What to Wear How to Look Good & Stay Comfortable for All Seasons
OJAI ESSENTIALS Getting Here: By car, from Highway 101 north or south: Exit Highway 33 north, follow it for 15 miles past the “Y” intersection until you see the familiar post office tower. We are 88 miles north of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. WHAT TO PACK: Ojai is well-known for its loose, casual vibe. But it does take a certain amount of aforethought to make sure you’ve brought the right mix of clothes for comfort and style. Keep in mind the seasonal differences. They are slight, compared to other destination locations like Jackson Hole, Aspen or even Santa Fé, but they are there nonetheless. The best strategy is to wear layers. Bring comfortable shoes because you will want to do a lot of walking around. Either stylish yet sensible shoes for walking Ojai’s historic shopping district, sturdy hiking boots for Ojai’s rugged backcountry trails or, if you’re a runner, lighter running shoes. Sandals or flip flops are another essential. Functional, high-capacity hand2022 OJAI VISITOR
bags or even backpacks are another good idea; you never know what treasures you might find at Bart’s Books or in our fashionable shops and boutiques. Headgear? You know that Ojai is famous for its hats, right? With several nationally known milliners creating original designs here, hundreds of options available in our shops, you are in the perfect place to don your most stylish wide-brimmed hat. They are not only stylish, but with our nearly 300 days of sunshine each year, eminently sensible. Water. Carry lots of it. Stay hydrated. You can also order online at ovlc.org an Ojai Valley Land Conservancy water bottle and carry around some local swag and support a worthy organization. Here’s a few tips, season-by-season. SPRING. Bring a fleece or sweater for cool evenings. Shorts and Ts are usually fine, but be flexible. For men, a cotton or light wool blazer can be a versatile garment. For women, too. In late spring and early summer, Ojai is often blanketed beneath the “June Gloom” marine layer, which usually, not always, burns off mid-morning. A light cardigan
can be just the thing to give you some of that low-key Ojai “drip.” SUMMER. One word: linen. The breathable fabric is designed for heat like Ojai’s. Think a slightly cooler version of Palm Springs. But you will also want to have a light sweater or shirt-jac stashed away for what can be surprisingly cool evenings. Shorts, cotton Ts and flip flops work fine for the day, or you can feel free to let your Ojai freak flag fly with bangles and baubles, saris and flowing, drape-y fabrics. Or join the romper set and resist the tyranny of the separates. FALL. Think Spring; versatile outfits that you can easily layer up if the weather turns cold or hot. A sweater or fleece for the evening can be most welcome. WINTER. Temperatures can range 40 degrees in the course of a day, so be prepared. Rainwear is a good idea, if you’re lucky. There are few things more beautiful on this earth than the piercing blue of an Ojai sky after a winter storm moves through. This is also when the low winter sun sets the legendary Pink Moment to its peak glory. 45
