Alice Twain,<BR>Your relatives, friends etc. don't necessarily look American - they just look dorky - not that there's anything wrong with that.<BR>What about wearing Cheeseheads in Italy?<BR>JoeG

People who look down on others because they wear white sneakers may be suffering insecurity. However, if one were to apply Occam's razor, that the simplest explanation is the correct one, one would conclude that the person is a snob.

cheeseheads sound good to me - it serves as an homage to fromage in France, can collect rain water in the UK, and shield from the sun in the Spain. <BR> <BR>In addition, a cheese head will be a nice accessory to my giant foam finger.

But but but.<BR><BR>If I wear my white sneakers and pink jogging suit I find it much easier to outrun the 'gypsy' pickpockets.

Oops sent inadvertantly.<BR><BR>I find those way too tight black pants and slippery black dress shoes to slow me down.<BR><BR>Also holding a 'man's purse' throws me off balance in my stride compared to a backpack.

Oops for LizanneM

Personally, I think you should wear what you want. If you're worried about standing out as an American, it's not just the white tennies. Like others have said, lots of Europeans wear white tennies. It's the whole way we tend to dress and act that gives us away. For example, white tennies, khakis or jeans that fit the way we tend to wear them and polo shirts, t-shirts or sweatshirts. In other words, they look like they've walked off the pages of an LLBean or Lands End catalog. I live in Munich and dress that way all the time (except the tennies) and no one seems to care. :) Wear what you want! You can't please all of the people all of the time.

She worked for 30+ years-hard work, put a hearty and healty dinner on the table for her family for years and years, never asked or expected any luxuries, raised 3 children and helped raise several grandchildren. Now, she's a widow, retired, and is finally getting to enjoy life a little-even go on a first (and probably ONLY) trip to Europe. <BR>She loves her pink jogging suit.<BR>She's in her 70's now is no longer has the figure of a girl. The jogging suit is comfortable for her AND she just feels comfortable in it!<BR>She packs it-wears it as she sees Paris.<BR>What do I say (to my mother-in-law)?<BR><BR>&quot;I'm so glad you finally get to see Paris-have a great time&quot;.<BR><BR>Long live the pink jogging suit for anyone's mother's first (and maybe only) trip to Europe!<BR><BR>(if you are having fun in Paris it won't bother you who is wearing whatever color jogging suit!!)<BR>shadow<BR>

Shadow, I loved your story about your mother-in-law. She should wear her pink jogging suit with pride! How boring would it be if everyone dressed alike? Kudos to your mother-in-law!

I agree that it's all about the way we act, not how we dress. My friend from paris cannot understand why Americans often insist on getting things made to order the way they would eat it at home. In one Parisan restaurant, he overheard an American woman ordering &quot;steak fries&quot; -- the thick cut kind. The waiter, of course, did not know what she wanted--he kept telling her yes, frites with her steak. She kept saying, louder and louder, &quot;Steak fries! Do you know what that is? Steak fries!&quot; When her steak finally came with regular frites, she was really mad. My friend asked me, &quot;Why would she order something that wasn't even on the menu?&quot; sigh.

JenniferW-thank you! I got so disgusted a year or so ago with this European board with all the &quot;white tennis shoes&quot; and &quot;Pink Jogging suit&quot; hatred that I stopped my Fodors habit. It seems we have new folks on here now (for the most part) that have a voice of reason when it comes to European travel-thank God!!<BR>Shadow

I hope no one goes naked thou as to not offend anyone with what they would be wearing...lol

Shadow, I know what you mean. This is one of my memories:<BR><BR>It was a very trying day in Rome, I had missed my train, got the runaround from two different ticket agents, got cheated from a cab driver, had to fend off two sets of pickpockets, and was just ready to sit down and cry, but there was no place to sit so I sat on my luggage in the train station and put my head in my hands.<BR><BR>A voice next to me said in a cheery voice &quot;welcome to Rome, it is great isn't it?&quot; It was a plump older American woman in a jogging suit with white tennis shoes. She said &quot;I have wanted to visit Rome for so long, and it is better than I thought&quot;.<BR><BR>We chatted a little and I went on my way feeling soooo much better, thanks to the woman in the jogging suit, so I don't judge people by their dress anymore.<BR>se

I can't speak for Italy, but here's a story from Ireland:<BR><BR>In a pub in a tiny village, my 16 month old son is dancing to the music, standing a few feet from his Dad's chair. A little girl of about age 4 sees him and decides that he is cute. She runs to get her mother to &quot;see the wee babby.&quot; &quot;Can I kiss him, Mammy?,&quot; she says. Her mother smiles and says, &quot;what a lovely babby he is, oh, he's an *American* babby--he has white shoes!&quot;

Well Excuse me all My Fodors Friends!!! I must be an EUROPEAN DORKY also....I live in the good USA, but I do wear...&quot;&quot;HORROR&quot;&quot; WHITE SNEAKERS!!!I guess that living in America took a toll to my natural European sophistication&gt;&gt;:):):):)

Just got back from Paris and very few people had white tennis shoes on. Of those who did, most also had baseball caps on. These were all men, in their 50's-60's probably. I didn't notice anyone treating them any differently. I agree that it's about how you act. <BR><BR>Here's an example: We were at the cafe at the Louvre and a very nicely dressed woman from Atlanta ordered lunch and a coke with ice. She was pretty nasty, no 'bonjour or sil vous plait,' just &quot;this is what I want.&quot; She was treated coldly (she didn't get her ice either). Next table over, we chatted with a man and woman from Florida... he in white Reeboks and his Teamsters Union baseball hat... he greeted the waiter with a bonjour, used his phrase book as best he could and was treated to a laugh and a good natured waiter who actually bent over backwards for him and his wife.<BR><BR>Who had the better experience, and did it matter how he was dressed? Nope. I was in Italy last year and it was pretty much the same way. So, I say tell your kids to wear what they are comfortable in and just be good guests in the country. :-) Enjoy!