Clothing / Shoes help
 

We'll be leaving in just about a week for our trip to London, Paris, and Amsterdam with majority of the time in Paris. I feel stuck on what to wear. Both my husband and I are young in our mid-20s. All of the comfort shoes I see are ugly and I would never wear them again - I hate to get a pair of shoes just for a 2 week trip. The only shoes might get are some flip flops but I heard those are not acceptable? My husband wants to wear his basketball shorts since they are thinner to back then his denim shorts. I'm terribly worried because our typical vacation gear is not all going to look right - shorts, sneakers, tee shirts, etc. For myself I was hoping to wear my black sneakers and my other light tan sneakers most of the time. I would love a pair of casual sandals but I don't want to get ones that are just for comfort since I may never wear them again. I don't think I've gone on a vacation where I've had to do this much walking.

Hi H,

>I'm terribly worried because our typical vacation gear is not all going to look right - shorts, sneakers, tee shirts, etc.

You will look like tens of thousands of other tourists.

You are going in warm weather?

((I))

You're certainly right about the comfort shoes being ugly. I crack up at the posters who say that a particular comfort shoe "looks great with dresses or skirts, too!" Ha. Yeah, if you're about 80 years old. (No offense to you stylish octagenarians out there!)

That being said, you will very quickly cease to care what your feet LOOK like after a day of walking in Europe! You will only care about comfort, and you'll find yourself, like I do on every trip I take, heading to the nearest shoe store and purchasing some "comfort" shoes! I have many pair gathering dust in my closet right now! Your black and tan sneakers sound fine - I saw lots of colored sneakers in London and Paris. I'd recommend against flip flops (or any sandals without a back strap), as they will be hard to keep on your feet (especially up long, hilly cobblestone streets!)

Your husband will find that very few European men wear shorts. But lots of tourists do! So, if he cares about "fitting in" with Europeans, he may need to bring some long pants. OR, be like most tourists, and look like a tourist. No one will arrest you! (In fact, if you're American, they may actually stop to THANK you - as someone did when I was in London recently. This nice gentleman said he "takes his hat off" to any American willing to put up with the terrible exchange rate and visit the UK! How nice!)

Enjoy your trip!

You are going to London, Paris and A'dam - and your husband wants to wear <u>basketball shorts</u>??

OKaaaaay :)

And when the temps are in the 60's what does he plan on wearing?

BTW there is absolutely NOTHING wrong w/ black sneakers and light tan sneakers. And it isn't that flip flops are not acceptable - it is they give you no support and you will be walking miles and miles avery day.

Oh - I meant to say &quot;And when the temps are in the 60's and it is <u>raining</u> what does he plan on wearing?&quot;

Shoes are always a tricky thing. However, I recently bought this pair of shoes for my vacation. I found them to be comfy and stylish and wear them day to day as well:

http://www.merrellcanada.com/catalog...amp;menu_id=52

I recommend going to a shoe store that specializes in &quot;comfy&quot; shoes, you might be surprised at what you find. In Canada, I would suggest going to RnR (which is where I bought mine). If you're American, I don't know if you have that store or not, but you must have something comparable.

I recommend the most comfortable shoes you can find. There are many fairly stylish ones out there. A pair of sandals would be nice, but can you really walk a lot in flipflops?
London can be really chilly. Many years ago I wore a winter coat in London in August.
I recommend layering. Buy a nice silk tank top to wear with pants or a skirt when it is warm and to layer with a blouse on top when it is cooler.
T-shirts are fine. You can always dress them up with a piece of jewelry (Paris is great for that).

Tell your husband to leave his basketball shorts at home. If he must take shorts, the denim ones will be much better. And I hope he's taking long pants as well. Planes can be cold as well as the cities you are visiting.

Happy packing.

I agree that some of the shoes often recommended as stylish enough to wear with skirts would look quite silly on me in a skirt!

I like Merrills for walking a lot - I have two pair and they are now my &quot;Europe&quot; and &quot;NYC&quot; shoes. (But I don't wear them with skirts!)

My husband wore shorts to London and it never got above 69. He's very comfortable in shorts when it's in the 60s. He also wore white sneakers. He didn't care he looked like a tourist. My kids looked like American tourists, too.

I paid more attention to my dress - no white sneakers, my Merrills, no shorts (although I would have been too cold anyway in shorts).

You will be doing a LOT of walking and you really do want to be comfortable.

Since you asked--I think the best way to go for 20-somethings in the cities you mention (at least Paris and London) would be for you, Ecco or Mephisto sandals (stylish enough but also usually comfy) and the dark walking shoes/sneakers you have. (What did you intend to wear at night? the ballet style (if decent/arch support)could work for some day use and also evenings if that style works for you). Please do tke care of your feet. Flip flops are only good for wearing around the lodging, IMO.

For clothing, black straight leg slacks (silk works for summer; could use heavier fabrics other times), black T-shirt (Target or Gap works), white/colored T-shirts/tops, khaki capris or slacks. Or that double-layer look with thin tank under a long sleeve top (also works for church entry). Assume you're bringing some kind of jacket. I think the jeans work on young people in Paris; not sure about the other cities you're going.

Agree with the other posters about rarely if ever seeing men in shorts regardless of age in European cities. Slacks. jeans if need be, work better, though some were wearing Capri pants in Italy my last few visits there. Basketball shorts would look remarkably out of place.

Please leave the basketball shorts at home. Even those cargo-type shorts with all the pockets would be better.

Flip-flops are silly on all levels, not the least of which your feet will be filthy after a couple of hours of sightseeing.

I must have really happy feet, because I never have a problem finding shoes that are both stylish and comfortable, and I'm a bit of an Imelda Marcos. I have Clarke's, tons of Aerosoles, Nine West, and Berne Mevsand Unisas, even some Tulips and BCBGs that I wear with skirts, pants, capris, and dresses when I'm traveling...and I walk miles and miles every day. I think in some cases it's more a matter of how broken in the shoes are than anything else. I do NOT wear ugly shoes, and I'm always comfortable and never with sneakers or runners or anything athletic.

It's really not rocket science to look stylish and be comfortable at the same time. Ya know, after all these years of reading and responding to these posts on Fodors, I think I sense another business idea coming on.......or maybe reality show...

Flip flops are not great either in the rain (you will almost certainly get some in those 3 cities) or on cobblestone streets - on which you will be walking miles. You will end up with stubbed toes and filthy feet.

You each need 2 pair of comfy walking shoes (if you want one to be sandals fine - unless you get 2 days of rain in a row). Sneakers are OK if that's what you want (I do fashion athletic shoes like Skechers Mary Janes).

As for your husband's shorts - that's fine if it stays warm and you want to eat only in casuale places. But if it turns chilly and rains he won;t be very comfy - and you certainly can't go to a nicer restaurant like that - so I certainly hope he's bringing at least a couple of pair of pants and some polo/collared shirts.

Also - be sure you each have a sturdy folding umbrella and a lightweight rainproof jacket - with hood is better.

Oh please, you are going to 2 of the most stylish places in the world (Paris and London) and your husband wants to wear basketball shorts! My Aunt, who is one of the most fashionable and best-dressed people I know, even comments on how well dressed the people of Paris are! Here's a hint, wait till you get to Europe and check out some of the gorgeous german made casual shoes (Rieker comes to mind) oozing European style which are fashionable AND comfortable, well made and very ungranny looking. I found this website and I'm sure you'd find something that appeals-there's 8 pages of designs (and they're not at all expensive) http://www.zappos.com/n/es/d/167000000/page/1.html ).
I can assure you that one day of walking around in flip flops will have you begging for decent footwear. I don't know what your lifestyle is where you come from but surely a pair of well made sandals and a pair of comfortable and stylish shoes won't go astray in your wardrobe.

I think that some of it has to do with genetics/structure of your particular feet. Both of my daughters (ages 19 and 21) have hurting feet when they walk all day in Europe (sorry to say they seem to have gotten my feet). Shoes with some degree of sturdiness and arch support will go a long way to preventing problems. Honestly, you're not going to be taken for a native (especially if your husband is wearing basketball shorts :) ) and nobody will ever see you again, so my motherly advice is to bring some shoes with structure and arch support. Surely you will find a use for them some other time when you need to walk/be on your feet a lot. Of course, you could be one of those folks who can wear heels all day your entire life with no adverse effects.

BTW, in all the cities I've been to in Europe, all the young people, and just about everyone else, wear/s jeans.

I don't think you need to buy special brands or old lady (men) &quot;walking shoes&quot;. I think sneakers are just as good. I always use my Nike Air or Brooks running shoes for my walking shoe when I travel. I would not buy anything special for a trip to Europe, that you would not normally wear at home.

I think basketball shorts would really stand out, but those knee length cargo shorts are OK for guys.

It's not that flip flops are not acceptable socially (just kidding around) it's that they are not sturdy enough for all the walking you will be doing in those three cities. Take them along for mornings when you grab breakfast near by your hotel and for as slippers around your hotel room.

I don't think your sneakers will be a problem - if they're comfortable, wear them.

While the comfort sandals are rather ugly (I agree - I see the ones folks recommend and think &quot;ugg&quot;), they are COMFORTABLE. And in the end that is more important that being stylish.

If you find you really should have brought a pair of dress shoes, you've got a great excuse to go shopping.

As for your husband's shorts, if you don't have a problem with his basketball shorts, then tell him they're fine. If you really hate the shorts, tell him Fodor's said he'd be arrested immediately for wearing them and that he should take the jean shorts instead. :-d

Daneille - expensive is very subjective. $50 for a pair of shoes is expensive to me, $100 makes me hyperventilate. :)

I haven't read all of the above so excuse me if I'm repeating anything.

I agree that some shoes sold as 'comfortable' are just too awful looking. We were in France for three weeks and most of those long-walking days I wore a pair of beige Sketchers (with a V-strap across the instep) that I bought the day before we left (on sale for $60) and threw into my suitcase as a last-minute thing. They were incredibly comfortable and cute enough to wear with pants and skirts. We didn't do anything too fancy in the evening but I usually changed clothes and put on slightly more sophisticated footwear, like sandals or espadrills. The Sketchers were lifesavers, though. I've just bought the same pair in black.

Regarding shorts for men: the best pair of shorts that my DH has is a pair made by Columbia. They are green &quot;cargo shorts&quot; and are made from some sort of microfiber. We can wash them in the sink of the hotel and they will be dry the next day. And no wrinkles!

As for walking shoes, I think tennis shoes/sneakers are fine. Flip flops will end up hurting your feet.

Once you get there , you will quicky see that people wear what they want.
Your sneakers will be fine. Wearing comfortable shoes is what's important.

I was also going to suggest a pair of cargo shorts for your husband instead of basketball shorts..
other than that, dress for the weather and be comfortable. As I said, once you are there with your comfortable clothes you will find you won't be sticking out like a sore thumb. Don't worry about it.Just use common sense.

Have fun. I wish I'd started travelling when I was your age. Good for you.

Thank you all for your replies. My husband actually does not own any shorts besides denim shorts and gym shoes - no cargo shorts or anything. I heard it was quite warm in the summer time where we were going so we were going to dress for warm weather. I guess maybe I might have been mistaken?

Some people put links for shoes but honestly those aren't anything we'd wear again. I agree about expensive - spending more than $50 for something I will wear one time in my life is pretty expensive.

I actually like some Skechers shoes and actually own these:
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/5542094.html

I was trying to find another pair that may work for this trip as well as my lifestyle! I don't really want to just spend $ on something for one time. I've actually spent about 6 months looking and buying/returning many comfort brand sandals. Some were uncomfortable (birkenstock) , some I decided way too expensive (more than $100) and others just I'd never wear again.

Oh , are white sneakers a bad idea? I mean I am talking a lower profile little white sneaker, not a big clunky running shoe.

My husband will stand out more. For anything casual or walking all day he believes in wearing the most comfortable clothes possible -- plain hanes type tshirt, denim shorts or gym shorts, and sneakers.

Again, you'll be fine with the shoes you have. Nothing wrong with sneakers, no matter what colour... you will see that as soon as you arrive.
The ONLY thing I'd change is your husband's shorts. Ask him to wear the denim ones.
T shirts are fine as long as you aren't talking about the muscle sleeveless t shirts.

White t shirts and denim shorts and sneakers will be fine. You'll see hundreds dressed the same.. but not at nicer restaurants.

Even to go to the theatre people wear jeans ( not ripped and torn).

While they're not the greatest looking sandals, I found a pair very similar to the Rieker Annett at Kmart.

They come in black or beige suede and are EXTREMELY comfortable. And, they only cost about $20 regular priced, so the price is definitely right.

I've worn them with casual skirts (broomsticks, denim, etc.) and they look OK and don't stick out like a sore thumb.

And, at that price, you could toss them into the back of your closet to use for travel only.

Mine are currently packed in my suitcase for my upcoming trip.

thanks toedtoes for the suggestion.

However I checked the weather - 10 day forecast goes up to first couple days in Paris. Highs are only low 70s! To me that's a bit too chilly for shorts and sandals! I might have to stick to my sneakers. I was thinking it might be more upper 80s or even 90s for some reason. And I suppose evenings would be even little more chilly.

We are having an odd summer in Europe this year. Parts are baking and parts are drowning. In London we've had everything. Be flexible - it is quite possible you'll get those 80s and 90s days, and it's quite possible you'll get 60s and 70s. You'll probably get some of all of these!

You will need something other than shorts for the evenings.

Wear your sneakers. No one cares.

At your ages I can understand why you don't want to do 'frumpy' and your clothes sound ok (although I'm not sure what basketball shorts look like, are they those massively wide knee-length ones? You'll see them around on teenagers sometimes but not really on adults.
Here jeans are the main thing worn by virtually everyone. Different ages wear different styles, that's all.

London's great for shoes, also a good excuse to go shopping there, I would wait.
Generally don't understand these threads about comfy shoes while in Europe- How come Europeans seem to manage walking round in inappropriate-yet-pretty shoes up all these &quot;cobbled streets&quot; then? (cobbled streets a minority)
i don't rate sightseeing as fair reasoning for ugly shoes.
You're in your 20's, you need to show off wearing hottie shoes while you can!

Are you planning to visit any churches ? Shorts are not acceptable at some - both of you should have at least your shoulders and knees covered, to be on the safe side.

The temperatures could be anywhere between 15 and 32 centigrade, so take a selection and plan to layer.

A suggestion - wear what you would wear in NYC for a weekend. The same rules apply - you will be walking a lot and don't want to kill your feet, and you are in a city not at the beach.

Why does no-one in America sell shoes that are comfortable and stylish? Is it too difficult?

Unless you are planning on spending a lot of money, I don't think shopping for shoes while in London is a great idea with the exchange rate being what it is...

Basketball shorts? With matching tank top and baseball cap askew I presume? And you are so worried about your shoes being ugly? LOL

I agree about the &quot;frumpy looking&quot; comfort shoes. I have really bad feet - plantar fascitis, high arch, etc.- and spend hours looking online for comfortable shoes that don't look like something my grandma would wear (oh, and I am a 50 year old grandma myself!). I love walking, but have so much trouble finding shoes that don't hurt either the top of my foot (I have a big bone that sticks up on top of my right foot, so straps don't work well for me), or ones that don't hurt the bottom of my heel. Also, I agree with the poster that said $50 a pair for shoes is a lot for her - I know I have never paid more than $40 for a pair of shoes. Maybe that is why my feet hurt, I know that some will say. I know someday I will break down and spend a lot of money on shoes, but right now it just doesn't work for me. Anyway, does anyone else have any adviceon buying shoes for similar foot problems short of going to a foot store to buy shoes? I love reading all the advice here. I hope happytoes has a great trip. Really, no one else is going to care what you look like. Do try to dress up a bit, but don't worry yourself over the details. Have a wonderful trip and enjoy yourselves is my advice!

The Sketchers I bought on sale for $60 are normally $90 which I think is outrageous for a pair of casual shoes. BUT when I think about how often I wear them as compared to shoes that cost less, I can consider them a bargain. They're probably cheaper in the US.

Ilovetotravel, the strap is Velcro'd closed so they can be made quite loose (or, I suppose you could even cut the strap right off). Would that help?

&quot;<i>Why does no-one in America sell shoes that are comfortable and stylish? Is it too difficult?</i>&quot;

That is definitely what these sorts of threads make it seem - huh? I don't get it.

But definitely NOT the case. We are not limited to either frumpy &quot;old lady support&quot; shoes or stylish foot killers. There are hundreds of styles that are decent and good looking. If one doesn't want to buy actual walking shoes, there are all sorts of flats and low heeled shoes everywhere from dirt cheap Payless Shoesource to upscale Nordstrom/Saks.

Happytoes - go to any Macy's and you'll find lots to choose from.

(the ONLY good thing about the basketball shorts is they are long and baggy - 15 years ago BB shorts were tight short shorts - now THAT would be a sight :) )

You don't have to dress differently. But I would most definitely check the weather just before you leave. Then pack from your own normal &quot;weekend wardrobe&quot; picking things that will be appropriate to the temperatures you'll be finding.

Fashion sense aside(!) it won't be fun if it is only 65 degrees and you have packed clothes for temps in the 90's.

When you say have something to wear in evening, do you mean pants/long sleeves for temperature wise or something more dressy for restaurants? We honestly don't plan to do any fancy or dressed up occassions. Also, in Amsterdam we might go to the Red Light District in the evening to see what it's all about. Are these places we can wear jeans or cargo pants (for me - girlie cargo pants) or are we suppose to be more on the business casual side?

If you're leaving in a week, take the most comfortable shoes you own that you love to walk in.
Don't try to break in a pair of walking shoes in a week. Unless you bring a nice supply of moleskins for your new blisters.

You definitely don't need to dress up to go the RLD in Amsterdam. Cargo pants and jeans are fine.

That goes for all of Amsterdam. Many of the tourists in Amsterdam are college age. They all wear jeans, shorts and cargo pants. Very informal.

happytoes

I have been to Amsterdam many times. I always wear jeans. If you are going to a high-end restaurant,(I don't), just wear a nice blouse with your jeans and shoes other than athletic type.