Spain clothing question
 

Hi - We are leaving for Spain (Madrid & San Sebastian) in one week and I am starting to pack. I have been to Spain and Europe before but can't seem to remember what is appropriate for dress in the evenings - at medium casual restaurants and tapas bars. Here in Los Angeles it is appropriate to wear nice dark jeans out to dinner and I'm wondering if that is okay in these two cities?


Thank you!

Also...I did do a search of past posts but can't find much and there is nothing in the books I have!

There is no strict dress code in Spain I'm aware of, and you can wear what you like and you are comfortable in. Jeans will be perfectly acceptable. I prefer not to take jeans on travels as they are bulky and difficult to wash or dry. But any casual wear will be more than adequate.

Yes you should be fine with those in tapas bars & casual restauants. Are you most comfortable in jeans?
Really alot depends on how you coordinate the rest of the ensemble. Think classy casual.

How old are you? Are you female? Sorry to ask so bluntly but you will find some similariities & some differences.

BTW in Madrid you will see some men more elegantly dressed in business suits at lunch than at dinner. Very elegant types. Seemed that at dinner @ midpriced places they were more casual; no tie, perhaps a leather jacket, some jeans but only "decent" ones. No T shirts.

Unless you are in your twenties and going to the more edgy places the vintage jeans & T shirts were not seen at all. Ladies wore good shoes or boots. Not necessarily dressy, but good quality.

The differences are that the "senior" ladies (over 60) do NOT wear jeans at all in Spain, in Madrid at least in the city center. (maybe at home or at a picnic or something) There are alot of classic clothes seen everywhere.

But if you are young, nice jeans are fine paired with tops in good taste.

Re "senior ladies".... at a smallish town market I noticed that they were all tidy and neat and wearing skirts....

So no jean's if you are over 60. What about capri pants or slacks? Do older women really only wear skirts? I can't believe older tourists only wear dresses. I know certain things mark one as a tourist, and an American tourist..but that's exactly what we are. If German women can get heavily tan, and wear shorts and tank tops everywhere no matter their age, why is it unacceptable for American women "of a certain age" to wear jeans? Or is it just a matter of trying to fit in with the locals a bit better?

So no jean's if you are over 60. What about capri pants or slacks? Do older women really only wear skirts? I can't believe older tourists only wear dresses. I know certain things mark one as a tourist, and an American tourist..but that's exactly what we are. If German women can get heavily tan, and wear shorts and tank tops everywhere no matter their age, why is it unacceptable for American women "of a certain age" to wear jeans? Or is it just a matter of trying to fit in with the locals a bit better?

why is it unacceptable for American women "of a certain age" to wear jeans? Or is it just a matter of trying to fit in with the locals a bit better?"

there is no "jean police" anywhere..
Some women like to dress well, some don't care .

It is matter of personal taste - abroad as well as at home.

ali,
one could take a similar photo in almost any village or small town in most of Europe.

absolutely....but it illustrates the skirts well....I think that they look lovely...

One should not obsess too much. Madrid is one of Europe's biggest cities, and you will see almost any style.
No Spaniard will give a fiddler's fart on "how to fit in" in Stockholm. Nor will any Parisian think about it when traveling to Madrid for a weekend.

The reason you see so many guys in suits at lunch is that business jocks are on their lunch break before they go back to their offices. No big mystery.

For the average casual restaurant, and especially for a tapas bar, you don't need to listen to any fashion police.
Jeans and polo shirt are fine for a guy. Ladies can wear anything anyway that is better than a neon-colored track suit.
A "conservative look" does not necessarily translate to "well dressed".

If you want to eat at an upscale restaurant or try to get into some of the in clubs, you should give your wardrobe a thought or two, though. But that was not the question here.

#
alihutch on Sep 13, 09 at 04:43 PM

absolutely....but it illustrates the skirts well....I think that they look lovely..."

yes, but the ladies in Salamanca district ( Madrid)
or Ramblas de Catalunya ( Barcelona) look very different...

Thanks so much for the responses.

I am a 34 year old female and my jeans are dark and I will wear them with classy tops. I am most comfortable in jeans and don't really own any other pants besides heavier and more bulky cords and don't want to buy new clothes. I like traveling with jeans in cities because I don't have to wash them at all as they don't really show wear and dirt.

I'm not so much concerned about fitting in but just want to be appropriate and considerate to the culture and not assume all cities are like LA. And mostly I want to pack as little as possible so I can shop while I'm there!

So jeans it is based on your replies! Thanks again.

I take jeans with me on trips and while they are bulky, like you said, they can be worn multiple time between washings, which makes up for the bulkiness.

Westcoast dreamer,

Now that I know your age I will add not only are jeans definately ok, but you may think them the norm there. I have seen some really well dressed young moms with babies etc.
It sounds like you are one classy lady or you wouldn't be asking.

It's all about a good fit, good shoes, nicely coordinated casual outfit that you can wear several times and be comfortable yes. They seem to have a knack for understated accessories too but the look overall is "less is more."

And since I just noticed you are from L.A area (so am I!) I was quickly reminded what a "natural" woman's body looked like before DD implants were so common here.
Not that there's anything wrong with that....)

Kleroux I have seen many women over 60 in Spain in pants but not so much capris. If it is hot they wear a light dress or skirt. The heavier older ladies though go for the dresses.
I am 53 & I saw myself all over the place there it was lke looking into a crystal ball of the future...

Thanks for the input. I checked out the photo's of the women in skirts. I agree with the posting that said that women their age in Madrid probably look a lot more fashionable and chic than these women did. I also agree that jeans can take a lot of wearing between washings. If its not too hot its a practical clothing item. Yes, trying to look well groomed is important in any culture. Thank God for basic black...it goes with everything.

Regarding jeans.....the predominant style in Spain now is the super tight, narrow-legged jeans, right? Bootleg or trouser-style jeans would seem out of place? Just asking b/c I wear dark, trouser-style jeans as my "dressy" cocktail hour jeans in the U.S.

I personally do not understand this need to blend in. As soon as you talk you will stand out as being a foreigner.
What you ware depends on your age, the other influence to your clothes is your background. Both ethnic and culture wise.
I do not want to go into a lot of detail but suffice to say in Spain there are many races and classes of society. You do not wear swimming clothes whilst walking around cities or towns, they are reserved for the beach.
Here are some photos to help you understand that bending in is nearly impossible:
http://travel.webshots.com/photo/136...71460683xNmFaG
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/med...in-granada.jpg
http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Eur...oto1089811.htm
http://www.andaluciaimagen.com/foto-...69471I0IA0.htm

Ouch! That first photo of the Theta girl hurts! Ribeirasacra, thanks for taking the time to post those links. That's exactly what I think we're trying to avoid here. That young lady could have fit in a lot better and avoided being an eyesore if she had left the baby sorority T and paper thin micro-mini at home, but such dress is the norm on US college campuses.

Yes, we know we're going to stick out anyway, whether it's the way we walk, talk, or whatever, but to me, it's all about the degree. I really don't want to look like a pasty American in the short shorts (not that I wear them!) and tiny tank top. I'd rather be smartly dressed (for the location) and be pasty.

FYI, American fashion has moved away from years of neutrals and trended back to bright and loud a la rocker and punk 80's, in stark contrast to what I understand is the mode in Spain. So, there are big differences already.

Maybe the rest of us are just too fashion conscious.

Moya, jeans shouild fit well and be AGE appropriate.
Someone my age & weight would look like an idiot in skinny jeans in any country, plus skinny jeans would cut off all blood flow to my cankles in 15 minutes.

You sound young?? They are probably adorable on you so go for it! Have a great time in any wash jeans.

The skinny jean style is so popular here (LA, southern california) and I just can't do it at 34 - even though many women my age wear them. I stick to my boot cut jeans and at least feel good about my look. I would feel ridiculous in the skinny jeans in any country!

Thanks again for all the comments.

<i>A "conservative look" does not necessarily translate to "well dressed".</i>

As evidenced by Ali's photo.

As to the question, jeans are more than appropriate. If you felt compelled to overthink it, then I guess you could stick with darker jeans, but really any shade will be fine pretty much anywhere in Europe.

I can't do the skinny jean look either. I'm 34 and plenty of women my age pull it off nicely, but I am personally just not built for it. I think that regardless of the current trendy cut, people will always look more stylish with a cut that fits their shape than with a trendy cut that doesn't.

In Belgium and the Netherlands this summer, we saw plenty of women in skinny jeans, but we also saw a wide range of jean styles - boot cut, trouser style, straight leg, low-waist, mid-waist. Most jeans had a dark wash on them. Didn't see the high waist jeans that the fashion industry was threatening us with last fall - I am glad that hasn't caught on.

Off the jeans topic, leggings and tunics were big in Belgium and the Netherlands over the summer. I have seen some women in California wearing them, but not as many as we saw in these countries - maybe it is a weather thing rather than a fashion thing since I certainly wouldn't want to wear leggings in the summer in CA. I am not sure if this look is as big in Spain, maybe someone can weigh in on that. I bring it up though because this type of outfit would probably pack really well and be versital for night or day.

Oh dear ... no jeans over 60 in Spain? Maybe I should inform my 71 year old mum to throw away hers ... Anyway, I think that the thing with the jeans has more to do with the fitting. I was thinking about that last Saturday at the Leonard Cohen concert. There were a few americans, and you could easily recognize them by the accent and the loose fitting jeans, both men and women.

Moya, as November_moon was mentioning, there are plenty of leggings coming for next autumn and plenty of tunics. One thing that it is more prevalent here in Spain, at least more than in France or the UK are the harem pants. All kinds, from silk to jersey to denim.

Shoes, many, many high-heeled ones. And check the handbags at Fun&Basics. They have some gorgeous ones in silver and gold pailletes.

Check the websites for Zara and Mango, and you will get an idea of what´s going on :
http://www.zara.es/#/es_ES/trends/woman/
http://www.mango.es/oi/index.html

Or this one. Fernando Mañas is now taking pictures in Cibeles, Madrid Fashion Week
http://gente5.telecinco.es/blogs/chictoochic/
I like this girl´s blog
http://www.lepetittrianonstyle.com/

Bye, Cova

"harem pants" - The appropriate term is (MC) Hammer Pants, thank you very much.

And, yes, it is considered polite to walk up to folks wearing them and say, "Stop, Hammer Time!" You can also do the 2 Legit 2 Quit hand dance if you are in a quiet zone.

Travelgourmet, I could have used the more chic word they use in France : sarouel ... don´t try that MC Hammer thing here, mind you, I doubt anyone would understand ;)

Cova your mom must be slim, I want to look like she does when I get to 70. Honestly does she wear them about in the urban center when she goes to Madrid? ( I have never been to San Seb. it is probably so differebnt there so can't address that for the OP)

I am sure she look fantastic, but I would not say that is the norm for a 70 yr old lady in Madrid.
But sure is for a 34 Yr old like the op.

Ann, not so slim. As I said, it is really a question of the way the jeans are cut. She wears them mostly on weekends and in the mornings when doing grocery shopping.

It really depends, but I do see older women wearing jeans in the Salamanca district in Madrid. A typical Serrano "uniform" would be jeans, white shirt, blazer, pumps and a Loewe silk scarf. Too classic for me ;) I think that it is more difficult to find at small towns or lower-middle class ladies.

Anyway, as you said, jeans are fine for the OP. You can find any kind of cut, from skinny to boot-cut to boyfriend jeans.

Bye, Cova

OMG Cova.....you saw Leonard Cohen???? Be still my heart. What a sexy man....and the voice, and the words......ah romance!!!!!

Back to jeans........I'm with your mom on this one. Thanks for all the input.

Oh my god...travelgourmet...you had me laughing out loud with the MC Hammer comment. I didn't even have to look at any pictures. I can't wait to see someone in those pants now and tell them "stop hammer time" and tell my husband i read on the fodor's board that your're supposed to say that! :) Maybe I'll even get a pair while I'm there...

On the leggings topic, that is a look I like/find comfortable and I'll wear a pair on the airplane so I'll have those as well.

I just returned yesterday from 2 weeks in Madrid and San Sebastian. I agree w/ Cowboy1968 above; don't obsess. There will all sorts of dress and plenty of jeans in the types of restaurants you describe. In SS there will also be plenty of people in shorts, particularly at lunch.

Perhaps unlike LA, the other diners will be too focused on their tablemates and the food to notice what you're wearing. Wear what makes you feel good.

Thanks for the fun fashion links, Cova. I bought a lot of cute tops at Mango in Madrid several years ago, but I can't say that the ones I bought are as sexy as the ones on that sultry model!

dreamer, I am also a jeans wearer, and I always travel with a pair (well, not to a tropical climate). I do take well-fitting ones, and tend to dress them up, not down. I am older than you, and the last time I was in Madrid I spent most of my time with Spanish friends, and jeans were the uniform. We weren't going out to very fancy restaurants, though.

I wore other things, of course, including capris (which frankly I think are the most unflattering pants invented, but they are cool & comfortable) and skirts, but felt perfectly fine in my dark, boot cut jeans.

Don't worry too much about your wardrobe, and save room in your suitcase for some of those Spanish fashions!

We had dinner in a very nice restaurant in an upscale residential part of Barcelona ( not a tourist in sight)
There were number of men and women in jeans, but most people over 50 were in different attire.

I LOVED my MC Hammer pants in the 80s....LOVED LOVED LOVED
but then I loved my GIANT big claw Japanese bangs too....loved em. They caught on fire once though oh never mind.

<<no jeans over 60 in Spain? Maybe I should inform my 71 year old mum to throw away hers ... Anyway, I think that the thing with the jeans has more to do with the fitting.>>

I completely agree. I think picking an arbitrary cutoff age is ridiculous. So, if a woman is 59 and fat she can wear jeans, but a thin, fit 71 year old (or older) woman is not supposed to?

What a woman should wear is about her fitness and the fit -- how she looks in jeans, not her age.

danon wrote "We had dinner in a very nice restaurant in an upscale residential part of Barcelona ( not a tourist in sight)" How did you know that there were no tourists. Even the Spanish take vacations so not everyone you saw was a locla, I bet!

The other day I saw a lady who was obviously above retirement age and she had a dress which was not over teh top, a patten blue thing. But her shoes were something else. Flay ( not high heals) and Gold and I mean Gold. She stood out because of the shoes. Was she a tourist, Spanish or otherwise? I will never know.

Westcoastdreamer,

I think that when you go on holiday it is a time to experiment with clothing, relax a little and not worry so much. I recently went to Lisbon on holiday (gorgeous place) and one night we decided to go for dinner then a few bars in Barrio Alto. I have always wanted a corset and thought this was my opportunity to treat myself, I was so glad I did. I wore this corset http://www.miodestino.co.uk/boutique...brocade-v1905u with skinny jeans, black high heels and a large red flower in my hair. I felt so confident and great and not out of place at all. Just a warning, cobbles and heels dont go!

Enjoy yourself!

MC Hammer pants? GIANT big claw Japanese bangs? Yeah baby! 8-)