Which OC Style Are You?

As I browse through a magazine, I notice that Orange County has similar sections to New York City and Los Angeles areas. Each area is separated into its own little sections, and each section is comprised of people who are similar in some way, whether ethnic culture, specific careers, interests or lifestyle. I have put together eight different areas, each having its own personality and style.

OC’s Fashion Island in Newport Beach is similar to LA’s Beverly Hills and NYC’s Upper East Side. These areas are all about luxury, jewelry, designer clothes and accessories, mansions, penthouses, beach houses, and expensive cars. People tend to buy products and attend places that tend to have European inspiration. An OC female prefers to drive a Rolls Royce or Jaguar as she chats away on her designer mobile phone. Rolex is her preferred watch, worn with large dark sunglasses, classic red lipstick, a sparkling diamond necklace, a designer dress with an animal print accent and a matching purse, and a designer cage high-heel shoes. After grabbing a cup of coffee and a pastry at a coffee shop, she enjoys boutiques, cocktail hours or brunch at a luxury hotel, art gallery exhibitions, relaxing in a spa, and Fine Dining in the evening. For a good workout, she prefers to go hiking through a canyon park trail.

OC’s Westminster/Garden Grove/Fountain Valley’s Little Saigon is similar to LA’s Little Tokyo and NYC’s Chinatown. In such areas, people enjoy checking out the Asian culture and ambiance, eating their native Asian food, and buying some Asian-inspired products. The people in this area tend to be business minded, preferring to dress professional and sophisticated. A particular outfit that a woman might wear includes stylish eyeglasses, high-heel penny loafers, leather skirt, sheer shirt, fur vest, square or rectangular-shaped face of a designer watch, and a clutch purse. Must-haves include a book and a video camcorder. When not working, a person in this area might enjoy vintage shopping at a warehouse or the garment district, cocktail hours at nightclubs, theater performances, weekend brunch, pastry and tea at teahouses, and getting a holistic massage at a local spa. For a good workout, they join a big gym to get the most out of a whole body workout.

OC’s coastal communities along PCH are similar to LA’s Malibu and NYC’s Hampton. The merchandise and clothing tend to be beach-inspired. Whether enjoying some ice cream in an area filled with surfers and tanned people wearing bathing suits, or browsing inside art galleries and studios, people prefer casual attire of flip-flops, tank tops, sundresses, denim pants, and shorts. Seafood or burgers tends to be their preferred cuisine in small beachside cafes. A female in this area might be seen driving a convertible. A beach towel, sunscreen and sunhat might be seen inside her car. She is never without her sunglasses, watch with plastic bands, dangling earrings, and sunscreen. She might be wearing a long flowing dress and high-heel wedges as well as carrying a tote bag. Her clothes and accessories tend to be casual and comfortable, but with a bohemian accent. These beachside communities are filled with life, from morning to night. A crowd of people is always seen shuffling along the sidewalks, enjoying the bands, music, studios, art galleries, vintage and bohemian boutiques, cafes, street performances, and people watching. Evening hours might include eating at a restaurant and drinking cocktails while enjoying the beach view. The perfect workout is performed on the beach, whether surfing, jogging, playing volleyball, boogie boarding, paddle-boarding, yoga, street hiking, or just taking long romantic walks along the shore. Cosmetic surgery is an obsession in these areas so that they can show off their sculpted bodies and faces at busy public areas.

OC’s West Irvine is similar to LA’s Pasadena and NYC’s West Village. It is like a small-town and quiet environment, filled with many mini malls, each surrounded by townhouses and apartments. On a typical weekend, people might be seen browsing through a farmer’s market for their weekly groceries. Other social activities might include going to a movie theater to watch an independent or foreign film and working out at a local gym. Lunch time is spend eating at one of the many bistros in the mini mall, whether eating Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern, Mexican, Pizza, French Deli, Hindi, or Vegan food. Then, they stop at a frozen yogurt bar to build their own frozen yogurt sundae. Other people might prefer to hang out at a coffee shop, chatting as they drink coffee or tea with a light pastry. UC Irvine is the major university in Orange County, and it has now grown bigger with a diversity of majors, courses, clubs, and activities. Since West Irvine's biggest landmark is a big university, the mostly worn attire tends to be collegiate-inspired. Besides the usual casual clothes of sweats, t-shirts, shorts and caps with the college name and mascot on it, a classic pinstripe shirt, light trench coat, skinny jeans, loafers, pearl necklace, large and round sunglasses, watch with a rectangular face and medal band, cotton scarf, and tote bag are the basic clothes that people in this area might be seen wearing. Popular home activities might include gardening as well as relaxing by the pool while listening to the radio. Other social activities might include checking out UCI’s art galleries, plays, concerts, performances, and events.

OC’s Costa Mesa/Santa Ana areas are similar to LA’s Santa Monica/Venice and NYC’s SOHO and Chelsea. This OC area tends to have artists, musicians, Vegans, boutiques, bohemians, Performing Arts Center, and a big shopping mall. The Costa Mesa area starts from the coast and goes inland toward Santa Ana, and Santa Ana is like a small metropolitan area that looks like Little Los Angeles. In Costa Mesa, there are two artist mini malls. The Lab, a vintage and artsy mall, looks like a place for starving artists, and across the street from this mall is The Camp, a quaint and meditative mall that has a nature, outdoorsy and Vegan theme. Both mini malls hold various events and classes, such as art exhibits, farmer’s market, wine tasting, and scuba diving classes. There is also a yoga studio, trendy restaurants, stylish boutiques, and some nightclubs. Close by, South Coast Plaza is a large mall in Costa Mesa that has four major department stores, many boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, a magazine stand, food counters, and other stores. There is an artist village, concert halls, and museums in the Santa Ana area. Young people in this area tend to dress in casual, comfortable and artsy attire of tie-dye blouses, denim shorts or skirts, sunglasses, Converse high tops with interesting and unique design, funky jewelry, and Native American-inspired pleather purse with fringe. Some accessories include a simple watch with a plastic band, an eco water bottle, and an all natural perfume that has a floral or fruity scent. Their preferred method of transportation is a scooter. These people are likely to be into environmental, green products, and vegetarian or vegan food.

OC’s Tustin has The District, which is two blocks of entertainment, shopping, and restaurants. It is similar to LA’s Silverlake/Los Feliz and NYC’s Tribeca. There is a big movie theater, some outdoor fireplaces with couches for hanging out, large screens for music videos, an outdoor stage for bands to perform, stores, candy store, boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, bookstore, and grocery stores. It is like a one-stop shopping for clothes, accessories, cosmetics, fragrances, food, necessities, groceries, hobbies, home remodeling, and an entertainment arena. People in this area tend to dress similar to a rock star because of their uncoordinated attire and accessories. They don’t have a particular style, but they prefer to shop around at different stores and thrift stores. Sunglasses, a pile of beaded necklaces, and a pleather skirt or pants with a simple sweatshirt or graphic t-shirt, oxfords with animal print, dark color nail polish, and a purse with a chain handle make up an artsy, but vintage style. They collect vintage products, such as an old turntable, ceramics cups, plates, pitcher and tray, and furniture. Their preferred transportation is a bicycle.

OC’s East Irvine is similar to LA’s West Hollywood and NYC’s Midtown sections. East Irvine has The Spectrum entertainment center, a train station, business district, and The Great Park of Irvine. The Spectrum has a big gym, huge IMAX theatre, many stores, boutiques, restaurants, coffee shop, ice cream parlors, sweets store, Improv, department stores, bookstores, carousel, Ferris wheel, train for toddlers, and other stores. At The Spectrum, the daytime attire is mostly tank tops, shorts, sunglasses, and flip-flops or gym clothes. But, in the evenings, people dress in trendy clothes for the exciting nightlife. Women prefer cocktail dresses, ballet flats, a small purse, rings with large gems, and a neutral shade nail polish. They never leave home without their small dog or their iPhone.

OC’s Laguna Beach is similar to LA’s Melrose Avenue and NYC’s East Village. Laguna Beach is a coastal beach community filled with art galleries, studios, apartments, homes, cafes, restaurants, Pageant of the Stars, and shopping. The area is busy, from morning to evening hours, whether it is filled with people enjoying the beach, strolling and window shopping along the sidewalk paths, checking out a street filled with art galleries, or enjoying the crowded nightlife and street entertainment. This area is filled with artists, writers, musicians and bohemians.

Other areas in OC include Anaheim, the center of the action, where there is Disneyland, Anaheim Stadium, and the Mighty DucksMighty Ducks Arena. Near Anaheim, another amusement park, called Knott’s Berry Farm, is in Buena Park, as well as Cal State University Fullerton. Along PCH, there are small and quaint beach communities, such as Balboa Island and Balboa Peninsula as well as Corona Del Mar. Other areas in OC are bunch of quiet suburbs.