PatrickLondon

I wonder if this is coming from some quite deep origins? Something along the lines that more Americans than Europeans have good historical reasons both to be both anxious about fitting in when they go to a new place, and to feel that visual clues like clothing are important indicators to whether someone belongs or not. More Europeans than Americans may be more likely to be used to people just passing through, or being people who are passing through (as the Victorian nanny is supposed to have said to the little girl fussing about her party dress "There's nothing to worry about, dear, nobody's going to be looking at you anyway&quot. Other indicators would be used if it became important to make connections on anything other than a purely functional level.

SeaUrchin

OK, I have to come back to this thread. I am sure you are all referring to people in the big cites. Go to some of the smaller towns and cities and all/most of the ladies over 50 are in polyesther a-line skirts with generic flat shoes and a printed blouse with a cotton or wool cardigan. They are perfectly happy and content wearing this because it is classic, comfortable and the norm.

Also in these smaller towns they know who lives there so they will know you are a tourist, so what?

Chele60

"You can spend a fortune on what 'those-who-know' are wearing, but if you're not comfortable in it then you're going to look dreadful."

Tallulah, no truer words have been spoken! I know once I bought a dress at the last minute to go to a wedding. While the dress was nice and appropriate, it was style that I just wasn't suited to and I felt so uncomfortable through the entire event. It would have been much better to just wear something I'd already had on hand but felt comfortable in.

I think the same is true of traveling. Wearing clothing that is comfortable and appropriate for the occasion (no baggy khakis and rumpled t-shirts to a 5 star restaurant!) should be the foremost thing, IMO.

sandi

Being comfortable with your own style and knowing what is appropriate to wear depending on the occasion, is really all that matters.

While in France at the Pont du Gard we came across a group of teens on school break - until we got close up, we couldn't tell which were French, British or American. They were all dressed alike.

Another time, while lunching in Nice, a group of ladies were sitting nearby - could have been the "ladies who lunch" we see often in NYC. Again, until one of these women asked my luncheon companion where she got her handbag - did we realize this was a group of both French and American woman. And, a similar situation while we were out for dinner in Les Baux - three couples at the next table, were both French and American. You certainly couldn't tell from their attire. In fact, these couples thought we were French. That one gave us a good chuckle!

J_Correa

I think I will go shopping in Italy

I cannot stand to wander through department stores, pawing through clothing looking for what I want.

caroline_edinburgh

Chele60 : "I live in an area that is visited by people from around the world, and one can always pick out the Europeans. It's not that they dress obnoxiously, just different than what is norm." Just curious - what are the differences ? And where in Europe are these tourists from ?

ira

Hi CE,

>...one can always pick out the Europeans....Just curious - what are the differences ? <

The cut of the clothes is different. The colors are different. The shoes are different.

They don't carry themselves the same way. They don't walk the same way.

metellus

"The saleswoman retrieves the clothing for you. The do not like you to handle the clothing as we do here in the US. And the great thing is that one gets service in Italy, rather then having to paw through clothes as we have to except in the most upscale stores"

Yes, and that's one reason that you can actually afford to buy the clothes in American and you can't in Italy. I'd like to havea butler, but it's a lot cheaper to make my own coffee.

"They don't carry themselves the same way. They don't walk the same way."

If you applied this stereotyping to any negative attribute you would rightly be labeled a racist or bigot.

Florence

"Yes, and that's one reason that you can actually afford to buy the clothes in American and you can't in Italy. "


Last time I checked, Italians didn't go naked ...


"If you applied this stereotyping to any negative attribute you would rightly be labeled a racist or bigot"

What has noticing differences in the ways different populations move, wear clothes, or comb their hair, with racism and bigotry (or with a negative judgement) ?

caroline_edinburgh

Not very helpful, Ira. Different in what ways ?

NYCFoodSnob

I think these us-versus-them threads are the epitome of bad taste. I suspect the only reason the "snob" patrol hasn't reared it's bad-hair head is because I didn't start this thread.

Chele60

Caroline_edinburgh ~ the differences can be subtle enough and ira does give a good, though vague, description.

I'm located in So Cal where in summer, even in the midst of LA if it's hot one wears shorts. Period. Those from Europe are usually wearing slacks, though not jeans. This just seems the norm.

Also, the shoes are a dead give-away. Always dark, usually black. They look comfy, but sturdy - does that make sense? There are more and more Americans wearing dark athletic shoes, that's for sure, but these shoes are a, well, typical walking shoe.

There also is an air about them. I do believe I would say confidence, but not anything like being snobby or "superior." One thing I can say is tourists always seem to be willing to start a chat (unless they are trying to be on time for an appointment), and starting a conversation about their home country is terrific for both involved. I don't know that Americans are always as comfortable talking to people they don't know, except for asking directions and such. Europeans just seem more at ease with casual conversations. American tourists from other areas and those from Asia for some reason just seem to be more reserved. I guess it's a bit difficult to explain.

The tourists that we normally seem to get in this area seem to be primarily from the UK (England, actually, though some one from Scotland will get quite a bit of attention with the accent!) and Germany. Don't mean to sound stereotypical, but the Brits just seem more open and friendly but that could just boil down to the fact that we sort of speak the same general language.

We also see more and more tourists from "down under." The funny thing is, most people hear the Aussie accent and think it's British. I guess I would too, except that I was fortunate to have an Aussie houseguest for a while, so I'm more familar with it. (I can also mimic it quite well, and sometimes will start speaking with an Aussie accent when speaking to some one from Australia. But then, I do the same thing in the south!)

Hope that makes things a bit more clear?

NYCFoodSnob ~ Hadn't meant for this to be an "us vs them" type of thread. After reading so many threads from Americans fretting over what was appropriate to wear in Europe, and me having not yet been to Europe, I just wondered if Europeans gave as much consideraton to this as we here in the States seem to. My apologies if anyone thinks I'm trying to say one group of people are somehow better or worse than another. Not my intent at all.

walkinaround

this question/topic is far to general to illicit any interesting answers. Just a bunch of well known stereotypes and bad humour.

i'm not so sure that the sampling of americans fretting in fodors over what to wear in europe is particularly representative of the american population that travels to europe.

i think that most of the obsession over what to wear in europe is initiated and fuelled by those who deep down are ashamed of being american and shamed by americans who (gasp) look and act like americans when travelling to europe.

most have the naive, romantic view of europe of a university student who just returned from a semester abroad.

NYCFoodSnob

<i>&quot;Hadn't meant for this to be an &quot;us vs them&quot; type of thread.&quot;</i>

On this board, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. May your naivete and appetite for general observations end here.

metellus

&quot;Last time I checked, Italians didn't go naked ...&quot;

Yes, but they get paid in Euros.

julia_t

On a similar post &quot;do all europeans dress the same&quot;,I have said I never worry about what to wear when travelling/visiting other countries. OK, I am English, but I try to look reasonably smart (see other post for what I do pack and wear) - it seems it's only when I open my mouth people realise I'm not one of them....
PS - And it doesn't bother me either - I wear what I am comfortable in and ******** to what anyone else thinks!!! At least I am having a good time!

caroline_edinburgh

Chele60: that's interesting, thank you. Ignore certain people who think they are superior to the rest of us. Living in Edinburgh we must get a lot of visitors from the US and the rest of the world but I generally never notice a visible difference - on Princes Street on a Saturday afternoon, I don't think you can generally tell vistors from locals. The only time I notice is when the French are in town for the Six Nations (rugby) and I see lots of very chic -looking people in elegant coats and scarves - but then I suppose I'm looking out for them then ?

Florence

caroline_edinburgh :
&quot;Ignore certain people who think they are superior to the rest of us.&quot;

Ah Ha! you wish you could ! ;-)


Seriously, this is the best piece of advice on the matter. There's no reason at all to feel ashamed or out of place because you don't look like the locals in a country you're only going to spend a few days in. There's even less reasons to try to disguise your nationality.

Welcome to Europe, white sneakers and baseball cap included !

PatrickLondon

Romans in fashion faux pas shock horror!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...488287,00.html

kerouac

In my office in Paris, my colleagues do worry about one fashion item when they travel to the United States -- or rather the lack of the item. They always want to know &quot;Isn't there anywhere with a normal beach in the US where we can go topless?&quot; And I have to tell them that such places are few and far between.
In terms of other clothing, I have never heard anyone worry about what to where when going anywhere, at least no one over the age of 17.