Dressing like A Local
 

How do I dress like a local in London and Scotland? Does it vary? How do I not look like a tourist? How bad is the crime rate in these two countries? Which places should I avoid?

~~~~~~~bcnuineurope~~~~~~~

Don't show up in London with a tan. Stay out of the tanning booths. Wear dark clothes at night. I've noticed that most Europeans wear sold color clothes. Black shoes. Black coat. Black socks. Most younger Europeans are pretty thin. And as in most large cities, people walk rather fast--especially when they are going to work.

If you dress nice at home you'll dress nice in London. If you are a slob at home you'll be a slob in London. So what ever. I actually would avoid both places...there is no where safe to go anymore.

I've resigned myself to looking like an American. I *am* an American. I was trying to buy clothes that might be a little more appropriate for England. But my husband kept saying "you're not going to look like a local." So my goal now is just not to look like a *stupid* American. No fanny packs! No white tennies! Not that I wear either of these anyway, well, I guess my running shoes are white...

My mom is sending me her Ameribag to bring along. But I'm thinking I'll leave it at home - I suspect that's the new "fanny pack"!

>people walk rather fast
They are not, they are always standing in my way ;-). The rest of this thread is non.ense. Dress as you like, why would anybody care what you wear.......

Just curious Wally34949,
Why is it black?

By the way, is Urquarht (sp?) castle worth visiting? I read some place that it is a "scam" and totally and completely not worth visiting. Is this true? Thanks everyone!
~~~~~~~bcnuineurope~~~~~~~

In Scotland, don't forget your kilt and in London make sure to keep your Beefeater outfit nicely pressed and ready to go. ;)

Also, what is the crime rate like in England, especially London? I read off of Magellans.com to avoid subways and train stations for pick-pockets. Is there one place that I should particularly avoid? What about Scotland, near Loch Ness, and Edinburgh? Is there something I should not miss doing or seeing?

Thanks!
~~~~~~~bcnuineurope~~~~~~~

Hey, MichelleNYC,
This will be my first trip across the ocean, and at present I am virtually clueless as to the cultures in places I will be visiting. I don't even know any brittish slang,etc. However, I am doing as much research as I can get my hands on. Can you recommend any good web sites for info on Switzerland, Scotland, or England? Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks!
~~~~~~~bcnuineurope~~~~~~~ P.S. Do you have to be scottish to wear a kilt? Also, would I look inconspicuous if I wore a long skirt and blouse in England or Scotland?

I also think its amusing that people worry so much over this. I mean there are OBVIOUS touristy things to wear (i.e. a hawaiian shirt and fanny packs), but as long as you avoid the obvious, you'll find you blend in. Well, you'll blend in as much as someone with a loud accent, tons of guide books, a huge map and a lost expression on their face can. Any where you go you'll find people with different standards of dress. While its true that Europeans are generally better dressed, there are still plenty of grubby local people running around too.

If you walk totally naked, be prepared to spend one (or two) nights at a police station. ;-). They've got warm blankets for free!

Look.

We care what visitors wear about as much as Tony Blair cares about the truth of what he says (a unit of measurement generally accepted by most psychologists to be the lowest possible level of interest a human being is capable of).

And, to be honest (not a word often used in the same paragraph as "Tony Blair") no visitor could possibly dress as outlandishly as we do.

There simply isn't an offence against fashion, good taste or even basic decency most of us don't commit most of the time.

But what not only piss us off to distraction, but may under English law be chopped into little pieces instantly, are visitors who behave as if they're here on holiday or something.

This is a city. It's here for people to work. It's not here for visitors to stand on the left of the tube escalators when we want to get up and down them. We understand many are too thick to read the signs telling you not to. But that's not our fault. Standing in our way is hazardous to your health.

Similarly, standing round the entrance to tube platforms when there's 50 yards of empty space you can be lolling around in. The London Assembly is currently debating changing the law that allows these idiots to be pushed in front of trains into a law requiring all citizens to do that as a lesson to the rest of you. The change is controversial - but it might be passed into law before you arrive, so be warned.

Standing 4 abreast in the middle of a pavement (the English for "sidewalk") full of pedestrians trying to go about their business is a menace we're finally doing something about. Street sweeping vehicles are now being specially adapted to compress these lunatics into easily-disposed pellets. We've given the job to an Australian company, so the contract might run a few years late. But in the unlikely event the Ozzies pull their fingers out, don't hang around or you might be turned into fertiliser.

It all might sound a bit Draconian. But you're in far greater danger of an early visit to the grave by standing in the way of someone trying to get to a meeting (or to the pub before it closes) than by anything at all you might wear.

Though I'd avoid German or Argentine football shirts this summer.

CotswoldScouser:
What you've said sounds SO much like my dad!
Thanks so much!

~~~~~~~bcnuineurope~~~~~~~

Obviously, avoiding "touristy" dress and items like waistpacks* may help you blend-in a bit. But avoiding "touristy" behaviors will help too. Sorry, fellow Americans, but one of these traits is being LOUD in inappropriate places. Another is being needlessly lost, when a bit of map studying before venturing out would help.

(*PLEASE don't call them "fanny packs" in the UK. You don't want to know why.)

>>".~~~~~~~bcnuineurope~~~~~~~ P.S. Do you have to be scottish to wear a kilt? Also, would I look inconspicuous if I wore a long skirt and blouse in England or Scotland?<<"

Maybe......are you a guy or a girl?

Larry J

hey, I can help on the Switzerland websites question, back a few posts.

Most towns have tourist websites with addresses that go like:
www.vevey.ch
www.montreux.ch

just dress like a normal person. doesn't matter man or woman. wear some pants, a shirt, a jacket if the weather merits. wear some shoes too.

take the advice above not to shout in english, speak softly to each other.

also don't read your maps on a street corner clogging up commuter and pedestrian traffic.

Am I in the minority, I dont think Europeans on the whole dress more stylishly than Americans on the whole.

I don't know why one should blend in either, if you are dressed nicely that is enough, be yourself.

IMHO

If you want to look like an Englishwoman:

1. Smell like an old bowl of porridge.
2. Wear a wooly jumper full of holes.
3. Rub yellow wax into your teeth.
4. Walk around in Gertrude Jekyll gardening boots.
5. Match your blouses to wainscoting and brown William Morris wallpaper.
6. Put on an Eva Gabor wig from 1972.

If you want to look like Mrs. Beckham, do all of the above but in brighter colors and add a tongue ring.

Cheers.

Good luck in trying to look like a local in Scotland. I lived in Scotland for three years. I am of Celtic heritage and look it. I bought clothes and shoes at Scottish stores. I am not loud and boisterous. Scots could always peg me as a North American (Yank or Canadian) without hearing me speak. I think it's body language, personal space and other things we cannot control.

CotswoldScouser, Australian companies doing business in England try to be good corporate citizens and adapt to local custom. That's why they slow their already leisurely pace to a crawl. I just hope that this company is given a chance to use its pelletising technology on the tourists who obstruct Sydney's footpaths (Australian for "pavements"). Good luck with the experiment.

bcnuineurope, I've been told that American visitors who wear kilts in Scotland may be subject to random underwear inspections. Underwear, whether plain or lacy, is not permitted under any circumstances.

Hey, suze
Thanks so much for helping me out! I really appreciate it. Here locally, one lady has been to scotland and England, and gave me some good info. We're getting together soon.

Thanks everybody!

~~~~~~~bcnuineurope~~~~~~~

I'm not sure why one would want to look like a local (anywhere; this is not about the Brits); why not look like oneself? And can someone please explain what's wrong with white athletic shoes? I can see that the fanny pack is an invitation to pick-pockets, but what's the problem with white shoes (despite their showing dirt)?

Not sure why people are concerned about looking like a local. Take my word for it, YOU WILL NOT, and you will never. And even if you think you do on the surface, the locals will suss you out in a heartbeat. Criminals and fun loving locals are pro's at this. Better to spend you time taking proper safety precautions similar to what you would do at 'home'.

Because white shoes and butt packs look dorky.

I think you should have a t-shirt specially made for your trip that says "I'm with Stupid" in 7 languages.

I found this worked pretty well:

Baggy flannel trousers
A jacket with elbow patches and the pockets brimming with papers
Footwear should be right out of a 1930s Noel Coward movie
The Old School tie is <i>de rigeur</i>
Minimal rouge on the cheeks
Affect a tobacco pipe
Carry three or four hardbound books under the arm

<i>Ooooh</i>~ Robes, you will be recognised by the crowd of girls around you :)

I was feeling a bit down tonight until I decided to check Fodor's and clicked on this thread. Thank you all very much!

Robes, you really know how to dress.

Robes forgot the &quot;walk around arm and arm with a dumpy wife&quot; part.

How not to look like a tourist in London? Simple. If you are a man, wear a suit and carry an attache case. Look like you are in a hurry to get to a meeting. Avoid all tourist attractions.

A few more suggestions: if you are female, wear equivalent business attire. Never stand on the tube escalators - always run or walk briskly, pushing aside the dumb tourists who are standing on the left.

For Scotland: in Edinburgh a suit or business attire should also work. Elsewhere in Scotland, and in the English countryside, wear a Barbour jacket, but on no account wear a new one - if it doesn't have frayed sleeves and several holes, drag it behind your mud-splattered Land Rover until it looks at least ten years old. Note: in Kensington and Chelsea a new Barbour and clean Land Rover are acceptable.

Thanks Heimdall!
I'll be sure to keep these things in mind!

~~~~~~~bcnuineurope~~~~~~~

Review reruns of &quot;Keeping Up Appearances&quot; Identify with the character you most resemble and follow their fashion sensibilities after all they are &quot;British&quot;.

Keep in mind also that if you are in a big city such as London, the locals there are working during the week and will be in work clothes. You are on vacation, so you won't look like them unless you decide to dress as if you are going to work as well. If you are in touristy areas within the city, you will see people dressed like you.

xxx30:

The poster (heavens knows why, but it takes all sorts) wants to look like a local in London.

What's that got to do with looking British?

Just a couple of things. If someone walks up to you and says, Do you have a fag, don't say, I'm straight.

Don't walk up to the ladies and say I like your fanny pack. It's just not a good way to start a conversation.

And try Faggot, especially in a restaurant.

In the 80's , if you asked in Spain how to look like a local in London, probably they have answered that dressing like a punk was the solution :) Most punkies went to London then to buy their clothes :)
Seriously, I think there's no way to know who is a londoner and who is not, except if they don't speak english :)

Seriously, (unlike my previous posts) today's Britain is a multicultural society. On every visit to London I marvel at all the different languages and forms of dress I encounter, and that's just from the residents. No one should worry about looking like a tourist - if you are standing in front of Buckingham Palace, after all, you are probably a tourist, so why not look like one?

Dress up a bit in the evenings, especially if dining in a fancy restaurant, going to the theatre, etc, but otherwise wear whatever is comfortable.

As for looking like an American, well, I have lived in England for over 30 years and wear mostly English clothes. I was in the antique maps department of Harrods the other day, and the assistant asked me if I was interested in American maps. How did she know? They just do! Don't worry about it.