Concerns of "what to wear" WHY????

I agree, Michelle! I feel that I dress reasonably appropriately/conservatively when in other countries, but I have seen locals wearing things that I wouldn't be caught dead in, just as I see them here. I did have an Irish friend comment on the "loud" color of my raincoat (a dull red), but other than that, I haven't heard a word about what I wear. You're right - you probably will never see those people again, and so what if one of them comments to a friend later that they saw an oddly dressed tourist (or whatever)? As you say, your behavior is SO much more important than what you are wearing!

Michelle,

If you bring the chisel, I'll bring the big rock.

Amen! Amen! and Amen! I have always valued comfort and practicality above fashion- even in my "normal" life. I travel to learn about other places, history, cluture, people.... not to flaunt my own! I am always amazed at people who travel and expect things to be just like home. I also have never understood those who think they can "fit in" and not be known as a tourist. Oh well... that's life.

Everytime we visit Europe I keep shooting down the ideas here that we should all wear black shoes, black pants, black tops, and black coats.

We saw several men in France wearing red corduroy pants! I kept saying the Rick Steves lot should be seeing this, LOL

We saw mauve, pink, lime green, blue, navy, red, and yellow jackets between London and France. We saw the usual dark grey, black or brown wool jackets, but there were ski jackets, Northface, Colombia (not by Americans either!), and all sorts of brands that we have here. Europeans come to America and they buy OUR brands!

We even saw men in suits carrying backpacks. Where is that crowd who insist you look like a tourist if you carry a backpack?

I did not see many people dressed like Rick Steves! Seriously, we make it a point to observe what natives wear, and while in general they are way better dressed than the average American, they have been embracing colours over the years. There were also white shoes, and let's not forget jeans. Who said we shouldn't wear jeans or light coloured jeans in winter? You're being shot down. There were men and women (various ages to boot), wearing all shades of jeans. They were not all dark. Oh, let us not forget the hoodys. Saw some males in their 50s and 60s with hoodys :-) They were not Americans.

Because some folks have more time on their hands than sense?

This gets kick around all the time and sometimes gets a little silly. All the prior points are valid. But IN MY OPINION what works for me is that I do not want to STAND OUT. There is a difference between standing out and blending in. I have no thoughts about passing as a local but am interesting in not looking like a neon sign that says come and get me. When that pickpockets surveys a crowd for potential targets I want him to have real doubts about me/us being a good target. To that end we do dress a bit better that a lots of tourist, our colors are more subdued, and some of our clothing has been purchased in Europe. It has worked for us. In nearly 20 years of travel, 300+ days, we have never had a problem.

While I do not disagree with the sentiments posted here, I do think this is one of the most misunderstood points of the travel philosophy touted by Mr. Steves. I do not think that the intent should be to try to "blend" or fool others into something you are not. However consider the following in regards to the "what to wear question" (just because I like to be contrary)

Do you dress differently for church than a day at the beach? Why? I suppose because there is somewhere a definition in your mind of "appropriate dress" Shorts may be great comfort, but not allowed in many churches and many would say not appropriate at a fine dining restaurant in Paris. Some say due to cultural norms, some say out of respect to others, don't know, but that's how it plays out.

Relaxing in Piazza Navona (as I will be in a few weeks!) as I scan around I will notice the guy in the clown suit, many others, not so much. I really don't care if he is a tourist or the guy from France in red pants, but I will notice him (as did the poster). For me, good people watching, for someone else, if the person was carrying a camera and wandering with their nose in a guidebook, maybe an opportunity. Not always the case, but that first draw of attention does have the possibility of drawing unwanted attention.

Finally, when I travel, I certainly do agree with comfortable, but rather than pack multiple pairs of shoes and outfits, I pack light. That means maximizing the functionality of each item of clothing. So I suppose that does mean fairly neutral "dress casual" that works equally well for walking the city in the morning, museums, churches, and a nice meal in the evening. Now, yes, in the Greek Isles doing the beach, that outfit will be a shirt, shorts/swimsuit and flip-flops, but there that works for everything. In short, if something can't be worn across many situations, it probably is not worth the weight to pack.

Overall, little of the above has to do with how I act.

You are SO right. This topic has gone around on this board for years. I think there have been times where the justification is not that people are concerned about looking like tourists, they are concerned about looking like AMERICAN tourists. People used to recommend that you sew a Canadian flag on your backpack so you wouldn't stick out as an American. I thought that was silly too.

Previous posters are right- I think it's more how you act than what you wear. Of course, I have a bit of a southern accent, so I'm busted the minute I speak to anyone! =)

I'm with you, Michelle. Great post.

"But IN MY OPINION what works for me is that I do not want to STAND OUT." A very reasonable, easily obtainable goal, Frank. However, as you probably know, we do see many posts in which people specifically ask "how to blend in".

My wife is Belgian and she has an interesting opinion on this topic. To her, tourists trying to blend in with locals by emulating the styles is equivalent to her walking around America in a cowgirl outfit.

In one of these discussions in the past, one of our posters hit the nail on the head (forget who it was). To paraphrase, she wrote something along the lines of "We tend to overestimate how much strangers regard us."

Michelle,

Your comments are right on target. As you say within appropriateness, wear what is comfortable, especially, if you're in Europe in the summer. To me Americans stick out...in all my trips I could spot them out, it was even easier in past decades..fashion styles were an easy give-away. BUT, so what? In England your American accent and vocab. will indicate to the locals who you are, aside from your clothing.

When I'm over there, I don't make the effort to fit in, blend in...I dress for comfort, but no shorts, wear clean white tennis shoes, carry a fanny pack (I prefer the term waist belt) for my camera and film,
and wear American style shirts and pants. Will all these things cause me to be a conspicous American---most likely, but, as I said, so what!! I will look like a tourist and also one from the US. How you will be treated and responded to is going to be dependent upon your manners and disposition. This has been my experience dealing with locals over the years since my first trip (solo) made when I was 21 and a senior at the university.

Wow- great comments all! I wholeheartedly agree w/trying to "blend in" for safety reasons though I think it is still somewhat challenging with cameras, maps etc. I would however add that I also think it has more to do with how "experienced" of a traveler you are and if you are in a city, how comfortable you are there. No matter what counrty you are from, if you seldom spend time in the city I believe you tend to be a little more vulnerable just because it is something you are not used to. Crowds, homeless people and traffic are overwhelming for all but to those who rarely see this its scary and intimidating. Being conscious of your surroundings and city smart will serve you anywhere.

I would also add that locals stay far, far away from major tourist attractions during the high season. Locals in Europe and America travel frequently during the summer because many of us have children on summer break. ANY city during the heat of the summer is miserable with traffic, people and buildings adding to the heat. Locals, if they can, leave. What's left- tourists ;)!

I love most of the responses!

As a European I am especially thrilled to read that we are finally talking about the same thing :-))

We are talking about how to dress appropriately and comfortably, yet respectfully, while traveling. Period. About not being so obvious touristy as to make oneself a target for pickpockets.
Nationality unimportant.

It NEVER was about how to dress like Europeans, to blend in, or to be unrecognizable as Americans, or tourists period. The point always was to combine comfort with respect for local cultures.
We can spot you Americans anyhow, just by the personal space distances you keep, and some other subtle things, no matter how you dress ;-))
But we can also spot Russian/Eastern European tourists (at the moment, THEY need a little help on that subject . .) and the Chinese tourists, who are a big challenge at the moment (we are simply not prepared for them, nor their travel habits yet)

In my opinion, times have changed drastically.

I do guided tours in my home region of Austria, many of them groups of American tourists. These days Americans tend to be much better (appropriately) dressed for travel in Europe. Very rarely do I, or my colleges, encounter Americans in white tennis shoes, baggy shorts or holey T-shirts anymore, even though it still does happen here and there. When it does, it seems like blast from the past ;-))

Black seems to be the new trend, black walking shoes, black trench coats, black pants ;-)) And it seems that you guys have discovered the joy of scarves! Cool!
I am not sure if it is due to the thriving travel accessory industry (like RS, Magellan, etc, globalisation, or the fact that the very nature of American tourists has changed. These days we get mostly very well to do Americans here, very conservative Americans. Most of them absolutely delightful!
While they don't insist on Coca Cola, Hamburgers and ice cubes, they bring new challenges with them.

Happy travels!

Hello Corinna, glad to read your post.

No matter what we wear, we are always taken for a local, whether we were in the UK, France, Italy or Spain. And my husband and kids all wore jeans :-) I personally find jeans can be uncomfortable so I used a charcoal corduroy most of the time, or navy.

When I go to Disney World and see a guy with short shorts, socks with sandals and a camera around his neck, I can be pretty sure that he's not Amercan. However, he's appropriately dressed for the place he's visiting.I would feel uncomfortable visiting a museum in a large city in the US in shorts or jeans and a tee shirt so I'm not likely to wear them in Milan. I, like most of the other posters, don't dress to "disguise" myself but rather for either appropriateness (is that a word?)or practical reasons. If I wear mostly black, I can get more wear before washing and I look okay at a market or museum. If I wear slacks instead of jeans, they'll dry quickly and often have more give and are more comfortable. Business casual makes it easy to go from sightseeing during the day to a play at night.Add a scarf - no changing. I wear one pair of black shoes and maybe take a pair of sandals. Again the shoes will go from day to night and I haven't overloaded by carry on. I think most people by now realize they aren't going to fade into the local population but rather don't want to stand out too much. Besides, it's a real kick when a local stops you to ask for directions.

When I go to Europe --it's always in the summer with the temperature anywhere from 22 to 30C--it does not make sense to wear black or charcoal coloured pants in that weather,regardless of the fashion, above all, it's not me. As stated above, I dress appropriately and comfortably, which means also neatly. You don't want to be looking like a slob in Europe, especially an American one.

Yes, there are all sorts of ways to spot out Americans from the style and pattern of shirts, the style in shorts, wearing polo shirts, style in glasses, hair cut styles, the white tennis shoes, the fanny pack, how American guys wear their wallets, etc, etc. BUT, it's your dispositon, manners, and attitude that determine how you are going to be reponded to and treated. As Michelle emphasised, don't be loud and obnoxious. Are there the Ugly Americans over there?

Yes, in my trips over the years, I've seen them, just as I have seen the Ugly French, Ugly German, Ugly Chinese, and Ugly English, or the Ugly African as well. There is simply the Ugly Tourist, period.

I have seen folks who I swore were Americans and they turned out to be from other European countries. I can't remember the last time I spotted an ugly American, which is a good thing.

But serioulsy, they do wear jeans of all colours, and they do wear white shoes, and they also wear the odd white Reebok or Nike. We are always surprised by this because I go over with thoughts of what is written here about what not to wear, only to see a Euro person dressed in what we are not supposed to wear, LOL

Corinna, I found your post very interesting. As a tour operator of course you experience ALL types! I am sure you have VERY entertaining stories!
I would, however, caution you in making broad generalizations about entire countries of people based on your very specific sample size.
I will speak from an American prespective as that is who I am. I believe it is fair to say that in all countries there are differences, sometimes extreme, within the same country. The US is BIG. To go from one place to another in the US is truly like traveling to a different country. Areas vary incredibly in topography/geography, climate, architecture and dialect. It is hard for me as an American to try to "classify" us all in one category our differences can be that different!
I think that probably holds true for most areas.
To expect foreign visitors to inherently know all local customs is unfair. To expect people to be courteous and polite spans all continents. That is my only point in all of this.
You have a very unique opportunity to learn about different people and cultures. If their behaviors are so offensive to you or to others or endangering other people, you should say something. Maybe they just truly don't know and you will teach them something :)! Maybe if you engage them a little more they will teach you something :)!

How very true, Eli, lol!
I think that all the time, and I am not even talking about our young people starting to wear those saggy pants and big chains!

The discussions of the "European Dress Code" on these sorts of sites (here, fodors, frommers etc.) almost always ends up being some vocal Americans telling other Americans what "Europeans" do and don't wear. Occasionaly an actual European will chime in to say that, actually, there is no dress code and we do wear jeans and trainers (sneakers) etc. These view are never popular...

As a little example, take Ed's post about seeing the "odd white Reebok" - Reebok are a European company (as are Adidas and Puma) which kind of flies in the face of the idea that we don't wear their products.

There's the concept of appropriate clothing for each activity but, with the exception of churches in Italy and parts of Spain, that's no different than in the US. There are reasons why jeans aren't the best travelling trousers but the idea that they mark you are an American are nonsense.

I wonder how these myths about what the locals wear survive peoples first trip to Europe, I've been a tourist in the US, my own country and a number of other European countries and have certainly never been surrounded by the acres of locals dressed head to toe in black with leather shoes which apparently populate Europe. I have seen lot's of people dressed for the office but they disappear after 9AM and are replaced by lots of people wearing jeans, T-shirts and even shorts (shock!) if the weather is cooperating.

One thing to remember is, that as a rule of thumb, most tourists in any big city are from other parts of that country. If you're in NYC queueing for the Statue of Liberty your likely surrounded by a majority of other Americans. It's no different in London, Rome or Paris.

Michelle, I know!
I lived in the US for a very long time, which is why I take special care when I have American groups, or even just Americans in a group, or random Americans I come across in my private life.
To me, it is all about building bridges and furthering eachothers understanding about our respective cultures and ways of life.
Nothing I post here is meant as criticism, even it might seem like that to you at times. It is simply a different perspective :-))

I am the first one to shake my head at my fellow Austrians/Europeans, trust me. And, yes! I have stories to tell ;-))

Sometimes even the Europeans don't "dress like Europeans." Our tour guide in France spent most of his time in shorts and t-shirt. Who says French men don't wear shorts? Ride the Metro or Underground, almost anywhere, and you will see a great range in dress styles. The only time in Paris that I saw well-dressed/groomed people was during the morning commute hours. They were going to work. I just try not to look too sloppy. At home it's sweatpants, t-shirts, and sports shoes. I have my travel wardrobe that is real clothing of the easy-to-handwash type.

Great post Peter! Thanks for chiming in.

Thanks Eli. On one level I don't have a problem if people want to believe in some kind of fantasy Europe where people still dress like it's the 1950s - whatever floats their boats. There's nothing wrong with a bit of fantasy on vacation.

I do think it's a massive shame when first time travellers get upset of worried about "dress codes" or "fitting in" because people push these myths as truth.

Look at the "UGG boots in Italy" thread: half a dozen posts saying how Italians would never wear them; intermixed with a poster from Italy saying they are all over the place...

I agree.
Great posts, Peter and Eli!
There really truly is NO dress code in Europe!

If you avoid sloppiness and the fact that most Europeans dress up a bit to go to dinner, if you don't wear shorts and tank tops to visit sacred sites, you shouldn't even give another thought to this topic ever again, and instead turn your focus on good travel clothes which hold up for what you need them to hold up for.

take it from a real European

You guys bring a reality to the board that we need and greatly appreciate.

I couldn't agree more, Michelle, that it's how you act that marks you as a rude visitor. We were at the ferry ticket booths in Sorrento when one of the tenders from a cruise ship deposited its group. We cringed as a man loudly asked "what do you mean you don't take dollars?".

"We can spot you Americans anyhow, just by the personal space distances you keep, and some other subtle things, no matter how you dress ;-))"

That is a fact. I like to sit in cafes and people watch -- trying to guess who the Americans are. Without moving I will usually find out as the vocal range of most Americans is several decibels above everyone else.

It makes me smile.

Lots of talk about fitting in on fashion, how about modulating our voices to the local norm?

I definitely agree ... there is no dress code in Europe.

I remember a recent thread that talked about how Londoners mostly wore long wool coats rather than ski parkas. I was confused. Why did this seem unusual? I wear a long wool coat. I live in the DC area and take the metro to work; I would say that the majority of people going to work on the metro wear wool coats. I was perplexed why anyone would even comment on the types of coats that people wore in London. Then I noticed that the OP was from Colorado. It explained the ski parka comment.

I think most of the posts about clothing are from inexperienced travellers. They really want to be respectful. Ironically, the people who ask these kind of questions are generally people who already dress appropriately.

Laura, I remember someone here saying that we should leave the Northface jackets back home. Well, we were in Oxford, and what should be see there? They had their very own Northface store, and that's why we were seeing so many NF jackets all around, LOL

Columbia jackets were popular this time around, and worn by Europeans no less. I think it's super funny to be honest.

I always wore slacks and button down collar shirts.I never even took along a pair of shorts.That all chanaged when I went to Italy last June.I took a pair of shorts and didnt intend to wear them.However when we arrived in Venice it was 90degrees.I wore the shorts,Florence 90degrees and the Ct 90degrees,I wore the shorts after I washed them.It was unusually warm and most everyone was wearing shorts.At this time it didnt matter if I looked like a tourist I was comfortable.

Been watching this for days. Here's what I think:

Wear what you've got.

If you don't have a good rain jacket, then get one.

Bucks spent on clothes prior to departure just ups the cost of the trip or cuts down on the time you can be somewhere.

Same for luggage. Can't imagine buying a new suitcase to go to Buffalo. Duct tape is rather fashionable when you get right down to it.

Eli, the North Face comment is funny. The daypack I take with me when I travel is a North Face daypack. I bought it in Sweden :)

And for the person who wondered where the legion of people all wearing black are ... well I can answer that question. They hang out near the Farragut West metro station in DC. Today as I was coming out of the station, virtually everyone in front of me was wearing a black or navy coat. I wonder what the tourists say when they go home.

I'm with Ed...just wear what you have! I just got back Saturday from Europe and you see every type of clothing there. I wore mainly turtle neck sweaters with a scarf, pants, black boots and a long down winter coat. I fit in just fine everywhere I went. It was very cold, so everyone had coats on anyway. When I mentioned something about "loud Americans" they never even heard that phrase before. I think we tend to worry way more than we should. I actually had some people ask me for directions, which I thought was hilarious. I just said I wasn't from here.

I agree with the last sentiment of the original post: the most important thing is to be polite and kind and to treat others with respect.

However, and don't mean to be a fashion snob, looking decent is also important and it absolutely does not mean that you are compromising comfort. I do not wear light jeans, shorts, and white shoes at home, so why should I wear that while vacationing. I think your style in Europe is dictated by what you wear back home. I wore my maroon corduroy pants and my husband wore his North Face jacket and we were stopped twice on the streets of Paris to give directions. I wasn’t trying to “blend in”, I just wore what I wear back home. I think that good basic fashion sense is pretty universal.

I also live in a city with its fair amount of tourists, and I must say, I am sometimes appalled at what some folks are wearing. You are right, you can spot most tourists immediately (and most of the tourists here are Americans amongst Americans). However, some look much nicer than others and they also look pretty comfortable (no 4-inch heals spotted yet). I agree, wear what you want, but I also think that some people just dress better than others regardless of where they are from.

I agree that the best way to travel is to be polite, respectful, don't be a loudmouth. That shows respect not only to the other people in the museums, etc, that you might visit, but also to your fellow travelers if you are on a group tour. The comment about people all wearing all black had me laughing, because I lived in New York City several years ago, at a time when everyone wore only black; it was the only color considered "chic". You went into a store, and you could only find black skirts, sweaters, boots, suits. It is a ridiculous look, like everyone is on their way to a funeral. I think neutrals are better. I prefer expensive-looking knits in tan, camel, cream, charcoal gray. Knits roll up and fit well into luggage, mix well also. Throw in some pretty scarves and belts, and you are well dressed for the museum or dinner. As for carrying maps and guidebooks around and having your nose in them, much better to study them for months before leaving home and become very familiar with the places you are going. Study them at the hotel at night while on your trip, carry them in your backpack during the day for quick reference. But it is just not that difficult to learn your way around, so act like you know where you are going. Tip: In New York, the way muggers pick their victims: the people who wander around looking lost and clutching maps.

Interesting discussion.

I think the word "appropriate" gets thrown around a lot in our society. I had a conversation with appropriateness once with a group of middle school boys. One wise boy said, "I'd be appropriate if I knew what it was in all situations."

Bravo kid, you hit the nail on the head.

We don't all know what is appropriate and when. So, we ask and read and try to learn. I read that word here a lot. And you know what, not everyone here is very worldly in their daily life, educating themselves to cultural differences. Perhaps travel will be a start for them. So, take the questions with a grain of salt and remember, you maybe once were there too.

I used to own a store in the Mall of America. There are ugly tourists from every country, including ours. I think a humble, polite attitude is best for all. When in doubt, smile. Shared laughter goes a long way.

I would sum up my packing and attitude towards "fitting in" below:

1. Remember, no one knows you.
2. Bring old clothes or thrift store/garage sale finds. Leave them in your hotel when you leave so you can bring more stuff home.
3. Your smile, willingness to try goes further than a cute outfit.
4. Black is forgiving, but red is fun
5. Invest in a great raincoat.
6. Two good pairs of shoes, so comfortable that they're ugly. You will thank yourself for them when you see people hobbled with blisters.
7. No one really looks at your feet. See #6

I'm pretty much a basic jeans and comfortable layers kinda guy and not a fashion horse in any sense but always bring pair of light and dark khakis for Europe.

Sometime back, I was going there on business with a first-timer. He was obsessed with the question- in part out of respect for the client.

My suggestion was pack little or nothing and buy new clothes as "souvenirs"- it was a joke but it ended up working out so well that I've done it a couple of times now.

I would never dream of wearing disposable thrift store clothing on any trip I take to Europe, or anywhere else for that matter, except for possibly a very rural setting in the middle of nowhere.

I have posted on this subject many times before, and there are several reasonable views expressed here about what to wear. I agree the way you act is very important, but I cannot understand those who say wear what you want, you will never see these people again -- what do you care what they think?

I care about how I look everywhere I go, and have respect for myself, the places I visit & the people who will see me so I attempt to look as nice as I can -- while strolling around and obviously behaving like a tourist. Comfort is important of course, as are good walking shoes, but in my opinion and experience comfort, ease of care and looking presentable are not mutually exclusive. Being dressed nicely does not imply 4-inch heels or any other over-the-top idea that has been implied, to make this seem like a frivolous or impossible goal.

I had to laugh at Tim's last comment, about packing little and buying clothes as souvenirs. I actually do this. I pack as light as I can, and often, I pick up a shirt or two to supplement my wardrobe on a long trip. It really is a way to balance both packing weight and not standing out unreasonably.

BG,

I think you should visit a thrift store! I wear only clothes from thrift stores. Right now I have on a J Jill cashmere sweater, Jones New York denim trousers, and a silver necklace. The entire outfit cost me $7, including the necklace. If I found an antique or piece of art that I wanted to take home, I'd gladly leave my duds in order to carry it.

I take tons of first timers to thrift stores all the time. The first comment I usually hear is about the number of luxury cars that are in the parking lot.

We make a great living, but thrift shopping has allowed our family to be debt free, travel more, and give more to charity.

I wear high end clothing that I would never be foolish enough to pay full price for. Most items I purchase still have the tags on.

I always look very nice and people who compliment me on my clothes are always very surprised where I got them! I pay so little for them that I wouldn't think twice about leaving them behind.

So agree with you. I am in a tourista area as well. When I am up skiing I certainly know who the tourists are and who isn't, but I really don't care.

Had to laugh about getting beautiful vacation clothes at thrift stores. That is what I do too. Found a brand new Escada jacket for 5 euro. If you go to the thrift stores in high end neighborhoods, you may find clothes that you will want to bring home with you, instead of disposing of them.

There is a huge difference between wearing what is comfortable to you and what you would wear at home and wearing clothing that makes you look like a slob or something ridiculous or overly revealing. I doubt if anyone on here is advocating that. The point is that you do not need to wear expensive clothing so that you blend in with the people in the city who are most likely going off to work in their suits or dresses with high heels. The wearing of jeans or white tennis shoes will not brand you as a tourist, it is the other stuff, how you walk, what are you carrying, the hairstyle, etc. but it doesn't matter really. There is nothing wrong with being a tourist.

A clarification - I also get items from thrift stores from time to time, and have found some nice things. A poster above mentioned wearing thrift store clothing and then throwing it away while on a European trip -- which in my mind means it would not be that fine or worth wearing to begin with. Doesn't matter where you buy things, the result is what matters.

BG I think you took what I and others were saying a little too literally. The point is to be comfortable without OBSESSING about what you wear and what people think. No one is advocating being a slob but what may be comfortable or acceptable (I will also clarify when I say "acceptable" I mean not having bare arms in cathdrals/shorts etc as I realize this varies w/each person) for you may not be for someone else and that is OK. Someone also said, and I very much agree, that your point of reference really comes back to where you are from. What's "acceptable" in Boston might like completely ridiculous in Miami. That's when you get sucked into those "vacation" purchases that you LOVE and have to have when you're there and then come home and say "What was I thinking? LOL!
I also am curious if the Europeans out there "concern" themselves with trying to fit in when they visit here? Quite a task concerning the vast differnces in the US ;)!

Sometimes, I think that some Europeans look more ridiculous than us Americans are known to stereotypically look. I saw a man wearing red acid wash jeans with neon green Crocs with a mullet hair cut when I was in Prague. I know that in Europe, the mullet is in but it still makes me laugh. The mullet and acid wash jeans remind me of middle school in rural northern NY in the late 80's. But these were red acid wash and with neon green crocs!!!!!WOW!

Not that I want to blend in, I just don't want to stick out. Jeans and dark tops with my black boots is what I wear at home and in Europe. But in Europe, similar colors make doing laundry easier. It may be a bit bland but it's practical for me in my travels. It seems like it is about being sensible and appropriate. I am comfortable in my sweatpants but I am not going to wear them ever in Europe, except to sleep in.