packing...
 

I will be in Belgium for an entire year, I have attempted to look online to see what people generally wear there, but I have had no luck. If anybody can give me any advice as to what styles to pack, and how much it would be great! Another question I am running into is I have heard that in some european towns it isn't uncommon to wear the same outfit twice before washing it... is that true?

First...most of Europe is no different than the USA. Belgium may be even closer. As to clothing; economic strata will dictate wardrobes. I see professionals in the same gear many days. Custom is to return home and change clothing saving the working uniform for another day. Students...that is another story. Older Europeans are still suffering the pangs of WWII. You could assemble seasonable wardrobes and have them shipped to you as needed.

&quot;<i>Another question I am running into is I have heard that in some european towns it isn't uncommon to wear the same outfit twice before washing it... is that true?</i>&quot;

That seems an odd thing to &quot;hear&quot;. IMHO that is pretty standard all over the world. In very hot/humid places things may have to be laundered after every wearing - but other than underwear and such most clothing can be worn more than once - or a few times - between laundering.

Depending on your budget - you are probably better off just taking a basic wardrobe and getting new things as you learn what is in style where you are living.

I wear the same outfit many more times than &quot;twice&quot; before washing.

Yes, it is true in my experience that europeans are less laundry-obsessed than americans. Shake things out the end of the day, hang them to air out. Wash you undies, t-shirts, etc. in the sink.

What styles to pack, I say take your best clothes that you normally wear. Your favorite things from home will be OK in Belgium.

I don't know what you normally wear at home, but if you are from the USA, it's really not much different. What are you going to be doing in Belgium? Will you be living in a city, country? Underwear is washed daily (at least, I don't know anyone who doesn't!) but some things you can really wear more than once; do you wash jeans after wearing them once?

What are you going to be doing in Belgium?

If it is office work then wash your undies as you would at home and rotate your shirts, ties, slacks, or suits. SOSO as in the USA.

If you are a student bring plenty of Levis and sell them to your classmates for a nice profit.

LOL Hopscotch; it's true that most casual clothes are much cheaper in the USA. And brands like Gap and Abercrombie are not available here, but still very popular. The local alternatives to clothes like that are much more expensive.

I'll be spending my first year of college there studying. I have never worn something twice without washing it in between; I guess I just didn't ever really think about it.

You may find that the washing machines and dryers are smaller and way less efficient than US ones so it may make washing towels, jeans, etc. after every use a huge pain.

&quot;<i>it may make washing towels, jeans, etc. after every use a huge pain.</i>&quot;

Make that &quot;it may make washing towels, jeans, etc. after every use a <b><u>huge pain</u></b>&quot;.

But honestly - do you really wash everything after each wearing? Probably not &quot;weird&quot; - but my guess is you've never had to pay your own water/gas/electric bills. Just a guess :)

Student attire here is generally quite grungy. However, there is a bourgeois brigade of students with permatans and pearls and kind of a preppy look. It depends what &quot;type&quot; you fall into I guess.

You are not compelled to wear dirty clothes here! Wash your clothes as you see fit. I get a heavy discount from my dry cleaner at this stage...but I'm just generally messy.

I studied overseas for a year and ended up taking too much stuff. I also bought clothes while I was there. I had to buy a suitcase at the end of my trip and ended up shipping a suitcase and a couple of boxes back home when I returned.

If you can get away with 2 suitcases for all your stuff, that would be ideal. Remember that you'll probably buy some clothes there.

Belgium is pretty bad from a shopping perspective. It's generally expensive and lacking in choice. Though I presume you will take trips to Paris etc.

StrattDa: I'm curious about your laundry comment. Please clarify. Was it actually you who washes every item of clothing between wearings, or your mother? :)

My neice has lived in Europe twice. She worked in London about five years ago and last year was in school in Copenhagen for the year. She just took her normal clothes and was fine. She sent a lot of pictures home and the kids she was with were dressed pretty much like she was...jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, etc. When she was in Copenhagen, we visited her right after Christmas and my brother and SIL took a huge suitcase for her of additonal clothes and of course food items that she was missing and couldn't get there or were just outragously expensive if she could find them.

She had to ship stuff back home. She started to send stuff home about two months before she returned. She had her parents send additional jeans over to her because she lost weight while she was there, all the walking. She had jeans from her London stint and then she gained weight when she got home so they were just hanging in her closet, so when she needed smaller jeans they just sent those over to her.

http://www.fuse.be/

If you go to &quot;pictures&quot; on this site you will see how people look when they go out dancing...ok - its Brussels &quot;techno temple&quot; but it will give you and idea.

and on this site you will find the more &quot;preppy&quot; look
http://www.jeuxdhiver.be/

&quot;I have never worn something twice without washing it in between;&quot;

Well then, it's time to start! ;-)

Seriously, for outer wear there is no reason to be so wash-crazy. It's a very American trait.

I am in the wear-multiple-times-between-washings camp too. Your clothes will last longer, you will spend less time doing your laundry, and you will use less water, electricity, and soap. All around, it just makes sense to wear things more than once.

Both my parents always have; and my older sister does also; So I guess it is a family thing maybe... I never would have really thought about it until friends at school told me that they don't wash jeans each time either.

StrattDa; if you are going to be living in student accomodation, and have to do your own laundry (and pay for it), I'm sure you don't want to wash everything after wearing once!

Have a great time in Belgium. If you need any more info, let us know.