SeaUrchin

With all due respect, there are clothes that are in between all black and brightly colored nylon track suits, blazing white shoes, bulging fanny packs.

I don't know where the idea started that Americans dress so horribly.

I have to agree with St Cirq

daisy58

ditto to loveitaly's preference to black, I love black for several reasons:
It is a slimming color
you can add any other color (mostly) and it looks great
It works for all seasons
It works for all cities
It is versatile
It is slimming
It is slimming
It is slimming
.....did I mention it is slimming?

Ruth

LOL Daisy!

I wear black for all those reasons too.

And of course because it is slimming.

lmhornet

"So many posts mention what to pack and the apparent need to blend in. Is it for safety or some other reason. What do you think. Mildred"

The main reason for the blend-in posts is arrogance and self centeredness. Some people seem to think think that they way they dress and act will be some important to Europeans that they will insult them if they dress and act normally and act at home is inferior to what goes on in Europe.

The corollary is political correctness. They think that saying that they want to blend in they will show that they are being considerate so as not to shock the locals.

Nikki

Arrogance and self centeredness? Not in the least. It's the same as wanting to know how people are going to dress at that party you're going to, or the theater, or any other occasion that many people don't want to stick out at. I guess there are people who don't feel this way, and they evidently find it impossible to understand those of us who do.

Intrepid1

"Understanding" and "agreement" are two entirely different things.

Nikki

Absolutely true, Intrepid.

I'll dress to fit in, and you'll dress some other way. That's disagreeing.

I'll dress to fit in, and you say I'm insecure, juvenile, arrogant, self centered, paranoid, whatever. That's not understanding.

Nikki

And just to be clear, I didn't mean that Intrepid is saying any of those things. Those are comments I have read from many people on these threads.

cpd

hmm, I'm going to think of the author of this paraphrased statement after I post but here it is -

"Every travel I take I fall a little in love with the place I visit. I fantasize about moving there. Then I go home and wax nostalgic"

I too enjoy a "daliance" with each destination and so dressing the part (whether it is San Franscisco or London) puts me "in character". Thus I enjoy talking about what people in other places are wearing. I like to talk about what you are wearing (keep it clean) and what Jennifer Aniston wore to the Oscars. Call me superficial but then I think you miss the point. I like costumes! Then I come home and put on something appropriate for helping my children dig in the dirt.

Travelnut

I don't think asking how to dress is any different than learning the 'polite' phrases. It's about the impression you make, smoothing over social transactions, etc. It's being considerate, rather than arrogant and self-centered. A self-centered person says 'custom be damned, I'll do what I want'.

QC

I agree: never blend in. It's just political correctness run amok.

That's why on my next trip to Disney World I plan on going in a blue jockstrap, flipflops, and a "Free Rupert Murdoch" tee shirt. It's what I wear around the house, those Disney people can't tell me what to wear on vacation.

Nine times out of ten the people arguing loudest against blending in in Europe are the first people to point and stare at the 'weirdos' when someone mildly eccentric in dress and demeanor comes to their town.

Petruska

Hi everybody! I've just become a Fodorite and have truly enjoyed reading all these comments about 'blending in' because I lived in Europe for many years (I'm an a American) and believe it's not the clothes you wear as much as behavior that makes us'stand out'- i.e., talking too loud, chewing gum, being too informal in our manners , i.e., Ciao vs
buon giorno, eating with our right hand after cutting our food, and yes, wearing a Mickey Mouse hat in Vienna on Easter Sunday! That I have seen with my own eyes!

See you soon !

gomiki

OK....I'll chime in. The first time I went to London/Paris in '98 my TC wore an army jacket (camoflage no less). I wore jeans, sneakers and a tomato soup colored loose coat. (I had appropriate evening outfits for dinners and plays.) I had not discovered Fodors and did not know the "clothing rules". We were not guessed to be American but from other European countries. And treated well even when we opened our mouths. But I also wore a happy smile (again something Americans do too much if you read some of the posts here.) I think it's about ones attitude & consideration of other cultures.

smueller

Some people are appalled at the thought of being regarded as a tourist.

They like to refer to themselves as travelers, even though they are tourists just like the rest of us. For these people, travel (especially foreign travel) is little more than an act of vanity.

They would never be seen at the Eiffel Tower or with a camera around their neck. The damage to their self-esteem would be irreparable.

You can often find them at the Earl of Bunting's 18th century manor with a contemplative look on their face.

Meanwhile, the rest of us common tourists are having fun at the Eiffel Tower.

frankisthechamp

People all over the world dress for all types of occasions, so dressing for travel destinations is no different. I wouldn't wear the the same outfit I wore to a football game out for a night clubing or to a museum opening. And most people dress for comfort (I use the term broadly). Whether this means physically comfortable clothes or clothes that lessen/heighten the attention they receive depending on the person they either like the attention or shy away from the 'spotlight'. In no way are people who want to blend in or conversly those who do not chose to blend in arrogant or self centered etc. If people aren't comfortable than they don't enjoy themselves, and why bother traveling if you're not going to be comfortable and enjoy it.

Giovanna

In my case, it's because I feel more comfortable. Additionally, wearing a lot of the "dreaded black" (to some) and beige/tan with a few colorful tees/blouses makes it easier to combine pieces and thus pack less.

Tourist/traveler or whatever, when in Rome I like to do as the Romans (not even close, of course, they are so incredibly fashionable--but hopefully I don't look like I'm from Podunk, USA).

I like to think I have reasonably good taste, and this would prevent me from wearing what some of you find okay because it's comfortable, as I would be terribly uncomfortable!

frankisthechamp

My apologies, I had meant to explain this a bit more. For example, I wouldn't wear a skirt to a football game no matter what. Being from Detroit, I may wear a pistons shirt around during the playoffs but I would never wear on in Indianapolis. It's both a matter of comfort and perception. I go to football games to watch football not to get cat calls from drunk older men. And with Indiananpolis

JennaZ

I don't mean to imply that all Americans wear loud, flashy clothing, or that "blending in" necessarily means a wardrobe of unrelieved black. There is certainly a spectrum between the obnoxiously garish and the narrowly conforming. "Blending in" doesn't require strict adherance to a specified dress code. Europeans vary in their clothing choices, too, so the aim isn't uniformity.

Absolutely, one should wear what one feels one must, but I certainly don't think that preferring choices which do not scream "tourist" makes one "arrogant" or "self centered." Certain styles do tend to be viewed less favorably by Europeans. If one is indifferent to the opinions of locals, so be it. It may make a difference in treatment; it may not. Each person is free to choose their own way.

frankisthechamp

My apologies, I had meant to explain this a bit more. For example, I wouldn't wear a skirt to a football game no matter what. Being from Detroit, I may wear a pistons shirt around during the playoffs but I would never wear on in Indianapolis. It's both a matter of comfort and perception. I go to football games to watch football not to get cat calls from drunk older men. And with Indiananpolis, I wouldn't want to put up with the ridicule from Pacers fans. The same goes for traveling, depending on the person its a combination of what they want to appear to be/how they want people to react to them and how comfortable you are in different clothes.

mari5

my goodness.....you have received lots of comments! Nothing much more to add except I agree with ...vcl, JennaZ,petruska....
Respect might be the key word, as well as feeling comfortable with ones self.
We only travel to Europe in late Fall and early Spring, in "coat/jacket" weather. There is always a sea of black with the Europeans on the street, but that also seems to be a good traveling color. Dirt doesn't show as much, it's comfortable,and sensible, and can be changed a little with colored shirts underneath. (black slacks and cardigan)
I'm sure they know we are Americans (but not as quickly) and many people have talked to me in their language...which I think is an honor!!!
Many Europeans have seen loud, obnoxious Americans (as I have seen with embarassment), and I don't think they necessarily get a good impression of the average American....unfortunate!
So why stand out more with what one wears.
Of course Season has something to do with what one wears...hot summer being an example, but I dont' know about that.