you don't see everyday people in their respective countries wearing tennis shoes because: A) those people are wearing office attire. B) they have a huge wardrobe to pick from as they are home and can wear what they feel like.

when traveling i take the most practical and neccessary items w/ me otherwise i'd have to box up my whole closet.

who ever you are at home should be who you are abroad.

Tennis shoes are actually not very good for walking. They are designed to support the movements of a tennis player, which includes a lot of lateral motion and a different type of contact with the surface.

Walking shoes would probably provide more ankle and arch support.

i am actually assuming that the "white tennis shoe" is a general term for any athletic shoe. but you are right tennis specific shoes are horrible for long term walking. i am a tennis coach and wouldn't dream of using my tennis shoes for anything but tennis. i walk in running shoes. anatomically better for forward movement.

If you wear white trainers you won't be considered fashionable or chic - but if you're not concerned about this then do wear them. (Same applies to baseball caps BTW).

Coloured trainers are more acceptable but may still be horribly uncool if the wrong colour or style is selected...fashion in trainers is a bit of a minefield!

I just finished packing for my trip to Ireland and guess what I put in my suitcase to take along?

There has got to be a whole set of different people here then 3 yrs ago when I asked the same question, except it was black jeans and black tennis that I was asking about, I was raked over the coals for even thinking about it. (I was also going to Ireland)

Oh goodie, the white Propet Life Walkers are going to Europe in May. The tan Rockport ProWalkers look cooler but they just don't fit right. I may even take the cargo pants. I shall be liberated! The jury is still out on the eggplant velvet matching pants & pullover with a sprinkling of rhinestones across the chest.

What about black jeans with the gleaming white tennies? :D

All the Italians in line with us at the Vatican Museum last week were wearing white sneakers. If they weren't Italian, they sure spoke fluently. I guess they couldn't afford leather shoes . . . but you couldn't guess that from the leather jackets and cell phones. They looked expensive. Perhaps that's why they couldn't afford leather shoes! 8^)

I'm going on my first trip to Europe (Amsterdam, Paris and London) in May and I also wondered if I would stick out as an American tourist too much in white athletic shoes! Thank you Jocelyn P for the wonderful image of black jeans and gleaming white tennies!!! I laughed until I cried!

Taking your cargo pants is absolutely fine, janeg. No fashion faux pas there!

What's wrong with yellow polo shirts?