Leisurely Linds

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In My Suitcase, South Carolina ·

What to Wear in Charleston SC: Ultimate Local’s Guide to Packing

what to wear in charleston sc

Planning a trip to Charleston, South Carolina? Yay! We can’t wait to welcome you here. Now that you’ve made travel arrangements, you are probably wondering what to wear in Charleston, SC. What the heck do I pack for the South? You’ve come to the right place – I am born and raised here so can provide true perspective for you.

Charleston style is definitely southern chic. People are always dressed to impress while making it look effortless! Charleston ladies dress classic, feminine, and a little flirty!

I’m here to tell you alllll about what the weather is actually like in Charleston by season and how people dress. You can’t always gain a full understanding of the climate on weather apps or gauge appropriate attire from Instagram! 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. When is the best time of year to visit Charleston?
  2. What to Wear in Charleston in Spring
  3. What to Wear in Charleston in Summer
  4. What to Wear in Charleston in the Fall
  5. What to Wear in Charleston in the Winter
  6. Charleston Packing List Essentials
  7. Best Shopping in Charleston
  8. FAQ

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broad street charleston what to wear in charleston
confederate jasmine in charleston
folly beach bachelorette party

When is the best time of year to visit Charleston?

Charleston is a fabulous year-round destination with something fun to do during every single month. There are amazing annual events, delicious restaurants, and beautiful beaches. Charleston is fabulous for couples, honeymoons, babymoons, bachelor or bachelorette parties, weddings, girls weekends, and more. Whatever the reason you are visiting, you are guaranteed a good time. 

My personal favorite months to visit are April & May and October & November. In April and May, the weather has started to warm up to the 60s-70s. The season kicks off with fun events, beach weather, and everything is blooming. In October and November, the weather starts to cool back off (again 60s-70s) for the fall season. Kids are back in school, hurricane season has typically calmed down by these months, and you can enjoy the great sunshine-y weather! Any of these months are great times for exploring the historic district where you will do lots of walking. 

Personally, I also really enjoy December and January when we can start wearing boots and sweaters. Although, you never know when we will have a nice sunny and 75 kind of day! It’s quieter this time of year, with the college kids back home for the holidays and tons of festive parties/events. January brings restaurant week and prime oyster season, too! 

hampton park flowers
magnolias in charleston
citrus club charleston

What to Wear in Charleston in Spring

Springtime is one of the best times to be in Charleston! I love when everything starts to bloom – the azaleas especially! Spring kicks off with fun events like Charleston Wine and Food, the Credit One Open, Riverdogs baseball games, and of course lots of weddings. It’s the perfect time of year to have lunch outside or on a rooftop, hello patio season! 

You will see the locals in floral dresses (lots of maxi dresses) or cute skirt sets with sneakers or wedges. You’ll also see a lot of white pants as we can finally wear white again in the South. It’s usually a rule from Labor Day to Easter that you can not wear white. Although, we break the rule and call it “winter white” the rest of the year. Be sure to pack some comfortable white sneakers that go with everything as you can expect to do a lot of walking in this southern city!

Here’s a breakdown by month during this transitional time of year:

  • March – anything can happen weather wise this month. There is usually a week in March where it gets cold again after it warms up. Typically, the mornings/nights will be cool and the days will warm into the 60/70s. I recommend watching the forecast closely and packing lots of layers in March!
  • April – this month starts to show signs of summer with some days reaching 80º! You’ll still want to pack a light coat like a denim jacket to throw on in the mornings/evenings when it gets a bit cooler. It can still be colder by the beach especially if there’s a breeze.
  • May – usually really nice weather with warmer nights and hot days! By the end of the month, you will not need a light sweater at all.

Charleston Spring Outfits

You will see lots of chic sundresses, pastels, and florals in Charleston this time of year. We simply can’t wait to break out our fun colors!

Leisurely Tip: Always go with wedges or a block heel. The streets in Charleston are historic so they tend to be pretty uneven and it’s easy to trip. 

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What to Wear to Brunch or Shopping on King Street

These outfits were made for Charleston in the spring! Try any of these looks for brunch in Charleston or shopping on King Street.

*CLICK ANY IMAGE TO SHOP!*

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Workout Clothes to Wear in Charleston

You will definitely need to pack a few exercise sets to wear this time of year. The weather is beautiful so you should make plans to walk the bridge, battery, or even the beach! Charleston is definitely an outdoor destination.

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What to Wear in Charleston in Summer 

Charleston summer’s last from about June through September with July and August being the hottest months. This time of year is filled with summer concerts, baseball games, events, boating, and beach time! 

What is the weather like in Charleston in Summer?

The weather during the summer is HOT – I’m talking 90s during the days in July and August. Not only that, it is HUMID. A very damp kind of humid. Think sweating as soon as you walk outside. It is definitely not the most glamorous time to be here. Sorry, but I have to be honest! During the summer in Charleston you will want to spend ample time by the pool or beach to keep cool. 

Charleston also can experience a lot of quick summer rain storms. They usually happen in the afternoon. I recommend bringing an umbrella vs a raincoat.

what to wear in charleston sc
dress | similar purse | worn august in charleston

Charleston Summer Outfit Ideas

In summer, I suggest breathable fabrics like linen, cotton, and sweat-wicking materials. Dresses will be your best friend because they are so breezy.

Here are some great ideas of things to wear whether shopping, exploring, dining, or attending an event!

*CLICK ANY IMAGE TO SHOP!*

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What to Wear to the Beach – swimsuits and coverups

Heading to the beach? Here are some great items to add to your packing list in 2024. And don’t forget sunscreen and plenty of hats – the sun is strong!

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What to Wear in Charleston in the Fall

September brings on the fall season, but it will not feel that way – it is still very warm throughout the month. The weather cools in October with nice 60-70 degree days, oftentimes still 80s! We usually start to transition those summer sundresses to boots, jackets and of course, fall colors. By November, expect to be in jeans or maxi dresses with sleeves/sweaters.

fall dresses in charleston sc
dress | worn in october in charleston

Charleston Fall Outfit Ideas

A few ideas of what to wear in Charleston during the fall. Layering is your friend!

*CLICK ANY IMAGE TO SHOP!*

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What to Wear to Dinner

If you are heading out to dinner in Charleston, you might be wondering the dress code. People love to dress up for dinner and events here especially if celebrating a special occasion! As a female, I usually wear a cute dress and heels when dining out so I am always in appropriate attire. You can also feel comfortable wearing nice jeans almost anywhere during the colder months. When in doubt, it is better to be overdressed than underdressed 🙂

charleston christmas
charleston greek church christmas

What to Wear in Charleston in the Winter

In the winter months, December – February, we can really experience anything in Charleston depending on the year. I’ve had 80 degree Christmas days often! But I’ve also seen January reach freezing temperatures. So unpredictable!

It’s best to watch the 10-day forecast closely if visiting in the winter. More often than not, it should be quite mild with avg 50-60 degree days. Plan to bring jeans, sweaters, boots, and light-medium weight coats in the winter. You can definitely count on it not snowing though – it would be really rare for us to get snow in Charleston. 

The winter months bring on oyster season, the Southeastern Wildlife Expo, restaurant week, and more fun reasons to visit. 

Leisurely tip: only eat local oysters in months that have an “R” in the name. But September is even still a little early for me. 

Charleston Winter Outfit Inspiration

Winter is for boots, sweaters, blazers, sweater dresses, and cute coats! Be wary of what you see people wearing on Instagram – I have seen influencers in summery dresses on days that I am wearing sweaters and pants!

*CLICK ANY IMAGE TO SHOP!*

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What to wear to an oyster roast in Charleston

You may see casual dresses at an oyster roast in Charleston, but jeans are always a safe bet as it can get a little messy!

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Charleston Packing List – The Essentials

Here are all your must have items and what to pack for Charleston SC.

  • Bug spray (summer) – I like these bracelets, but you may need to double up with spray and a bracelet.
  • Travel sized deodorant (summer, to keep in your purse)
  • Face oil absorbing sheets
  • Refreshing facial spray
  • White pants/jeans
  • Chic Trousers
  • Floral dresses
  • Maxi dresses
  • Skirts
  • Blouses, Sweaters
  • Swimsuits and Coverups
  • Comfortable white sneakers
  • Crossbody purses and cute clutches
  • Wedges or heels
  • Booties and Boots (fall/winter)
  • Hair clips
  • Beach tote
  • SPF, always
  • sunglasses
  • Hats
  • sandals

Where to Shop in Charleston – All the Best Boutiques

Lastly, of course you want to leave a little room in your suitcase to do some shopping while you are in Charleston. Here are alllll of my favorite local boutiques and shops! 

Women’s Clothing Stores in Charleston:

Madison Matthews, Beckett Boutique, Lake Pajamas, Hampden Clothing, II Brunette’s, Rhodes Boutique, Copper Penny, V2V, Two Cumberland, Beau and Ro, Maris DeHart, Sapphire Boutique, Shoe’s on King

Men’s Clothing Stores in Charleston:

M. Dumas and Sons, Grady Ervin, Jordan Lash, Half Moon Outfitters, Ben Silver, Berlin’s, Billy Reid, Ike Behar

Jewelry Stores in Charleston:

Croghan’s, HART Jewelry, Gold Creations

What to Wear in Charleston FAQ

Finally, I am answering your FAQ’s, but feel free to ask me anything in the comments or DM me on instagram @lindseycalhoun_

What is Charleston casual attire?

Charleston casual attire for women is usually a dress with sandals or sneakers. In the summer, it is very warm so lightweight dresses offer comfort. In the winter though you will start to see jeans and cute blouses or sweaters paired with booties. 

What is the style in Charleston SC?

Charleston style is definitely southern chic. People are always dressed to impress while making it look effortless! Charleston ladies dress classic, feminine, and a little flirty! And sundresses are always in style.

What is the best month to visit Charleston?

Charleston is a fabulous year-round destination with something fun to do during every single month. The best times to visit are Spring (April & May) and Fall (October & November) when the weather is the most comfortable in the 60s and 70s. 

What do guys wear in Charleston?

Guys in Charleston tend to wear khaki shorts/pants, polos, tshirts, and jeans. Shoe-wise you will see sneakers, leather sandals, loafers, or boots.

All of My Charleston Posts

These posts will help you plan the perfect vacation to Charleston, SC!

The Ultimate Local’s Guide to Charleston
Best Charleston Restaurants: Ultimate Local’s Guide
My Favorite Rooftop Restaurants in Charleston SC
Top Charleston Events to Attend This Year
Unique Things to do in Charleston South Carolina According to a Native
Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Charleston
Where to Stay in Charleston SC: Ultimate Local’s Guide

written by

Lindsey C.

Lindsey is a traveler sharing personal travel experiences from vacations she plans and pays for herself. She shares honest luxury hotel reviews, destination guides, foodie favorites, and some of the best beaches around the world from visiting over 20 countries. Lindsey has a degree in Travel & Tourism Management and works full time in the hospitality industry in addition to curating LeisurelyLinds.com. She lives in Charleston, SC with her husband and new daughter. Follow along on instagram. About Lindsey | Instagram | Pinterest

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About Lindsey C.

Lindsey is a traveler sharing personal travel experiences from vacations she plans and pays for herself. She shares honest luxury hotel reviews, destination guides, foodie favorites, and some of the best beaches around the world from visiting over 20 countries. Lindsey has a degree in Travel & Tourism Management and works full time in the hospitality industry in addition to curating LeisurelyLinds.com. She lives in Charleston, SC with her husband and new daughter. Follow along on instagram.

About Lindsey | Instagram | Pinterest

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I’m Lindsey & I love planning & researching a trip almost as much as I love taking it. I’m excited to share my experiences with you in hopes it will inspire you to maximize your vacation days so you can live your travel dreams!

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