Desert_Sue

At a Milan hotel, I saw two well-dressed Americans who were screaming at the hostess at breakfast because there wasn't American food offered. Even though they were dressed appropriately, their behavior was appalling. It's not always about what you wear.

Don't be a tourist; be a traveler. Experience things as they are, not as you want them to be.

JJ5

Bravo to the OP.

Style is still completely subjective to culture.

Just wear appropriate for the activity and surroundings you will be in- and watch the exposed skin and don't dwell or obsess on style at all. And I'm totally with Love Italy as I wear the exact same clothes relative to climate on any continent.

And although I don't own a pair of white gym shoes, that's all my best friend will wear for walking days. And I prefer to judge her by her behavior rather than by what she wears or how she looks. And as I am a well mannered tourist or guest, I don't feel like I have to worry about what there reaction to ME is, I don't re-form myself to placate or for reactability reasons. If others want to, fine- but some of us are originals and want to stay that way.

AisleSeat

If you really want to blend in you have to get t-shirts that say "I'm with Stupid" in German, French and Italian to wear in the appropriate country.

Eloise

JJ5: Wearing white gym shoes is "original"?!?

Incidentally, I wear the same thing in comparable settings on both continents as well. I live in a cosmopolitan city and dress accordingly. When I am in a cosmopolitan city such as Rome, I also dress accordingly -- in the same clothes that I wear at home. I would no more wear white gym shoes downtown at home than I would in Rome.

Clifton

I don't guess I understand.

Is there someone running around here telling traveling people what to wear - who <i>didn't</i> ask?

And in the spirit of people everywhere wearing the same thing, I wonder if the unsolicited &quot;fitting in&quot; fashion advice (if such advice really exists) to someone, say, asking if it was ok to wear her sari to Rome?

JJ5

Eloise, you misread. I don't own a pair of white gym shoes. I happen to wear what is right for ME. MY FRIEND wears white gym shoes and I don't choose her for what she wears. I am my own style- whatever that is- and always have been.

Eloise

JJ5: No, I don't think I misread. I would assume that you would make the same claim to the right to be an &quot;original&quot; for your friend with the white gym shoes as you would for yourself. Or are you only crediting yourself with being an &quot;original&quot;?

JJ5

And oh yes, Clifton, there are always people here and also OFF of Fodors that will try to relate what you MUST wear to fit in, or how &quot;people&quot; feel about you if you don't. Lots of people who are fashion driven do ask, but many of us JUST don't and we still hear critics repeatedly downmouth the uncultured American tourist outfit.

And that was a very savvy comment about the sari. Some of our tourists and visitors coming to my college campus have inappropriate clothing for the activities or meetings, and yet I would never react negatively or rudely to them because of it.

It seems that there is a dichotomy of judgment depending upon who is the supposed &quot;transgressor&quot;.

JJ5

I would never claim to call my friend original or include her in any fashion &quot;category&quot; or judge her by that avenue. I just don't pick my friends that way. And yes, I am far more original than the fashion driven. And that may not be good either, but I really don't care who likes it or not unless it would maybe be a potential client or a significant other. And I've done just fine there too, thank you. I've worn the same type of style since I've been in my 20's. I am a very small person and I don't follow fashion trends at all, they are mostly marketed by men anyway, and for reasons that I have no interest for aspiration.

SeaUrchin

Well, we have to face it, there are those people who have no sense of style, dont't want a sense of style, don't need a sense of style and simply wear what they want no matter how they look (and are perfectly happy). Then there are those who dress to make themselves look their best.

I don't think either of these camps of people are going to change so let's not worry about it.

And it isn't just USA citizens either, people on this board are mostly widely travelled and should realize this.

Eloise

JJ5: What leads you to believe that anything that I have posted has to do with &quot;fashion trends&quot;?

And you really should learn about correct paragraphing. Unless you meant to imply that a woman wearing a sari would be inappropriately dressed for activities and meetings at your college...

Pausanias

&quot;And it isn't just USA citizens either, people on this board are mostly widely travelled and should realize this.&quot;

Too true -- I'll never forget the sight of German tourist in New York, walking down Fifth Ave with his pale, hairy legs sprouting from bright green gym shorts, ending in, of course, socks and sandals . . .

JJ5

No, but the comments are made about Americans far more than about Europeans or Asians coming to American cities. If my first post was read correctly, it is self-explanatory. And a comment about the white gym shoe trait for some older or less &quot;cultural&quot; American- well it is certainly THEIR fashion trend that is offending, it seems to many.

And yes, a sari is not appropriate for an aerobics activity, picnic, bbq given for the first day of school- especially if one is seen cavorting on a volleyball court with the wraparound effect &quot;not working&quot; accidentally/on purpose. But that, although embarrassing for some would not be commented on in any sense, in the same way.

But as the OP says, we ARE tourists. And as such, am the customer to their services. Services for which they get paid. I have to be a mannerly guest, I do not have to be invisible.

Eloise

Isn't that what everyone's argument for &quot;freedom&quot; and &quot;originality&quot; always comes down to in the end: the almighty dollar?

You'd be surprised how little most Europeans are impressed by &quot;the almighty dollar&quot;...

JJ5

Eloise, you are off the subject completely. And the Europeans I know so well are my relatives. And how they feel about Americans is as varied as they are.

Rome was hated, England was hated, the Netherlands was super hated during their hegemonies. It has much more to do with economic factors than it has to do with offending them in costume.

When you are traveling and visiting other countries, you do learn to see the individual and not just their nationality. That's one of the best things about it. Respect the rules of Rome, but be yourself. And be happy with what YOU are anywhere you are or change it.

MissPrism

The ancient Romans wore socks with sandals.
Let us defend to the death the rights they gave to us.
Personally, I can't see why some people hate the idea of dressing to look nice rather than looking like an unmade bed or a blot on the landscape, but that's just my eccentric opinion,

jules4je7

If you read this post backwards, it says white shoes are the devil.



Jules

kjosker

In all my travels, white shoes, blue jeans just didn't matter; the only color that mattered was the color of my money. Shown the color of my money, the locals all welcomed me with open arms. I don't care what they thought or felt towards me, as long as they prostituted themselves to take my money for what I wanted, a meal, entertainment or lodging. That's OK with me and it was sure OK with them.

Budman

I don't think anybody really cares or gives it any thought what people wear in Europe except maybe the &quot;Neiman-Marcus&quot; crowd.

The only time I can remember when I ever did a double-take regarding what somebody was wearing was when I was in Dingle last year. There were two guys in a car park, looked like brothers, wearing cowboy boots, 10 gallon hats, and leather vests -- the kind with all the little tassles hanging from it. I just smiled to myself and walked across the street to Murphy's to have a Guinness.

Then there was this group of guys &amp; gals in London with the spiked orange, green, purple, and yellow hair with piercings &amp; tattoos all over their bodies.

ira

&gt;In all my travels, ... the only color that mattered was the color of my money. &lt;

Siiiiiiiggggggggghhhhhhhhh.

&gt;That's OK with me and it was sure OK with them. &lt;

The first part of the sentence is indubitably true.

The second part is open to argument.