jdt

A friend recently came home from travelling in Europe and said Europeans don't wear shorts? Has anyone else expirenced this? Does anyone know how Europeans view shorts? If there are any Europeans out there... please send your thoughts on this.<BR>Thanks!

Mark

No, you can't wear shorts in Europe. And don't forget, no matter how hot it gets, our number one priority is to make the Europeans happy. Even though you are pouring thousands into their economy, your main concern it to make sure the whining ass Europeans are happy. So wear a parka when walking around Europe. Do Americans care if people wear shorts or pants or kilts in the summer? No? Well anyway, it is very important to make sure the Europeans are happy and don't whine about us. Don't forget this.

Marilyn

I was recently in Italy and did see a tourist or two wearing shorts. The locals do not wear shorts. I didn't see that anything was made of it; however, we were in a hotel that had many Americans present at the time. M.

Capo

I'd guess that all Europeans view shorts with their eyes. <BR><BR>Europeans may wear shorts more frequently when they're on vacation but I don't think they tend to wear them as much as Americans during their leisure hours, especially in cities.

jdt

Marilyn - thanks for your comments. Most appreciated. Mark - I'm not sure if yours is serious. I obviously will not be wearing a parka, but what do the other statements mean?

Jon

You can wear what you want, but in Europe we don´t go to work on shorts you know. It is considered childish for a guy to go, specially by night, on shorts.

Ken Docter

Europeans don't wear shorts around their home area. Will wear them at seashore spots while on vacation.<BR>Be sure to remember that covered shoulders and legs are manditory in most churches - especially Rome.

brownie

I work in europe and lots of people here wear shorts to work - though we work in an engineering field. But they're mostly europeans and when the weather turns hot.. everyone dons on their shorts!!<BR><BR>It may depend on where you are... but I'm in the german part of switzerland and the locals wear shorts as do my german colleagues. They even walk around barefoot.<BR><BR>

xxx

If it's a hot day in the countryside, wear shorts. In the cities, unless it's unbearably hot, I would wear pants, especially if you plan on visiting churches. But, either way, you're not going to be kicked out of Europe for wearing shorts. If some of the locals snicker, who the hell cares?

Mike

I think there is a bit of a translation difference here. From what I've been told, Europeans refer to underwear as shorts. Obviously then what your friend was telling you is that no one on the continent wears underwear. I can't vouch for that, but please let me know if you verify it!

jdt

No, no... my friend is from Canada and in Canada we view shorts as cut off pants that for girls go about mid thigh and for guys slightly above the knee. Do you know anything about Europeans and shorts (not underwear)???

Hans H

From my observation, Americans tend to wear shorts more often than Europeans (i.e. even if the weather is quite cool and during the evening) while Europeans wear them mostly when the weather is hot and change into something else in the evening. <BR><BR>If you like to wear them, do it. Nobody will care. I'm not certain about churches in Italy but in Germany you wouldn't have any problems. I think that the Italian rule is meant to ensure some dignity to a holy place, i.e. no beach wear. Whether acceptable clothes include shorts during a very hot day, I don't know but I wouldn't bet against it. As far as museums, any restaurants but the very upscale or any other place of interest to tourists are concerned, no problem at all.

jenviolin

'Europe' declines to reach consensus on this one.<BR>Netherlands: shorts are OK, Dutch wear shorts too, though generally less often than most American tourists. Shorts in churches OK. Shorts in fancy restaurants: you might feel underdressed. 'Shorts' are worn OVER 'underpants'. In Amsterdam you can wear 'underpants' OVER 'shorts' but I wouldn't try this in other cities.

Mike

"Message: 'Europe' declines to reach consensus on this one.<BR>Netherlands: shorts are OK, Dutch wear shorts too, though generally less often than most American tourists. Shorts in churches OK. Shorts in fancy restaurants: you might feel underdressed. 'Shorts' are worn OVER 'underpants'. In Amsterdam you can wear 'underpants' OVER 'shorts' but I wouldn't try this in other cities. "<BR><BR>Please tell me that this isn't something the EU actually put to a vote!

an adult

are we all sheep?<BR><BR>bah bah bah

Joyce

When the weather is warm, Europeans wear shorts when they are on vacation and on weekends (when not working). I just returned from Spain, where I saw many vacationing Europeans wearing shorts. From what I could see, there seemed to be more Europeans wearing shorts than Americans wearing shorts. Shorts seemed to be particularly popular with travellers from the Netherlands.<BR> <BR>

Nan

I spent several weeks in Italy last summer. Don't be shocked now, but it was hot and I saw Italians (men more so than women) wearing shorts - I didn't guess they were Italians - they were Italians I knew.