wildblueyonder,

Funny that you should mention this: "womens shoe styles" is #1 over on the European board right now...

You must have missed the zillion "fanny pack" threads on the European board.

"Funny that you should mention this: "womens shoe styles" is #1 over on the European board right now..."

LOL - just read through those - but nothing really fashion-faddy in the thread - seems to be more on what's comfortable (and that's needed on European cobbles!) I took several pairs of shoes with me to the States - including 2 pairs of Clark's comfortable sandals (one pair black, the other navy - I don't much care for black in the summer, but they didn't have another colour in my size at the time!) - trainers (Guess) and a couple pairs of nice evening shoes (with platforms - are those still in fashion?) Anyway, I took it in turns between the black Clarks and the Nikes really. I wore whichever pair of shoes didn't rub on that day's particular blister! By the end of the trip, my (several years old) navy Clarks were falling apart - and I bought a pair of ORANGE (with cherries along the soles) rubber flip-flops in Santa Monica!! The 'evening' shoes never made it out of the bag the whole trip!

"You must have missed the zillion "fanny pack" threads on the European board."

Yes, probably - but I'm new to fodors - came here to ask some questions about the US as that's where I was going this year - and very helpful everybody was too! So, I hadn't read the Europe board at all. Fanny packs - we call bum-bags. My husband always wears one when on holiday - shouldn't he??

I shed my workout clothes this morning, hopped in the shower and came out to my chartreuse capris. Then, having read this thread earlier, I thought, "No!" put them away, and took out my white drawstring roll-up pants instead, coupled them with a coral off the shoulder top, put on my coral plus about 6 other colors Icons, and headed out. LOL Rules, schmules.

Then we walked over to the hotel where I had the best time sitting in the lobby people watching as DH checked up on things. We have 300 checking in today, and the Denver Brocos who came in yesterday, aren't checking out until 2 PM for their 4 o'clock game. That's 120 rooms, plus of course there are other guests, to be turned, creating one of those, "My room wasn't ready on time" scenarios, so DH felt he needed to be around. Anyway I sat happily watching as these people from all around the country checked in. I would say that 75% of them wore open toed shoes or "strappy" sandals. There were (gasp) people who carried brown bags but wore black shoes. Most of those brown bags bore that very familiar designer logo. They were the real thing--the tan leather was changing color. Then there were white pants, there were a few shorts but mostly capris, there were bright colors, and there were those few in black black black, and wool. Most of the men were in Tommy Bahama type shirts and linen slacks. Most everyone was dressed for Florida.

I grew up with all the rules too. Now, if I had a mail box, I'd probably be going to it barefoot. I will wear black to a wedding with no compunction. That rule is long gone. I recall when I was a social worker and had to go to court, my supervisor wanted me to wear a hat and gloves--she felt that was the appropriate attire for a professional going to court. (Late 60's) Imagine that today (even then)! Changed priorities ahead! (wildblueyonder...thanks for your explanation of that by the way...I've lost that post now. I do understand now, but sure didn't at the time. It's nice to read your take on all this as well!)

As noted on Freaky Friday, I treated myself to a shoe shopping spree this weekend I didn't see any white shoes! But this season there are lots and lots of vibrant colors, what you would typically expect for the spring and summer - so I guess color is in. Being the boring traditionalist that I am, black pumps, burgundy loafers, black loafers, and beige boots were the colors of the day for me! But if I can find just the right lime green shoes, I'm gonna go for it

YOUR husband wears "bum bags?!"

"Aaaaaaah," THUD.

"YOUR husband wears "bum bags?!"

He sure does! (I hope we're talking about the same thing here!). Black patchwork leather! He keeps his money in it! I bought him one of those wallets you wear around your waste (and hide) but he wouldn't be parted from his black leather bum bag!

Hi OO

Well, I started off being mildly amused - then quite staggered - but I figured I should mind my own business. But then, I didn't want you all getting complexes thinking we in Europe were singling you out as bad dressers! The only way we can (sometimes) single out Americans is if they're in a group (like on a coach tour) and they wear those little name badges!

It's all quite interesting!

So, what are capris? Are they pants (which, of course, are 'knickers' to us!) which come down just below the knee with a slit in them? Those are our capris. Or are they any 'short' pants? Like we would call the ones which come down to around the calf, "cut-offs".

And khakis? I read about those on another thread. Are those plain cotton or linen slacks - like jeans, but not denim? Plain or with pockets (what we would call 'cargo trousers'?) Khaki to us is just a colour. I have khaki linen cut-offs and khaki shorts and khaki cargos! LOL! I think, if your khakis are the plain cotton slacks, then we call those 'chinos'!

What happens with guys after Labor Day? Can they wear white shirts to the office? Or is this a women's only rule?

I would never wear blue with brown, btw!

The white rule does NOT apply to white shirts! Come on, now, a crisp white shirt is perfect any month of the year, perhaps with a sweater (jumper) or vest or under a blazer in the winter.

The more I read and write about these rules, the sillier they seem to me, and the more they seem to be a very bourgeois invention.

Blue with brown -- well, that depends. Turquoise with burnt sienna or chocolate can be stunning. Pale blue is one of the colors that has been paired with dark brown in all the recent brown-obsessed fashion offerings. And there is lots of denim that has orangey brown stitching and looks great with tan saddle leather accessories. So?

"The white rule does NOT apply to white shirts! "

I didn't think it would somehow!

"Come on, now, a crisp white shirt is perfect any month of the year, perhaps with a sweater (jumper) or vest or under a blazer in the winter."

Absolutely!! So what's the difference between that and a T-shirt?!

"The more I read and write about these rules, the sillier they seem to me, and the more they seem to be a very bourgeois invention."

Yep!

"Blue with brown -- well, that depends. Turquoise with burnt sienna or chocolate can be stunning. Pale blue is one of the colors that has been paired with dark brown in all the recent brown-obsessed fashion offerings. And there is lots of denim that has orangey brown stitching and looks great with tan saddle leather accessories. So?"

I just don't like it - no particular reason! I will definitely wear brown/beige/tan with blue jeans though - looks good!! LOL!

Diana may disagree with me, but I never thought The White Rule applied to tops in general. White shirts, white T-shirts, white cotton turtlenecks -- all seen all year in most places.

But I'm sure my respect for this rule has been eroded by my residence in California, where many people don't think twice at wearing white pants year round.

okay Diana, so americans are the laughing stock of fashion on the European boards.. well.. atleast we have clothes on, and dress our children... tell those Europeans that noone wants to see their 4 year old son's on the beach completely naked with their little man parts hanging out in US States..... now... talk about fashion!!!

lasjas, a 4 year old isn't even formed completely!

Marilyn

Thank goodness for that (T-shirts!) - that means I didn't break the rule! Actually, I had white cut-offs (capris?) with me, but didn't wear them. Last time I did was in Cannes, France at a perfume factory. Looked really chic. Then I had a chocolate covered ice-cream and ... you've guessed it!! Fortunately (!) I had a turquoise and white sarong in my bag (as you do!) and that matched the turquoise T-shirt - so I changed into that. But I didn't have a spare T-shirt, so had to turn that one inside out and snip off the label! I walked around Cannes like that!

lasjas

The same as the vast majority of Europeans DO NOT consider Americans a laughing stock of the fashion world - so too the vast majority of Europeans DO NOT have their kids running around beaches naked. Pleeeeeeaaaaaase!

wildblueyonder, you trendsetter, you! Wearing your tshirt inside out will surely be the rage next summer.

I do always travel with a pareo (sarong) -- so handy for so many uses from a beach cover-up to a picnic tablecloth. How did you know?

Anyway, no one is answering my question about whether The Rules are the opposite in Australia, so here's another. If your country doesn't have Labor Day, does that mean The Rules are invalid?

Or even Labour Day.

Now if you turned your T inside out and held your head high and proudly, WBY (may I nickname you? ) people might look at you and think...oooh, seams, a cool new fashion statement.

Cut-offs, to me by the way, are just that. You had some old jeans (blue or white), took some scissors and cut them off. Pants intended to be short of ankle length are cropped, capris etc. And to answer an earlier question, our khakis are like your chinos and there was a time we called them chinos as well, at least in New England where I grew up.

If you think the meaning of khaki is different in England and the US, check out the pronunciation. Every time I said the word my British friends made a face, since our pronunciation of it equates to something related to "ca-ca" in England.
British = caw-key
US = caa-key

Well if you have an 84 year old mom like mine who is shrinking fast despite being quite large at one time, you'll find that Capri pants are the only ones she can buy that come to her ankles. Even Petite regular pants need to have about 5 to 6 inches wacked off so she doesn't trip on them.

OO, excuse my ignorance, but what's WBY? If you're going to call me it - I'd like to know what it means!

Yes, the seams were very cool! I kept my arms tight down by my side!

As for all our different named pants - well, at least we all wear the same sort of things and know what we mean (kind of!)