Dress code - more formal than rest of Europe?
 

Hi

My wife and I will be traveling to Portugal (Lisbon and southern coast) and I was wondering if I can get away with a shoe like the following during the day

http://www.thedailysnkr.com/images/nike_free.jpg

In the evening, I'll use my usual black leather casual shoes.

Thanks!

Do Portuguese fashion police have powers of arrest? If not, wear whatever makes you and your feet happy.

You DO have to worry about the Fashion Police when you misplace red bags :-)

Read JeanneB's delightful trip report on Italy and Paris -

Here's a teaser...
And then we saw them. The conductor coming up the aisle followed by two carabinieri. But these were no ordinary police. Very intimidating, all in black, with helmets and armored vests. And they had their hands on their pistols! My friend chuckled that the "Fashion Police" were hot on my trail now!!

I wore a very similar sneaker in southern Portugal.

Like the previous poster said. Wear what you like. I think as Americans (and there I go assuming again!) we are too worried about what other countries will think about our dress. They don't change when they come over here. You see middle eastern people wearing turbins and Europeans dressing like Europeans. I guess we have reason to blend in though.

Yes, you can.
The no-nos I can think of are:
1. never, ever use open sandals with socks.
2. never, ever use your black leather shoes with white socks. Black or dark blue socks are ok.

> never, ever use your black leather shoes with white socks.<

Can I wear black socks with my white, high topped Keds?

((I))

Dye your hair, Ira, and you'll belnd right in.

Hi I,

Any suggestions for colors?

Black. Just black.

Hello, I leave in Lisbon, believe Lobo_Mau... and be aware that your Nike shoes will be very well for "tourism", but not for a Casino or a fancy Restaurant. Here you will be judged all the time by the way you look.

Thanks for the assurances. Of course, I never expected to be arrested :) but I still do not want to be the only person around with "loud" shoes, either.

In the end, my wife probably won't let me take them anyway.

Of course I'll let you take them, sweetie! If you're okay with wearing electric blue shoes with a hot pink Nike swish, then I'm okay with it too.

Just don't forget the black leather ones. :^)

Hey there,
I actually went to Lisbon (Lisboa en Portugues) twice this past summer, as I loved it so much. From pictures, movies, etc. it seems to remind me a lot of San Francisco with all its hills and electricos (trams on the wire). Make sure you have good walking shoes regardless of what they look like. People there are amazingly friendly, and those I met did not seem judgemental of clothing and fashion. I highly recommend a restaurant called Ribadouro, a dentist I met while there--now any amazing friend--invited me to this restaurant. It is world-renowned, serves great seafood, but my favorite was the "Prego especial sandwich" with Sagres beer. It's like the best steak sandwich with fresh garlic. The restaurant is on Avenida Liberdad, I believe in a white building. = ) Let us know if you go!!!!!!

Those are a little bright. Do they come in brown?

Thanks for the restaurant suggestion, smilinsnoboarder. I'll definitely put it on my list.

About the color, the shoes do come in brown and black so I may get one of those if I start feeling self-conscious before the trip. Though electric blue may complement my complexion better!

One word of caution on shoes in Portugal - I found that only rubber soled shoes worked well on the lovely but miserable to walk on marble and cobblestone sidewalks, roads, etc. all over Lisbon. Pretty much had to ignore my leather soled flats - way too slippery for me! Claire

Those trainers are fine for Lisboa. Many young people wear colorful Puma and Addidas trainers.

Bom Dia.