SpeedBuggy

Would you conclude then, Dr. Starrsville, from your scientific study, that Europeans are footwear savvy, and that Americans should wear comfortable footwear and give up the fashionista ideology?

starrsville

More statistical analysis needs to be done, but my first thoughts would be that Europeans don't stress about which shoes to wear "over here" so why should we worry about what to wear "over there".

One thing was very clear - they DO wear trainers on vacation!

SpeedBuggy

You are so right, Starrsville, and as you said, they wear trainers here (probably predominately white ones), we just worry too much about what we wear over there.

Malesherbes

White trainers...what a funny turning of the tables of allllll those ever so holier than thou posts on the Europe board. Thanks for the chuckle.

Of course, another scientific study would have to be...and you've got to actually ask this question, "Are you wearing white trainers and fanny packs because you think that's what we wear in America because that's what you see us wear in Europe?" LOL

starrs

I miss SpeedBuggy.

wildblueyonder

Thanks for topping this starrs.


"86% wore trainers/ tennis shoes/ sneakers of some type or color
9% wore Birkenstock or Merrill type sandals or slides
4% wore flip-flops
less than 1% wore a shoe with an actual heel - most interestingly a silver/ white/ tooled cowboy boot on a woman"

When I pack for the US (or anywhere else!), I pack trainers (usually white), sandals and flip-flops! I generally also pack one pair of heeled wedges (or wedged wedges, I guess!). But that's what I wear at home! It's definitely not a case of packing what I think is expected!

I've read some of the 'what shall I wear in London/Paris/wherever threads and I've been a bit baffled! Where what you normally wear folks!

You never did say about the souvenirs! For what it's worth, on my last trip to the SW, I brought back included a scorpion in one of those little (cheap) half circular things with sparkly bits in it, a small Indian pot, several pieces of turquoise jewellery (from the Apache and Navajo stalls), a couple dreamcatchers, a Build-a-Bear bear with an ASU T-shirt (we have those here now, but the selection of clothes is nowhere near as good!), several rocks and a peace pipe! When we went to the Pacific NW, I brought back ash from Mt St Helens, a Mountie moose, a Yellowstone plate, huckleberry jam, an old photo of a naked woman in a bathroom (from Pike Place Mkt), a HANDBAG from Macy's and a 'world's first Starbuck's' mug!

You have to remember that we have to fly home! Photos are by far the best souvenirs, imho.

QueScaisJe

I'm puzzled, starrs. How did you know the Europeans? Did they try to pay in euros?

LoveItaly

Hi starrs, I miss SpeedBuggy too. I wonder how he is. I hate it when some wonderful Fodorite just "disappears". He was a lovely gentleman.

november_moon

Do you guys think that there are travel boards frequented by Europeans where they ask how to blend in and look like Americans? Perhaps they are advised to wear white sneakers to fit in, but to beware that as soon as they open their mouths, they will be pegged as European.

wildblueyonder

novembermoon, I'd like to know what you think we normally wear on our feet! Clogs?! LOL!

november_moon

Yes WildBlue, I think you guys wear clogs over there. You mean you don't?

By the way, my comment was a joke, in reference to the zillion posts on this board warning Americans against white tennis shoes in Europe or they will be pegged as Americans right off and another zillion posts commenting that no matter what we wear in Europe, no matter how hard we try to "pass", everyone will know we are Americans as soon as we start talking. There seems to be a preocupation with trying not to look like an American when overseas.

starrs

nov, that was the whole point to this thread. I commented on it several times on the Europe board at the time - and decided to do a tongue-in-cheek survey

wildblueyonder

Yes, I thought it was a joke, thus my joke response. But I hadn't realised that there were lots of messages (on the Euro board?) warning you not to wear white trainers or you would stand out! What nonsense!! The name badges are the thing! (That also is tongue-in-cheek, btw, of course!)

But, anyway, what does it matter if you do 'stand out' as an American in whatever way?

dmlove

The name badges are the thing!

Ha! Those make you stand out here, too

elsiemoo

How many of the women had green or purple (or choose a color) streaks in their hair? What I see in Florida on vacation!

speckles

Any Aussies in your study? And does "European" include the UK and Ireland or just continental Europe?

I'm planning on bringing Keen walking shoes and Keen sandals this August. Will they be suitable???

Okay, Starrsville, enough with the teasing. We ALL want to know about the tourist tack they took home.

speckles

I've just realised how old this thread is. You've probably forgotten what they bought by now.

How many of us get caught out with the old revived thread??

speckles

Perfect timing to undertake a new study and check the trend analysis.

I wondered why the sandal and flip-flop count was high for April, but turns out you did this research in August.

november_moon

Yep stars - I got your point. My mistake was thinking that Wild didn't get my reference.

starrs

Okey, dokey. We're all on the same page