Sneaker ban?
Mar 28th, 2003, 08:35 AM
#21
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Doing a quick poll around my office here in London.<BR><BR>We're mostly aged 22-34, a design agency so we're more casually dressed than most offices and I can see (out of 6 people in eyeshot) 4 pairs of jeans, one denim skirt and one pair of khaki combats. On the feet, I can see 3 pairs of trainers (fashion, rather than suitable for anything more active than walking to the pub), and 3 pairs of boots (black and brown).<BR><BR>Having said that, our overweight 40+ managing director is wearing white trainers (as it's Friday) and we all think she looks ridiculous.<BR><BR>I think it's how you wear them.
Mar 28th, 2003, 08:45 AM
#22
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We just returned from Spain where we did see a lot of jeans on younger people. What appears to be in there are very tight jeans with a slightly flared leg, with a bleached looking stripe down the front and back of each leg. Sneakers, tennis shoes whatever you call them are not the Avia, New Balance, Reebok white shoe that most of us in the US are used to. Rather there are a lot of the lowling shoe look which I suspect are not meant for walking comfort.<BR><BR>EnglishOne--Could you please enlighten an American as to exactly what the word "fanny" means, and how it would be used? I am familiar with the word "bum" and its use, but I never knew that "fanny" is offensive.
Mar 28th, 2003, 08:57 AM
#23
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Don't ask for a definition of "fanny" or this thread will get pulled 
<BR><BR>In London, it always seems to me that the only people in jeans are under 30--maybe even under 25. I'm middle-aged (egad, I think that's the first time I've typed that--awful!)and I never see women my age in jeans and tennis shoes, except in line at the half-price ticket booth and they aren't speaking with an English accent--so I don't wear them either.<BR><BR>In Paris, I would just never think to wear jeans. Again, I only see them on under-30's. <BR><BR>However, at home I live in my jeans on weekends!
<BR><BR>In London, it always seems to me that the only people in jeans are under 30--maybe even under 25. I'm middle-aged (egad, I think that's the first time I've typed that--awful!)and I never see women my age in jeans and tennis shoes, except in line at the half-price ticket booth and they aren't speaking with an English accent--so I don't wear them either.<BR><BR>In Paris, I would just never think to wear jeans. Again, I only see them on under-30's. <BR><BR>However, at home I live in my jeans on weekends!
Mar 28th, 2003, 09:01 AM
#24
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Hi Julies! Of course I'll enlighten you. 'Fanny' is a course word for (how can I put this - sorry..) female genitalia. Its not a terrible swearword such as the f word, but its on a par with, say, using the word c-ck or p--ck to represent the male bits. So therefore its not nice - especially in female company. I think older people would definitely find it offensive! but having said that, american english words are generally quite well known over here - daiper (nappy) hood (bonnet) faucet (tap) because of USA TV/movies. With the younger set - they would probably just find the phrase 'fanny pack' funny!
Mar 28th, 2003, 09:02 AM
#25
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MelJ:<BR><BR>I am 32. My mom is 52 (and Italian) and she has just arrived at my offige showing me her new buys: two pair of jeans, one traditionally blue, the other red. She will wear them with her new pair of sneakers. My colleaguess age (colleages listed above) range from 31 to 38.
Mar 28th, 2003, 09:02 AM
#26
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"Fanny" is UK slang for an extremely intimate part of the female anatomy. Thus the look of horror on certain people's faces when they hear Americans casually throwing around the term "fanny pack"....
Mar 28th, 2003, 09:11 AM
#28
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Genesea<BR><BR>You wrote: "I don't know if you've been to France lately, but the "man's purse" is quite popular and generally is a fanny pack"<BR><BR>This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode in which George's father invents the man-siere or aka 'The Bro'.<BR><BR>Helps me to understand why the French are not willing to fight but are willing to get paid for 'rebuilding' Iraq.<BR><BR>MM
Mar 28th, 2003, 09:14 AM
#30
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Glad to cheer your day up Michelle! 
<BR>Funnily enough, Fanny is also a first name here in England, but its an oldie - ie. you won't find anyone under the age of about 100 with it - I wonder why!!!!
<BR>Funnily enough, Fanny is also a first name here in England, but its an oldie - ie. you won't find anyone under the age of about 100 with it - I wonder why!!!!
Mar 28th, 2003, 09:16 AM
#31
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EnglishOne:<BR><BR>In Italy (or at least in Milano, since I have not found it in Tuscany) there is an equivalent: Bernarda. Not so vulgar, more of a hjoke, but it is a female name (very much out of fashion) which also means... Her!
Mar 28th, 2003, 10:24 AM
#33
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Michelle..hehe... always a good one for comedians to make a 'double entendre' out of that one! Bit like 'Are you being served' (English 70s sitcom - I think they show it in USA) - with Mrs Slocombe and her (pussy..Cat!).. It was quite racey for the time!
Mar 28th, 2003, 11:23 AM
#35
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Michelle, the American man's name Randy also raises a smile in the UK.<BR>I believe that the American equivalent is "horny". You can imagine the reaction to "Hi, I'm Randy".<BR>An American friend of mine said that she saw a ladies' department in a London Marks and Spencers reduced to silence when a loud American voice asked "Does my fanny look big in this?"
Mar 28th, 2003, 11:45 AM
#36
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<BR><BR>Some of what people are stating, or saying, or trying to impose upon others is their own sense of style. (and there's nothing wrong with that.)<BR><BR>I say - wear what you want. Just be comfortable, and don't drool when you eat.
Mar 28th, 2003, 12:22 PM
#37
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Sylvia - liked that one!! <BR><BR>Its one of those words that kind of makes you freeze when you hear it shouted out loud! The poor woman probably wondered what was wrong. I wonder if theres any words we say over there thats inappropriate?! I alway use the term 'bathroom' when in USA - toilet is frowned on I think. It sounds nicer anyway. I think we should adopt it!
Mar 28th, 2003, 12:53 PM
#38
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I see a lot of descriptions of what the French, Italians, and Brits wear, but how about more about what Spaniards wear? Seems the "sneakers" in Spain, if I read the comment above right, are not of the casual, sporty variety elsewhere. Would a pair of Asics running shoes be out-of-line in Spain? I find them immensely comfortable and, after getting a blister once in Rome from wearing more stylish leather shoes, I'm ready for comfort if it won't break any unofficial Spanish dress code.
Mar 28th, 2003, 02:08 PM
#39
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English One--<BR>Thanks for enlightening us from the US. Now I'll know never to choose that word. It reminds me of the time we were in Romania where there were a lot of beggars etc. One of our guidebooks had a few phrases to use to discourage people who were hassling you. I'd learned the phrase and used it quite a few times. Then we met some Romanians and were having dinner with them. I happened to mention this phrase that we'd been using. From the looks on their faces and the snickers, I think the phrase must have been the equivalent of, "F off!" It would be nice if those translations mentioned the true nuances of some meanings.<BR><BR>Austai--<BR><BR>I haven't owned a pair of sneakers or tennis shoes or whatever in 5 years. Even at home I wear leather shoes to walk. There are lots of manufacturers who make very comfortable shoes for walking other than the typical looking sneaker type shoe. Spend the money to buy a good brand, ask to take them home to walk around for a couple hours to make sure of the fit, and then break them in before leaving by wearing them for walks. Do a search on shoes here; there are lots of threads on this. Josef Siebel, Ecco, Dansk, Merrill, Naturalizer, Birkenstock, Rockport and others make great shoes that are comfortable and won't make you stick out like a sore thumb. The other issue that I see with sneakers is that, for the most part, they look pretty goofy with any other type of pants than jeans. By the way, in Spain (Toledo and Andalucia)I wore my light hikers much more than I'd intended. Most streets are cobblestones or lumpy in the city, and if you go into the ocuntryside there are rocks and mountains.
Mar 28th, 2003, 02:30 PM
#40
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hightide, Yes, I live in the Midwest and we never say Sneakers. They are called Tennis Shoes everywhere in the Midwest. You say you are from the Midwest, but not knowing about Midwest terms tells me that you have never lived here. If you were a man and talked about your "sneakers" in the Mid West you would be the local laughing stock. Absolute truth. Not that I am proud of it, but that's the way it is here. <BR><BR>Have a great time in Europe!
