closet to start packing.
If you’ve never been to the Northern California coast, it’s rugged, serene and makes for the perfect digital detox. The weather can also be a little all over the place. One day may be sunny and warm, the next foggy and 30 degrees colder. Yes, even in the summer.
No matter the season, when I know I’m heading up North, I tend to be drawn to breezy dresses, crisp linens, comfy jeans and sturdy boots. I always toss in a cozy tan or white sweater for evenings around hotel firepits or early mornings strolling around the coastal trails.
For this trip, we were spending a night at Timber Cove Resort outside Jenner in Sonoma County. There’s no cell service here which is fine by me — the hazy golden sunsets and whale watching was enough entertainment. These are the 3 outfits I wore up there:
3 Cozy & Breezy Outfits I Wore On My Sonoma Coast Trip
1. A Strappy White Linen Dress Perfect For Summer Days
I think everyone needs a strappy white dress in their closet. They’re so dang versatile –– you can wear them working at home, brunch with friends, running around warm places like Cabo San Lucas, or even up to the rugged coast of California.
I picked up this white dress from Target, which is under $30 and comes in a few colors, though the white is my favorite. It has pockets (YAS) and is incredibly cozy. Since the Sonoma Coast area is pretty rural, even fancy hotels like Timber Cove have uneven trails, I packed along my favorite hiking boots to support my ankles. I love pairing boots with dresses for a more nature-girl vibe, plus it’s just practical.
The earrings I’m wearing are from a small local jewelry business called Woll Jewelry and are a few years old, but you can find similar styles still in stock. I have a soft spot for unique, bold earrings paired with a simple dress like this white one.
2. Comfy Jeans With A Beautiful White Blouse
As a curvy gal, jeans usually aren’t something I ever reach for, but Madewell jeans are the exception to this rule. This pair of skinny jeans almost feels like leggings, and are perfect for summer days on the coast, especially since I knew we wanted to do some light hiking.
To keep up the California coastal cool look, I paired my jeans with a white blouse I got from Modcloth last year. I love the high neckline, eyeleted details and ornate edges It’s also loose and billowy, perfect for a casual yet posh outfit. Again, I wore my boots here. I did pack a pair of sandals but found it was much easier (and safer) to wear boots around the propery.
Lately I’ve been really into wearing my hair up. On top of playing with new ways to style my hair, I love fun hair scarves and scrunchies like this bow scrunchie that adds a nice little feminine touch to my outfit.
3. A Versatile Floral Dress With Hiking Boots
I will never not have a soft spot for floral dresses, though usually, I opt for longer dresses, like midi or maxi length. But, from friend Brianna packed this pretty dress and I just had to borrow it during our trip. I love how the cream, dark green and blush colors make this dress work for all seasons.
Sadly, I can’t find it listed online for the life of me. Brianna found it in store. It’s a Target dress, from the Who What Wear line. This dress is similar, though.
It can be worn in the summer, or add tights and a coat for winter. The pattern works well with hiking boots, too, adding a little bit of rugged edge to the outfit. I kept it simple with red lipstick just some minimal gold earrings.
I live in San Francisco in the foggiest part of the city so I’m used to cooler temps and foggy mornings. Because of that, I didn’t find myself personally wearing many jackets or sweaters. That being said, pretty much everyone else was bundled up. Keep in mind this was the summer!
No matter what season you’re visiting the Sonoma Coast, it’s important to pack along at least one sweater or puffer jacket. You never know if the fog will roll in and suddenly bring the temperature down 20 degrees. These are some of my favorite sweaters for curvy gals like myself!
I hope this helps you pack for a Sonoma Coast trip! Even if you aren’t going to Timber Cove, I know you’ll have so much fun running around this rugged piece of California. Remember to download maps offline and you’ll be set. Stay adventurous.
