"Matching leisure wear Jogging suits" ....soiunds like you are in a time warp.

As what St. Cirq says, I try to step it up a notch when planning what to wear for my trips abroad. Not too overly but at least something that makes me feel good (white sneakers make me shriek even back home). We have spent so much money for the whole trip, don't we at least want to look good in our photos for posterity's sake?

Very funny Janis! BTW, I always thought you were a Brit.

Padraig wrote"What a load of twaddle! Nobody should pronounce on what others should wear, or express personal preferences or prejudices as if they were objective facts."
Calling the kettle black, Padraig.
Sorry but you a dead wrong on this one! Sandals and socks are a definite no-no!
Janis, just take ownership and admit that you are a Rick Steves wannabe and everyone will love you for it!

Tartan. Tartan anything. Even the Scots don't wear tartan.

I agree with Bettyk. And I don't know what it is with Americans and this obsession about trying not to look like an American tourist...and I'm American. If you're American and a tourist, you'll probably look like an American tourist unless you're one who's quite stylish at home, then you'll take the same stylishness to Paris, or anywhere else, and probably blend in more.
I wear what I want and could care less what others think. Since childhood, I've been totally into clothing/fashion whether here or abroad, so while at home I dress and buy stylish clothes that are appropriate for home and abroad...like easy to launder, pack no more than 3 or four colors to easily interchange pieces (when traveling) etc...basic clothing/packing 101 and then accessorize.
I've lived/vacationed back and forth between the States and Europe for over 3 decades and while living in Danmark for decades of trips, I never once heard my Danish friends stress about whether or not they'd look like Danish tourists or not when they traveled to other countries. And they travel around the world a lot.
They basically dressed like they dressed at home, in Danmark, which I think is great since when I'm in other parts of the world, I can pick them out of a crowd easily and then immediatedly strike up a conversation with them in their language. If they'd tried to alter themselves, in order to not look like a Danish tourist, I wouldn't be able to do such. I've met lots of interesting folks that way.
So, don't worry about it and pack what's comfortable for you. Happy Travels!

THIN!!! LOL,
I have Karl Lagerfeld's Scetchbook with is all about Anna's wardrobe. Photos show her as very atttractive when young. Surprise!

Just a question for posters here, (probably sexist as well and I apologize in advance for any offense taken). Are the bulk of the posters here male or female? Male, myself. This appears similar to conversations that my wife has with friends, but the husbands never speak on these subjects. Maybe its' not an American thing?

apersuader65 said: "Maybe its' not an American thing?"

Of course it's an American thing. Very few of us Europeans try to avoid looking like American tourists.

I think it's only the women who worry here, not the men who do contribute to have sonmething funny to say.

Most American men I know don't spend a lot of time thinking about or talking about fashion or what to wear for various occasions. Very generally speaking, I think European men are more "in tune" with what they put on their bodies.

Which probably explains why I, very generally speaking, find European men more attractive ;)

Which probably explains why I, very generally speaking, find European men more attractive

Phew, that is one less thing American men have to worry about.

re: <<only the women who worry...>>

I thought the OP's a man?

A question for the ladies, and gentlemen, if you so desire...

Do Parisian women expose much cleavage when casually dressed?

Didn't think so, but from Ira's trip report, that must have changed within the past 6 months?

Thanks, Mademoiselle. I missed that observation on my first reading! How timely!

&quot;Anything with a<s>n oversize college or pro team</s> logo.&quot;

I also assumed the OP was male, since &quot;khaki trousers&quot; seemed the main point.

These posts always give me pause for thought as the only thing I tend to worry about when traveling is weather I've packed appropriately for the weather. I've often been perplexed by clothing questions on travel boards.

After perusing my closet and thinking about what I wear on a daily basis, I realized that I don't wear jogging suits nor white trainers(I don't like the way they look on my feet) unless I'm at the gym. I don't wear shorts in public, only capris or skirts. Most of my clothes are neutral or dark in tone to begin with. Just about everything in my closet are all items I would and do wear when traveling. I was taught by my mother to always dress a &quot;step up&quot;, and I think this has always held me in good stead. You just never know who you might meet that could turn your life around for the better, and if you look like hell, your chances are going to go there too, and in a handbasket.

I don't think I've ever worried about whether my clothing would shriek tourist or even American tourist. I've worried about how well the clothing travels, whether it would stand an extra day or two of wearing, etc.

For the ladies who don't want to look like an American tourist perhaps a kimono or nice chogori/chima combo.

After being lulled into a coma by this thread; I have resolved to travel naked in Europe...and let them guess!!!