i'm leaving for europe thursday. i plan to bring a fleece sweatshirt with words old navy on it across the chest. will i look to americanized? is this a good idea?

I actually saw a couple of Old Navy t-shirts this summer. You don't say how old you are. The younger you are, the better it will blend. There has been lots and lots and lots of discussion about clothing on this forum, and I have to say, that neat, clean, presentable, polite and comfortable is the name of the game. We saw everything this summer, on every body, American and European alike. So, unless you have something else, ready to hand, don't worry about it. If you are towards the south of Europe, it's still warm and you'll probably hardly wear it. If you are in more northern climes, you'll need it, and maybe you can find a nifty sweater made in the country you are visiting as a terrific souvenir. Have a great trip.

<BR>Christina, you'll be fine with that top. In fact, you'll be surprised at what you'll see even on Europeans. Your shirt sounds upscale, and appropriate, as opposed to a neon color with Disney characters! Lots of of my European friends (and Japanese and Australian) like American logos and often wear something with a logo on it whether they're visiting us here, or in their country. Have a great trip.

I would not worry about your sweater. <BR>The last time I was in London, many of the younger crowd were sporting American university sweatshirts. I wish I had known, because I could have stuffed an extra suitcase full and sold them for a tidy profit. <BR> <BR>The shirts were so popular that many of them were counterfeit. I know I saw at least one green and white shirt that had University of Michigan on it. The only problem is that the colors were green and white -- the colors of Michigan State. Another had University of Ohio on the front but the colors were scarlet and grey, the colors of Ohio State. And then, horror of horrors, we saw a University of Georgia shirt in yellow and black -- the colors of Georgia Tech, which any loyal Bulldog abhors. Even the Bulldog was yellow! And you can guess what the uga in my email address stands for. It ain't Georgia Tech!! <BR> <BR>

Go blue. Ohowihate Ohiostate. <BR> <BR>I saw a young man wearing an Oberlin T-shirt, baseball cap, and Nike shoes, while on a walking tour of Venice, Italy. An American student, I thought. As I passed him, I overheard him arguing with his mom in Italian. Definitely a local. <BR> <BR>With confidence in my powers of observation shattered, I realized that I had missed an important clue. He wasn't wearing his cap backwards! <BR> <BR>Not to worry. But why not buy an item of clothing at your destination? Not a T-shirt for home for someone else. But a sweater for right there for you? Have fun.

<BR>Christina, if you keep quiet no-one will know where you are from. You can pretend to be Kevin McCarthy from Invasion of the Body Snatchers!! <BR>Seriously,we Europeans ( I'm Scottish ) look fairly similar to North Americans - I assume that's where you are from. Enjoy that trip.