What to Wear in Santiago?

We have posted several blogs about your travel outfit tips for plenty of famous tourist cities in the Northern Hemisphere, but have not yet set foot in the Southern Hemisphere. Today, the first stop of our exploration of the Southern Hemisphere is Santiago, the capital of Chile.

Founded in the 16th century, Santiago is a city with nearly 500 years of history. Now, Santiago has developed into a world-class first-tier city and a well-deserved international metropolis. In addition, Santiago is adjacent to the Mapocho River and the Andes Mountains, with unique tourism resources. Plaza de Armas, La iglesia de Santiago, San Lucía Hill...There are countless world-famous attractions at Santiago. But if you live in the northern hemisphere for a long time, you may not be particularly familiar with the climate here. So, in order to have appropriate and stylish clothing to wear during your trip to Santiago, keep reading this blog!

Climate Features of Santiago

Santiago is also a city with a Mediterranean climate. But at the same time, since Santiago is located in a basin of the Andes, it has a high altitude, so the temperature is relatively low in summer, only about 20 degrees Celsius, and the maximum temperature rarely exceeds 35 degrees. At the same time, the winter in Santiago is not very cold, with an average temperature of about 8 degrees Celsius. The annual precipitation is about 300-500 mm, mainly concentrated in winter. There is very little precipitation in summer, and often no rain for several consecutive months, and the climate is dry.

In summer, Santiago is affected by dry and hot winds from the Andes Mountains, which causes the temperature to rise suddenly while the air is dry, easily causing fire risks. So, if you are traveling to Santiago in the summer, which is from December to February of the following year, it is best not to go hiking.

Although sometimes affected by hot and dry winds, summer is still the peak tourist season in Santiago. This is largely because the summers in Santiago are sunny, clear and rainless, bringing convenience for your outdoor activities. On the other hand, the summer in the southern hemisphere is opposite to that in the northern hemisphere, so the grand and attractive festivals such as Christmas and New Year take place in the summer in Santiago. During the festival, there will be various celebrations in the city, creating a lively atmosphere and allowing visitors to experience the unique festival culture.

Of course, this doesn't mean you can't travel to Santiago in the winter. On the contrary, there are many activities that can only be done in the winter, such as skiing and viewing snow-capped mountains. In addition, you can also participate in some indoor activities, such as visiting museums and art galleries. In the cold winter, hot springs are also a very pleasant enjoyment. The hot spring water in Santiago is rich in various minerals and has certain health benefits for the body. While soaking in the hot springs, you can also enjoy the beautiful natural scenery around you.

What Are the Dressing Codes in Santiago?

As the capital of Chile, Santiago's overall dressing style tends to be casual and modern, but due to cultural customs and occasions, there are still some dressing codes and taboos that need to be paid attention to. The locals' daily dress is mainly casual wear, such as T-shirts, jeans, sneakers, etc., which are suitable for city strolls, shopping or visiting attractions. When visiting religious places such as churches, you need to cover your shoulders and knees and avoid wearing vests, shorts, and short skirts. This is also a consensus almost all over the world.

In addition, during some special festivals, the clothing of Santiago residents also has some characteristics. September 18th of each year is Chile's National Day, so on this day, locals often wear clothing printed with the colors of the Chilean flag, namely red, white and blue, or wear accessories with elements of the national flag. Even if you don't have to follow the local customs, it's best not to wear clothing or accessories with patterns of flags of other countries on this day to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

The Mapuche are a very important ethnic group in Chile, and they have unique dressing culture and taboos. If your trip involves the sightseeing at the Mapuche territory, it is best to learn about their special dressing codes in advance. For example, some patterns, such as Nken, can only be used by tribal leaders and other noble men. If ordinary people wear clothes with such patterns, they will be regarded as usurping the throne. Tourists are also advised to respect local customs and avoid such patterns. Wild animal leather and rare feathers are only allowed to be used by warriors or leaders, while ordinary people and tourists should also avoid them. In addition, white is associated with funeral ceremonies in some tribes, so daily wear should avoid wearing all white.

What to Wear in Santiago in Summer?

Summer is the peak tourist season in Santiago, and it is also the season when various leisure, entertainment industries and hotel facilities are most complete. So if you have the opportunity to travel in summer, it would be the best!

The minimalist style: For outdoor excursions and activities, it is not necessary to dress too fancy. A minimalist and comfortable look is the most suitable. The combination of a white vest, a pair of denim shorts and sneakers is very suitable for long walks outdoors. In addition, don't forget to wear a bucket hat on your head to protect against the sun.

The fashionable street style: If you want to take eye-catching photos on the street, don’t be afraid to wear some highly saturated colors. Even if your skin is not bright enough, in the photo, clothes in highly saturated colors are undoubtedly the best choice to show your uniqueness. However, if all the items you wear are in highly saturated colors, the whole outfit will look out of harmony. Therefore, we recommend that you choose a fluorescent yellow or green vest and a pair of cargo pants in a neutral color such as gray or black.

The holiday style: The key to creating a holiday style outfit is to show off your sense of relaxation. You can wear a crochet top on the upper body and a bohemian floral maxi skirt on the lower body. If you want to wear a set of bikini, you can add a sheer top to the bikini set to enhance the sense of fashion and layering.

The retro style: The city of Santiago has a long history and there are many famous museums and art galleries in the city, so the retro style is also very suitable for your trip to Santiago. The combination of a red plaid shirt and a denim maxi skirt is perfect for creating a retro look. Match them with a pair of white Mary Janes or black leather shoes, and your retro look is complete.

What to Wear in Santiago in Winter?

Even if you come to Santiago during the winter, you don’t have to wear a lot of layers because the winters here are not particularly cold. So you can dress stylishly to a great extent. But at the same time, don't forget to protect yourself from the cold and damp, as winter is also the rainy season in Santiago.

The campus style: Among various styles of styling, the campus style is the most versatile and age-reducing one. At the same time, this style of look is also one of the easiest one to create. All you need is a knit sweater, a blazer and a pleated skirt. You can also replace the blazer with a tweed coat.

The French style: The most praised features of French style are elegance and romance. A solid colored turtleneck sweater, a solid colored wool coat and a pair of wool wide-leg pants that drape really well are all must-haves for a French look.

The unisex style: The combination of a windbreaker and a pair of cargo pants is very effective in creating a cool style for both men and women. Especially when you choose some neutral or dark colors, such as dark green and black, your outfit will be even more handsome.

The casual style: A grey hoodie, a pair of white sweatpants and a pair of canvas shoes are enough to create a relaxed and casual outfit. A beanie and a canvas bag can provide you with extra warmth while complementing your look.

The artistic style: Visiting museums and galleries in winter might call for an artistic look. A grey cardigan, a silky white shirt and a pair of black flared trousers will form your artistic look. To make your look more unique, you can tie the hem of your shirt in a knot.