Anti-shorts faction of <i>Helpline </i>suffers unexpected setback

Most grown adults look goofy in shorts in N. America, too. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop them.

Give me a break. Shorts are not goofy on adults.

"Especially in southern Europe, no matter how hot it is, grown adults look goofy in shorts."

So?

Rick looks goofy no matter what he does. Embrace it!

Even postal employees and our military personnel on active duty wear shorts. You guys who think we look goofy can suffer in the heat. We will be cool.

I wear them all the time and feel comfortable. I see hundreds of other men wearing them. Why should I suffer in the heat!

Where did you see our military troops in shorts? That is a new one for me. Adults only look goofy in shorts if they have socks and sandals or socks and hard shoes on. Wear sandals, no socks or tennis shoes and socks. Being grossly overweight also makes one look goofy in shorts, especially if they are too short and have started creeping up the thighs. But lets cut Steve some "slack", change is good and shows he has an open mind.

I live in Europe and I see men wearing shorts. The older the men, the shorter the shorts and that just looks bad (IMO). Younger guys here wear long trunks at the pool more and more now (so nice) and wear capris around town. I think the capris look totally stupid. I'm OK with knee-length shorts on guys, but honestly, you rarely see them here. (this is not just Germans, but tourists from all other non-North American countries who I run into.)

It's either short-shorts or capris. Knee-length stuff only happens on young guys in the pool complexes.

Women wear all levels here.

So then this brings us to the eternal discussion of 'how much do you want to blend in?' Anybody?? :P

Maggie's post well describes why the British are the greatest threat to end US dominance in the World's Worst Dressed Tourists competition in the upcoming London 2012 Olympics. Currently the British are in position to take the silver medal, they've been rated next to worst dressed travelers, breathing down the US neck in the worst dressed sartorial sweepstakes. It's a little known fact that it's the British who got this event added as an Olympic event for 2012, and Maggie's post reveals their secret strategy for edging us out for the gold in 2012. This event will be judged by European hotel operators continuously over the next four years. And so my fellow Americans (apologies to our Canadian readers), if you love your country, please keep up the good work you've been doing and dress as badly as possible on future trips.

Amy, it was a joke. Sort-of. Some people look great in shorts, many also look goofy. My husband wears shorts all year long, but he wears longer, sportier shorts, and he has nice legs. ; )

For the ultimate in vacation goofiness, you really can't beat an Englishman who likes to wear shoes (yes, shoes) with calf length socks, trousers rolled up to the knees, no shirt and to top this sartorial vision; A handkerchief knotted at all 4 corners and placed upon his shiny head.
Thank heavens, this is becoming an increasingly rare sight!

If you do not want to see The Master wearing short pants, look at that book : "Rick Steves' EUROPE THROUGH THE BACK DOOR, 2009", anyway, because it is loaded with a good assortment of small black-and white photographs of people in Europe. I like the two photographs on page 144 of the bearded man from Latvia who recently travelled across Europe on a bicycle made in the year 1960. Much baggage is on the bicycle. Rick said "I tried to interview him, but he looked at me as if thawed out of some glacier ...". I purchased the book (August 31) for the photographs and Rick's witty comments. And hey ! - on page 356 Rick Steves' kids said the best nature experience at Britain is "A horse ride through the Cotswolds (in England) ... with a guide who'll teach you to trot ... Wear long pants".

Funny, I've traveled to quite a few desert countries, and never see the locals wear shorts, and they don't seem uncomfortable hmmmm.

Don't recall the American soldiers in shorts and during my service we were not issued shorts but the English wore them in WWII in the Deserts of Africa. Not sure if they are still issued to the English soldiers today.

Maggie...I thought only Monty Python characters dressed that way.

Finally, here is the ultimate way to dress that will guarantee no European will know you're an American:

Brown Sandals
Black Socks (Calf Length)
Shorts--legs must not have seen the sun since the Roosevelt Administration. (Teddy)
Loud shirt--preferably Hawaiian
Camera around neck--Instamatic
Straw Hat
Cheap Sunglasses
Cheap Tour Company Tote Bag hanging off one shoulder
And you must carry a one liter water bottle. (Why is it that all around the world, people drink when they're thirsty. But Americans need to hydrate all day long and carry massive water bottle with them?)

And remember, if you encounter someone who doesn't speak English, the way to get them to understand you is to speak louder.

(You laugh, but I've actually taken people on tour who dressed this way.)

I accept Rick's restaurant and hotel recommendations as nearly infallible proclamations... but I'm not listening to him regarding fashion, particularly in hot weather. If I have to look "goofy" to prevent my pant legs and groin from becoming saturated with sweat, then I'll look goofy, thank you!

I think Rick has been punked by his editors who put the pic in after he saw his final copy. Must be photo-shopped. And if there's ever video proof of him in shorts, well, CGI is not just for special effects in movies anymore!

It's not the shorts that are goofy...it's the knobby knees!

It's not the shorts that are goofy...it's not the knobby knees that are goofy...it's this whole argument.

If you want to wear shorts, wear shorts. If you want to wear speedos, wear speedos. If you want to wear a ball gown, wear a ball gown.

It's your vacation, enjoy it the way you want to enjoy it.

And, if any of you want to see..check out Rick's tour video; the one he sends to prospective tour takers. The guide in that video wears shorts. In fact, he forgot and wore them to the Vatican so he was not allowed to go in with his group.

As a side note, when I led tours, we were not allowed to wear shorts. Nor were we allowed to wear t-shirts. It was seen as unprofessional.

Frank....mellow...it's a joke!

Frank, sadly Monty Python didn't make that up!

You guys who havent seen military wearing shorts havent been paying attention. Wake up and watch the news reports from Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the N African campaign in WWII all military personnel wore shorts! Its nothing new. In Texas our postal employees wear them as well as city police! You guys are just ignorant of what goes on in the real world.

Yes, Norm, I know it's a joke...but we've run threads about shorts over and over again....we need to get more creative...this is what's called "beating a dead horse."

I am, however, Norm, glad to see you lightening up. You once wrote: "This is a forum to answer peoples' questions with the best information that's available. We sometimes get far too wrapped up in posting personal opinions that waste space and time."

This event will be judged by European hotel >operators continuously over the next four years. >And so my fellow Americans (apologies to our >Canadian readers), if you love your country, please >keep up the good work you've been doing and dress >as badly as possible on future trips.

How do we know these judges will be impartial ? We all know there are some that would stop at nothing to win. Bloc voting ? Knee bashing ? Will the the rumored 800 yard MoneyBelt relay competition also take place ?

I have never taken shorts with me to Europe, but a few years ago, in a particularly hot September in the Alps, I noticed that many of the natives were wearing shorts. I bought a pair at a local store and wore them extensively during my visit. I was not out of place.

Carl, in WWII shorts were not allowed on the front lines in Africa by the American soldier. That is not to say that some may have worn them on the front line but they were not authorized. The Navy had some dress whites that were shorts and other branches issued PT uniforms with shorts but no authorized shorts for the front line soldier in the American Army in North Africa.

Okay, Lee, the RS Helpline Fashion Police Advisory Board has authorized me to grant you one-time absolution for your sin, since you have freely confessed it. But be advised that your soul is on the watch list.

Kent, and what about all those native Germans who were also wearing shorts? Have you been given authority to grant them absolution, as well.

Lee: I have no authority to do that, because the jurisdiction of the Helpline Fashion Police Advisory Board is limited to American citizens (and we don't need jurisdiction over Canadians because they dress better than we do).

I gotta learn not to drink and read this at the same time or I'll end up shorting (no pun intended) my keyboard out.

Lee, naturally the event does not apply to Germans who are in their home terrority, as it is designed for travelers/tourists. Those Germans who are traveling beyond their borders in shorts are making a run for the podium in Kent's Worst-Dressed category. ;)

Are lederhosen exempt?

If that's Lee, then we have to disqualify him...no skin showing.

Gosh, don't the Germans have a word for men's shorts? It's called leiderhosen. This type of clothing goes back a few centuries. In fact, when one of my nephews was employed by Disneyland, his job was to climb the Matterhorn in leiderhosen. The you lady inside Minnie Mouse kinda liked it. She married him.

She cheated on Mickey??????

Kent, Please advise on the status of the following Olympic events in the making:

"Sidewalk Blocking Event with Maps and RS Books"

"Xtreme Loud Complaining about Surroundings"

"Slack-jawed Staring up at Important Monument"

"Gypsy-Dodging"

I thought Travelers' Olympics would include such events as:

Luggage Carousel Baggage Chase

Upright Carry-On Bag PRess into the Overhead Bin

Minding the Gap (similar to pole vault)

Balancing two cups of hot coffee on a regional train

Trying to follow all of TSA's rules without being sent to secondary

Any I missed?

Kent,

I just heard on ESPN 2 that the American "200 Meter Tourist Front Pocket Dash" team has been disqualified. All of them failed random hidden hand gun testing.

These and these are Germans (?) I saw in Kleinwalsertal, a part of Austria. Note, these were my own photos and I temporarily put them on my website, but I have since removed them to save space. 6/11/11

Rick Steves has knees?!? Wow, what are they like? Do they operate like regular knees, or are they somehow more evolved, perhaps more savvy, more fun?

Breaking news: The Germans have decided to compete in a new category - The speedo / beer belly competition. Extra points will be given when sandals and socks are added to this beachwear ensemble. No shirts allowed. Word has it that they are also thinking about the "early morning towel emplacement on the beach chair category" too, but the Brits may not allow this at the London Olympics.

Just watched PBS - Rick Steves' in Greece. He had shorts on with his beige or grey shoes with socks and his same travel shirt. I think I commented to my husband that this was the first time I had seen him in shorts. Hey, he's being cool and comfortable while traveling on the boat to the outer Greek Islands.
Dress comfortably. I worried about taking nicer clothes to Italy last year. I was shocked at how underdressed everyone was. I fit right in with my travel clothes.

The guy on the left of Lee's second photos. Wasn't he.......Goldfinger?

Okay everyone - I leave in a few days for a 21 day, 6 country RS tour and now I am second guessing my choice of comfort - However, I would like to stress on the word comfort. I found men's capri shorts that are extremely comfortable and full of pockets - deep pockets. I assure everyone, I do not look like a man in them - the length is just at the top of my knee - I have a sarong that I will wrap around me (like a skirt) when I enter museums that require cover up. I don't think nor do my friends and family think I look goofy. I don't want to offend the countries I visit, but I really don't think any of them will pay much attention to little ol me.........

Happy Travels and Keep Smiling :)

Well, at least in Bermuda, shorts are still accepted. I loved seeing the retailers in Bermuda in shorts, shirts, ties, and sports coats! And of course the friendly Bermuda policemen in their Bermuda shorts. The elder where I went to church even helped serve communion wearing Bermuda shorts. But I will admit there are way too many people who obviously don't have a mirror in their homes, or they wouldn't dare go out in public looking the way they do!

I'm not surprised....I've worked for PBS.

Kent, I took those pictures in 2000 in Baad, at the upper end of Kleinwalsertal, a valley in the Austrian Alps only accessible from Germany (Oberstdorf). Unless they were natives of the valley, they were probably Germans. I never heard a word of English there.

Just to settle the military shorts question. NO, our troops do not wear shorts. Ever.I asked some guys today who had been "over" there and they all laughed. Have you seen how much stuff they have to wear, including gloves, and then you think they are gonna put on shorts for the finishing touch? Sorry to disappoint. Maybe you saw some British or Australian troops or Navy folks?

Frank, that guy does favor Goldfinger. Oddjob must be close by. Maybe Lee can come up with a photo of Oddjob and his cast iron hat.
Jo, thanks for clearing that up on today's American soldiers. In Vietnam which was a very hot place no shorts were issued. They were worn while off duty but not issued or allowed while on duty. Except for the o.d. underwear.

I'm sorry - BUT, I think only snooty people judge other people for what they wear. I truly believe in respect for culture and all, but we are all the same in the end - Hard working, passionate travelers and I for one like my travel with a dose of comfort.

I think the reason shorts are not worn in some parts of Europe is just because it's too cold! I was in Britain this summer, and the one day I wore a skirt instead of jeans, I froze to death. In July. Shorts were just not practical. Most places I've been in Europe (except far southern Europe) are pleasant enough in the summer to wear long pants and be comfortable, so why would people ever buy shorts when they have long pants that are perfectly okay year-round? Not buying clothes they can only wear two or three months out of the year seems practical to me.

I live in Florida, and we wear shorts a lot - not to work or anything, but pretty much any time we're going to be outside because the temperature here in August and September approaches what must be similar to that of the surface of the sun (except with higher humidity). For us, it's not practical to NOT wear shorts. We may look goofy, but at least we're a little less likely to be overcome by heat stroke :) Rick lives in Washington, where I imagine adults in shorts DO look goofy, considering that the weather is much cooler there. Again, practicality.

I wonder if we're making this an either/or subject when it should be a maybe?

Wearing shorts in the summer in Paris would probably have you stick out as a tourist. But wearing shorts in Nice or Provence in the summer, might not.

When I lived in Manhattan, I wouldn't think of wearing shorts during the week. But lots of people wore them on summer weekends especially if they were heading out to Central Park.

Did you ever think that some people don't want to wear shorts because they just don't like the way they look in shorts. Of course, the excuse they use is that they want to fit in....:)

The wearing of shorts is more individual and situational that anything else.

Okay, it's that time of year again. Time to bring back our Shorts Versus No Shorts topic thread (for further enlightenment on this topic, see prior posts, above in this thread).

Is this new interest Weiner-inspired?

Well, for the ladies, I can report that sundresses and short-shorts are popular, flip-flops have moved into a competing position, occasionally interspersed with sundresses, leggings and knee high boots. (don't ask, but I see this odd combo too often to not comment on it) If you are wearing jeans, and want to be in style, make them skinny legged jeans. For the guys, go for it. Wear those shorts with pride. Levis are still big as are tennis shoes of all kinds. Converse has lost a bit of momentum, but is still keeping up with other styles. Flip flops are edging out normal shoes on a regular basis. For teens, Hollister is the big name to wear as is Ed Hardy. The kids are lined up for hours trying to get into the Hollister store in Frankfurt. Shoes with rocker bottoms from various brands, like MBT, Skecher, etc. are being seen everywhere, so have lost a bit of that dorky appeal. Socks and sandals are still out, as are polyester elastic waist bands, jogging pants, and pants that make noise when you walk.

Jo, since I fall into the 90% of women who have no business wearing skinny jeans, will I look like a total idiot wearing my boot cut jeans? And thanks for the sun dress suggestion. Most of the cities we'll be in, in Eastern Europe will probably be cool enough for jeans. But when we're in Dubrovnik, or if it's a warm day in one of the other cities, a casual dress would be a great way to stay cool but not stick out like a sore thumb. Although I'm pretty confident that there will be people in Dubrovnik wearing shorts since it will be really warm!

Notice to Rick Steves' Merchandising Team: I sense a new merchandise marketing opportunity for your web store: Rick Steves Travel Shorts, and if you order before X date, you will get the free "When/Where Should I Wear These Shorts" guide. (All the Rick Steves' loyalists will want to be the first on their block to have these.) Then there can be the Super Deluxe Rick Steves Travel Shorts as the 2.0 version a year later, which will come with a built in money belt. (Second wave of sales.) Kidding, of course, but hey, maybe these pups would sell. Fun thread :)

Jo, I've noticed that in NYC all the young women are wearing these knee high leather boots in May! It's definitely a fashion statement. It's hot as heck, but they are still wearing boots! ; ) I generally still dress very Wisconsin even though I'm living in NYC. I've heard that there is a section of NYC called Little Wisconsin. I also heard that Little Italy isn't that great anymore. Living in NYC still reminds of traveling in Europe. Today I went to a cheese shop and a fishmonger. I think that only other place I've hit that particular combination before is Europe. ; ) Pam

The girls in the knee high leather boots in summer go along with the guys in wool fedoras. I'm ok with hats coming back in style, but our grandfathers would have switched to straw panamas in the heat.

Jo has brought back an unfortunate memory for me - one that I had managed to repress for years (so thanks a bunch Jo). I remember wearing knee-high boots in the dead of summer in Boston. Of course, they were "summer" boots, knee-high, lace-up, platform with a 5 inch heel and made of a canvas-like material for summertime. I had them in several colours. Wore them with hot pants. Remember those? (...hangs head in shame). I live in So Carolina now. This is the third (or maybe the fourth) summer I've seen our USC co-eds wearing sundresses or short shorts with Uggs-like boots. So I guess these strange fashion trends just get passed on in varying formats from one generation to another. PS - I think my canvas lace up boots were much cooler than Uggs.

Larry, the German shorts are not called 'leiderhosen'. Leiderhosen means 'unfortunately pants' which they may well be. My husband has three knees (an unfortunate defect) and is still not too proud to wear his shorts which is probably why he got bitten by a tick. Unfortunately, short unfortunately pants should not be worn in tick infested areas.

Shoni, I was going to comment on "Leiderhosen" too, but since the thread was from 2008, I thought I was a little late. We had another thread a few years ago about Leiderhosen (unfortunately pants) and Liederhosen (song pants).

Jo, in Madrid and southern Spain we saw lots of young women in skinny jeans and boots in the 80F weather, maybe to them that's still cool weather? The other "trend" was skin-toned pantyhose worn under short-shorts, especially cut-off jeans. Weird. BTW I saw many women of all ages wearing jeans all over Spain, lots of skinny jeans on the young women but also other cuts. The older women wear the jeans fitted and with nice tops and shoes so it doesn't look too casual or sloppy.

When I was in Stockholm in November, 2001, I observed that the mailmen wore shorts...longer ones...but shorts...

Exactly! (post immediately above) And as it is here, in Europe mailpersons tend to be the arbiters of fashion. And for the 2012 edition of ETBD, isn't it time for Rick to rescind his infamous pronouncement on short, which remains in the 2011 ed. of Europe Through the Back Door: "No matter how hot it is, grown adults look goofy in shorts." (Master, say it isn't so.)

I wore khaki cargo pants to the Wall group meeting this morning in Denver. I wear shorts like this almost every day around here. Arnold, I noticed, was wearing shorts, too.

Now the truth comes out! I wonder how many "closet shorts wearers" we have on this board? I thought one of the requirements for posting here is that in the registration process you have to check the box that says "I never wear shorts, well, not in Europe."

http://www.ricksteves.com/blog/ Well then there's this vlog post from yesterday entitled Baggy Pants Brigade. Perhaps in the next edition of ETBD RS will completely bypass shorts and go directly to baggy pants.

How about the second stage- "denial"- as in "I only wear shorts in the hotel room". Or "no one can see me while I'm driving in the south of France". or "I only wear shorts in the U.S. " "Ok, maybe in the summer in the Islands...but only on the resort grounds..."
I'm buying those Rick Steves shorts 2.0 version Margaret has suggested if they keep gelato and croissant calories from showing up.

I just returned from 2 days in paris and 13 days in Switzerland and found so many people now wearing shorts. They take up less room in your suitcase and 75 degrees in Lake Lugano,Interlaken, and Luzern with the humidity felt like mid 80's in california. Now when I travel to europe I will always include 2 pairs of shorts along with my tennis shoes. Levi's are to hot to wear in june-sept.

Bulletin - Before the great wet and cold wave hit a couple of weeks ago I was wearing shorts. Usually the zip-off kind. Not now, I've returned to long sleeves and jackets. Pulled out a fisherman's knit sweater night before last. Big Bulletin - yesterday I went into a store and bought 2 - two - pairs of blue jeans. First jeans I've had for over 30 years - as a celebration of losing nearly 60 pounds. Now I know that's not mainland Europe - its the UK - but we are part of Europe. (ish). Shorts and jeans....

Congrats on the weight loss, Nigel!

Nigel, 60 pounds, wow! Congratulations.

The problem is that Nigel previously weighed eighty-seven pounds. He now has to jump on the keys to type.