What to Wear: Leggings in Europe?

Old Aug 1st, 2012, 02:36 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What to Wear: Leggings in Europe?

So this may be a dumb question. but I'm trying to decide what to pack for a backpacking trip through Europe (mostly through Germany, Salzburg, Prague, Amsterdam, and Brussels).

I know I need other cloths, but for everyday site seeing I really want to wear athletic leggings (I pretty much live in them at home).

Is this acceptable in Europe? I know people make fun of them in America but it's not considered completely weird to wear them. It would just be for like museums and traveling and such, I'll bring jeans or something nicer that's light for other things.

If not athletic leggings, are other leggings acceptable? Is it only ok if I wear something long over? Or are leggings inappropriate in the countries I mentioned no matter what?

Thanks for your help!
Rachel_Travels22 is offline  
Old Aug 1st, 2012, 02:48 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
In general, as long as you cover everything that is meant to be covered, you can wear what you like.

No-one is going to care.
mjdh1957 is offline  
Old Aug 1st, 2012, 03:28 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Try these:
http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/land...onte+Pants.jsp

They fit like leggings but a much nicer looking.
DebitNM is offline  
Old Aug 1st, 2012, 03:46 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What time of year are you going - and where?

Know one cares what you wear - but you could freeze to death in leggings - based on location and time of year. (As for the look - that's up to you - unless you plan ongoing someplace elegant for dinner.)
nytraveler is offline  
Old Aug 1st, 2012, 04:03 PM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cover everything as in wear a long shirt/dress over the leggings, or cover everything as in not appropriate amount of skin showing. Just to clairfy.
Rachel_Travels22 is offline  
Old Aug 1st, 2012, 04:04 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
In August, I have capri length and full length leggings that I typically wear.
Rachel_Travels22 is offline  
Old Aug 1st, 2012, 04:36 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What would you wear in a city in your own country? That will guide you as to how much you need to 'cover up'.

No one will be concerned at what you wear except yourself. Your own common sense should tell you what to wear and how much to cover.
mjdh1957 is offline  
Old Aug 1st, 2012, 05:09 PM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for your help, I guessed it was similar and just a common sense thing but you can never be too sure. I keep hearing how 'no one wears shorts in Europe unless at the beach' so I figured leggings were worth asking about.
Rachel_Travels22 is offline  
Old Aug 1st, 2012, 08:57 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Find a live web cam for the cities you are going to visit and then you can see what people are wearing.

I know in Frankfurt, leggings are fairly popular, capri length, ones that look like tights and worn with shorts or a mini-skirt, and then just regular ones. This isn't the fashion capital of Europe, but women and girls are usually dressed nicely.
Mainhattengirl is offline  
Old Aug 1st, 2012, 10:09 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,248
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I saw a lot of girls wearing leggings in Paris in March, but as you mentioned, generally with a long top or dress over them. If you're instead talking about the fitted running capris or something like that, in an outfit that could go to spin class, no, I didn't see them out and about at all (except on people who were actually running). So if you want to try to fit in, I wouldn't wear that to a museum or anywhere else.

However, everyone will know you're not a local anyway, and as others have mentioned, no one else is going to be concerned with what you're wearing unless you're trying to get into a nicer restaurant or something along those lines. So it's all personal preference as to whether you want to try to blend in. The only other thing to keep in mind is that some churches (especially in Italy, if you make it there) are strict about having shoulders and knees covered.
jent103 is offline  
Old Aug 2nd, 2012, 12:02 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 527
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Last December in Italy I saw several young ladies wearing coloured tights and a very short skirt (it is all about fashion), and I kept wondering how they manage to dress up like that and not feel the cold - even just looking at them made me shiver.

Dress whatever you feel comfortable in wearing - that is what Europeons do - and it is what most tourists do, you will find such diversity everywhere, especially in big cities, that you won't stand out, unless you are wearing something totally bizarre.

However, as jent103 commented, some high-end restaurants and venues would expect their clientele to be nicely dressed, and also, you also need to have shoulders and knees covered in some churches. So, I would take different types of clothes for different outings.
Anna_Galea is offline  
Old Aug 2nd, 2012, 03:48 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
'no one wears shorts in Europe unless at the beach'

Nonsense, we wear shorts at the vaguest hint of sunshine here in the UK. If you've got 'em, wear 'em!
Rubicund is offline  
Old Aug 2nd, 2012, 03:56 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
'no one wears shorts in Europe unless at the beach'

You do wonder where people hear these kind of things and why they believe them.

Mind you, some people should not be allowed to wear shorts even at the beach....
mjdh1957 is offline  
Old Aug 2nd, 2012, 06:59 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 527
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You see people wearing shorts everywhere!!!
Anna_Galea is offline  
Old Aug 2nd, 2012, 08:25 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
the only place in Europe i've been where I noticed people dressing better in Paris, other places you shouldn't really care
Dublin_Boy is offline  
Old Aug 2nd, 2012, 05:00 PM
  #16  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the input! Very helpful!

So if I'm trying to fit in, definitely wear something over the leggings long enough to cover my butt, basically? (By the way, I don't wear athletic tops with these leggings I just sort of prefer them over actual pants for day wear).

Also...this is interesting hearing more about the shorts being alright. I'm going in August and don't want to be hot, but I'm trying not to bring too much (only bringing a 36 L backpack). Are shorts worth packing in this case then? (I'm going to be all around Germany, Amsterdam, Salzburg, Prague, and Brussels- not Southern Europe)
Rachel_Travels22 is offline  
Old Aug 2nd, 2012, 11:29 PM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 527
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The places you mentioned are cooler in August than say, central or southern Italy for sure - but you might still get hot weather which would probably still be bearable without wearing shorts.

If it were me, I would put in a pair of shorts and a pair of capris in my backpack (and also including a couple of leggings and long tops since you like wearing them - many of the younger generation do in Europe and everywhere I guess). They should not be heavy to carry at all, or take too much space in your backpack. Much worse in the Wintertime when we have to take jackets etc.
Anna_Galea is offline  
Old Aug 2nd, 2012, 11:59 PM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,009
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
No matter where in the world you wear them, whether leggings look okay or not depends on your age and the size of your backside! My daughter looks fantastic in them - I don't.

I don't really understand the concern about wearing the right clothes when in Europe - it's really the same in most countries in the world. Many tourists look like tourists (nothing wrong with that) and often it isn't what they are wearing that marks them out.
dreamon is online now  
Old Aug 3rd, 2012, 12:34 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I honestly dont get why people think dressing here is any different than back at home. Yes the style is different, but unless you shop when you get here your clothes wont be the same style anyways.

What would you wear on a trip to the city in your home country? Unless that is also wildly inappropriate that is exactly what you can wear to a city in Europe.

There are some restrictions - like appropriate wear in churches - but in general if you wear it at home, you can where it here!
jamikins is offline  
Old Aug 3rd, 2012, 06:38 AM
  #20  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks all! I'm probably just over thinking all this because of my nerves and excitement for the trip. I'll just go with what's comfortable to me and try not to look like a slob.
Rachel_Travels22 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -