Proper attire for a 17 year old boy traveling to Europe
 

My 17 year old son will be traveling to Europe with a school group this summer.
I need suggestions on clothing and footwear to purchase for him to wear.
He thinks the jeans and cowboy boots he wears everyday will be fine and sees no need for anything else.

Well, I wear jeans most places too...so I'm inclined to let that go, at least if they don't have ridiculous holes or something. Maybe convince him to pack a few collared shirts to "dress up" jeans? Assuming your Jean objection is about aesthetics, and not comfort.

I'd buy him cargo shorts for really hot days and so he has pockets. Try to get the quick dry kind- very, very useful, especially if they go to the beach or get caught in the rain.

I'd also buy extra socks and underwear. Maybe a hat if he burns and he thinks he'd wear it.

Cowboy boots sound painful, though. They will be doing a lot of walking and perhaps ask him what the most walking he's done in his boots is? If they really are his everyday boots and he walks a lot, and is used to heat, maybe that's ok. But I'm guessing he drives a lot at home. Does your family go on vacations that involve a lot of walking? What does he wear then? I can walk further in my boots than, say, flip flops, but I leave them home when I travel because they're annoying to take off in airports and bulky to pack.

2 things-

1) don't buy him much stuff he doesn't wear at home because I guarantee he'll just live in whatever you let him bring out of his everyday stuff. This goes for shoes doubly- when I was younger I let some family members guilt me into leaving my "unstylish" hiking shoes at home. I knew better, but gave in and took more "cute stuff". 3 days in, I had massive blisters and a lot of pain. His well broke in cowboy boots just MIGHT be more comfortable than the brand new shoes you might give him. Comfort and habit are often better for travel than trying out new stuff on the move.

And 2: I think you might just be overthinking this. He'll be surrounded by his peers and they will all be dressed like they are at home. In other words, jeans and tshirts lol.

I see no need to make a shopping trip for a 17-year-old going to Europe. Kids the world over wear the same garb - jeans and comfortable tops. As noted, the cowboy boots will only work if he can comfortably walk 10+ miles a day in them. He'd also probably be better off with less bulky footwear, if only from the packing viewpoint. But unless he's going to meet royalty he doesn't need any sort of special clothing whatsoever. Just something waterproof, a few layers to account for unexpected bad weather, and familiar, comfortable stuff.

"Europe" is still a pretty huge place.
Weather in July can be anything from smoking hot to miserably rainy and cool.
If you know to which countries the group goes, you may get more precise answers.

Denim? IN Europe??? Oh, DEFINITELY!!!!

It's a waste of time (and money) challenging the style preferences of a 17 year old travelling with peers. And we Europeans won't care what an American school group wears. We just hope that they are well-mentored and not rowdy.

Take note of what Cowboy says, and make sure that what he packs is appropriate for the weather he might experience.

Tell him to take a few hours hiking in the boots and then see how he feels. I took my lightweight winter boots once. They were the ones I wore everyday walking the dogs so I thought they would be fine. WRONG !

If he insists, make sure he also takes a pair of tennis/running shoes.

I know some who wear boots pretty much daily year round -- so that would be fine IF they are very broken in and VERY comfortable for serious walking.

If not (and I suspect he doesn't typically walk 6 to 10 miles a day on cobblestone in his cowboy boots) -- then substitute nike's/athletic shoes. Other than that let him wear what ever he wants/is comfortable in.

Good socks are important.

does he have a "thing" about his height? If so he may need a little patience. I lived for 3 years in cowboy boots but I have to admit to prefering them on a knackered old bicycle to walking.

one thing to note is that generally Europeans don't wear hats indoors or indeed in cars, let alone churches (unless women), some do of course but if he is not used to this he may spot the odd smirk.

During my last trip to Paris, I've noticed a common fashion pattern among European teenagers:

1-Slim-fitted jeans that are rolled over at the ankles
2-White Stan Smith shoes or Superga sneakers.

The French tend to dress up their denim with nice sneakers or formal shoes/boots, not the bulky white basketball shoes.
That said, people won't care what your son will be wearing unless he's committing a real fashion faux-pas such as sandals with socks. (Though I hear that's acceptable in Germany)

Agree that you really need to check out the wheer where he will be going. In Italy or pain you will get temps in the 90s and a lot of humidity.

In scandinavia or Scotland it can be quite cool (we were in Edinburgh one July when the temps were in the 40 s and it was windy/raining sideways - so we wore about 4 layer. But you can also get warm sonny weather vern there.

If he's going with a group don't they provide a detailed itinerary and info on the weather where they will be doing?

And do emphasize the amount of walking which he may not be used to - 10 miles a day is NOT a lot and cobblestones are not great for sandals or anything with heel that's not perfectly flat. And this is COMFORT - not fashion.

In Scandinavia it can be quite hot, I spend most summers there and only can remember one summer where it was very cool. I was in Copenhagen yesterday and the temps were a very balmy 72F. You need to be prepared for all weather as you can never predict it.

Loaker, do not assume what some Parisian teenagers are wearing is what all European, or even all French, teenagers are wearing.

If your son is used to jeans, and wearing them in heat then let him wear his jeans. If he wears something other than jeans in the summer let him wear those instead. Shoes are more important, for his own comfort. Include a lightweight waterproof jacket, and a sweatshirt for if it is cool or wet.

Thanks for the advice.
They will be going to London, Paris, Germany, Rome ect.
He wears jeans in the heat here so he should be OK.
I do worry about him doing all the walking in his tall boots with cowboy heels. He wears them all the time and says they will be fine on the trip but I wish I could talk him into getting some sensible walking shoes.

Doesn't he own sneakers? Just get him to take those as his "spares" which is probably a good idea anyway, just in case something happens to the boots.

And (unless you live in a really hot/muggy climate) I'd probably make him take a pair of lightweight khakis or cargo shorts just in case. Better to be safe than sorry. But then again, I've known some farm guys who can wear jeans and boots in 90+ weather.

>> He thinks the jeans and cowboy boots he wears everyday will be fine and sees no need for anything else. <<

He is absolutely right. Jeans are normal here in Europe, but with the cowboy boots he will definitely look American - but certainly in a good way and much better than the "ugly tourist" with khakis, sneakers and a baseball cap. He will look authentic.

I can hardly imagine a situation for a school group that his attire would be inappropriate. The only thing is that he should be aware that his boots must be comfortable enough to walk several miles a day. Exploring European cities means lots of walking.

""ugly tourist" with khakis, sneakers and a baseball cap..." :)

Last August our (American) son and his Spanish and Romanian friends, all 18 and schooled in Europe, roamed Paris, Madrid, Vienna and Bucharest dressed in khaki shorts, Vans-type sneakers, and baseball caps.

"Ugly?" Really? They're 18 year old guys. What should they wear to look, "authentic?"

Your son will be quite a conversation piece with his cowboy boots. This may not necessarily be a bad thing and, in fact, may be the starter for great conversations that could influence his thinking on world affairs. Or his boots might give him blisters. Whatever, make sure he has a second pair of comfortable shoes with him as well as a bottle of suntan lotion.

Do not listen to any of the Europeans fussing about style. Most Europeans dress as bad or worse than any American stereotype and European teenagers are far worse than average. There's a reason the term "Eurotrash" came into being.

There is no "appropriate" tour clothing. Let the boy wear what he wants. And when he goes to (most) churches or cathedrals, he'll be allowed to enter in jeans, unlike his fellows in shorts and any girls baring their shoulders.

If he says he can walk all day, every day, in his boots, then I would be tempted to:

1) let him (his feet, his problem)
2) suggest/insist he pack a second pair of shoes (whatever pair of trainers/sneakers/athletic shoes he now owns)
3) pack some moleskin and bandaids in his bag

It would be interested if you returned, after his trip, to tell us what happened.