i'm having a big little lies summer
anatomy of a california coastal town weekend trip.
‘Tis the season for Bay Areans to pack a swimsuit and Vibram sole shoes, hop in the car, and head to any one of the picturesque coastal towns within a 3 hour drive. There’s Point Reyes, Sea Ranch, Half Moon Bay, Carmel, Monterey, Bodega Bay, just to name a few…
This month, we spent a weekend in Mendocino—a town I adore because it always feels like the day before Halloween, no matter what time of year it is. The fact that it was planned to be the original filming location for ‘Practical Magic’ probably has something to do with it.
Below: the anatomy of a California coastal town weekend trip. What makes it special and memorable, in no particular order 💕
The wind is a paid actor so dress accordingly.
A coastal town is always going to be windy, so lean into it with fabric that billows and ripples. For me the answer is light, airy cotton separates (when the temps permit—you’ll need a sweater at night).
I wore the Cou Cou Iris tank (worn backwards here actually!) with a floral corsage pin and the Emma Rothkopf pintuck skirt for walks in the grassy fields along the beach. This is not an outfit I would gravitate to as much at home—it’s what the coast/”countryside” brings out in me. Shapes get more flowy, prints get more sweet and delicate.
The first bite of roadside burger.
Growing up, when my family would make the drive from the Bay to LA, I witnessed two very different road trip philosophies from my parents. My mom was all about logistical efficiency and ran our Honda Odyssey like the navy. She would buy sacks of bulk size Cuties and pastry trays from Costco as sustenance for me and my siblings.
My dad, however, was all about stopping for little treats. Sometimes he’d randomly peel off an exit and we’d be like wait what’s going on and he would mutter something about a Starbucks frappuccino. I loved tagging along and picking out my own drink. And we never missed the Kettleman City In N Out. Those burger stops are sooooo nostalgic to me. It’s not a road trip if the car doesn’t smell like french fry oil.
For the drive up to Mendocino, I love stopping at Jumbo’s Win Win. It feels like a retro diner.
The bathrooms are also very distinct. The soap is dill pickle scented and there are funky illustrated tiles on the walls. You MUST order the apple hand pie. It’s sooooo warm and buttery and cinnamon-y.
Ruminating by the ocean in a Big Little Lies sweater.
Drumroll…the view we came all this way for.
Stunning! Makes me think of accidental manslaughter and small town scandal. I start humming “Cold Little Heart” under my breath.
It’s chilly, so you need a layer. Ideally, a Big Little Lies sweater. Which is just any piece of knitwear that harnesses the spirit of a Monterey Five Woman. Gazing into the horizon with her arms folded across a cardigan, globular wine glass in hand if you’re on a balcony.
Exhibit A: the bohemian variety in wool-y cable knits and silver jewelry—
Exhibit B: the rich divorcee variety in cashmere and pearls—
My version of a Big Little Lies sweater is white cotton rollneck sweater. I am really particularly about the neckline—I don’t like a mockneck knit, it has to be a boatneck but not too wide.
This sweater is three years old now and still comes with me on every oceanside trip. It’s from Erica Tanov. Exact one here on Poshmark for $215. Here’s a black version on eBay for $90 OBO.
The brand’s knitwear is similar to Lauren Manoogian, but I find the proportions better suited for shorter people, i.e. sleeve and torso length. Other places I’d shop for a Big Little Lies sweater:
Eileen Fisher on ThredUp or on Poshmark for best prices
Tucking into a bowl of clam chowder.
Everyone has their favorite coastal seafood dish. For some, it’s lobster rolls or fish n chips or a pearly Hog Island sweetwater oyster. All of those things are great. But my favorite is CLAM CHOWDER.
This was at the MacCallum House restaurant, which was my favorite meal of the trip. Seasonally-driven menu, feels like Chez Panisse with a little more creativity in the dishes. Sitting on the porch of a white seaside Victorian also feels very Practical Magic :)
The look and feel of small town shops.
The charm of these tiny “downtown” areas is that all the stores are sort of kitschy and rustic. I was getting so much design inspo from the shop signs and decor.
Submerging in a body of water (hot tubs count).
This hot tub at our inn was nothing fancy, but my stress melted away after a soak. Hot water is amazing for the bones. I stared up at the tree and tried to think about nothing.
Had I not been so relaxed and in the present, I would have totally missed this sweet little banana slug hanging out by the hot tub ledge. I posted a photo of her on my Instagram story and someone said the funniest thing—they thought it was “a tamal with microgreens.”
Golden hour stroll where everything reminds me of dessert.
Like this Dr. Suess topiary that is curiously shaped like a soft serve swirl.
Or the cotton candy hues of the sky. The light feel more pink in person than in the photo.
This looked like a trio scoop of ice cream that would be marketed as “hojicha neapolitan” or whatever.
More Mendocino Recs:
Andiron Inn—we booked our stay last minute so this wasn’t our ideal hotel, but it was the only dog-friendly option with availability. No major complaints, it was clean and comfy but you have to drive a few minutes into downtown Mendo!
Good Life Bakery
Fog Eater Cafe
Café Beaujolais
xo viv
Thanks for being here. You can find me on IG and TT. My wardrobe recs and latest finds are saved here—unless it’s vintage, of course ;) I may earn commission on purchases made through affiliate links above the paywall.
I've been really enjoying these trip posts lately! I really love how your fashion writing is so attuned to specific spaces – it's such a breath of fresh air next to the more contextless "TEN THINGS COOL GIRLS ARE WEARING THIS SUMMER" posts and articles around! – and it's fun to see your style respond to each one.
omg the kettleman city in n out