First time in London England --What to wear?!

I'll let others make specific recommendations, but realize this first and foremost... anyone who's paying attention will realize you're a tourist no matter what you wear. Dress up if you want to look good, but don't expect to blend in.

When are you going? Where are you going? What will you be doing? A bit more info and we can help.

What time of year are you going? You state your desire to stay warm and dry. I wore capris in May, wearing jeans this October. Taking layers and a rain coat. As far as shoes check out Keens. I swear by them and smart wool socks.

To look fashionable, I would love to have the $7,000 embellished cashmere trench from Burberry to wear over some Alexander McQueen outfit and trot around in Stella McCartney heels, but I'd be constantly worried that I would get my fancy duds dirty by sitting on some bench in Trafalgar Square with dried pigeon poo on it. Check out the websites for chain retail stores like TopShop or Zara. You can see what those who aren't royalty are wearing these days. It's not that far off from what's sold in the U.S. A pair of dark rinse jeans and some nice sweaters or tops with flats or boots should take you from breakfast through dinner. Wear a real coat and carry an umbrella in your purse (yes, a purse, not a "daypack" or a PacSafe) - not something made from Goretex that turns into a rain poncho & bears a North Face logo. I disagree with the standard hetero male response of "they will instantly know you are a tourist". Not necessarily so if you aren't constantly parked in front of major landmarks clutching a camera and guidebook and you dress a little more urban and a little less "suburban soccer mom on the way to Starbucks and pilates class". I've had plenty of French, Italian, Dutch and Belgians approach me in their native language and then be startled when they realize I am from North America.

Tina, Ceidleh's post above is 100% right. I have been to London and Europe many times and lived in France last year. What she describes is how I and most of the women I saw there dressed. The desire to fit in and look fashionable is not frivolous or wrong. Looking good and feeling good walking down the street in London will be great!
Just be sure you have very comfortable shoes.... Have fun!

Whoa, Ceidleh, back yourgoodself up for a minute on this anti-macho business. Switching continents just for grins, it's got to be the junk you tote, not the duds. Else why come I can stand on the corner picking my nose in Shanghai wearing my standard ragamuffin clothes and have a Japanese couple come up and ask me directions in their lingo and not be surprised when I can answer? Talk about not blending in!!

I wear the same thing there that I wear at home: jeans, tshirts, cardigans, Keen shoes. I've traveled with others who were more high maintenance than me, and others who were less so. I did notice the people in lots of black, and people who were dressed very nicely, but they were working and I wasn't, and neither of us cared what the other was wearing. Dress to be comfortable. If you feel better a little more dressed up, fine. I saw tourists dressed in all types of clothes. And everything that Ed said in his last post.

Read Ceidleh's post. Now read it again. And ignore comments made by posters who appear to be men, unless you are also asking for advice for a male traveling companion. For shoes-if you are traveling in cool, rainy months, then two pair of closed toe shoes is a good idea. I have one pair of black athletic looking Eccos that I swear by and the second pair is usually Merrell clogs. Unless you plan to wear dresses/skirts then shoes along those lines should work. My daughter though can walk for hours in low heeled boots and those work well with jeans or skirts.

I would love to be able to wear my best overseas but it just doesn't seem practical. First of all, the amount of walking that could be done while on holiday in London; I would not wear my high heel shoes to Disney, so I would not wear my high heeled shoes in London during the day when I am about and around. In the states, I wear my high heeled shoes in the evening when I know I am going to a special even or to a nice place for dinner. I recommend looking for a fashion forward shoe that will accomodate miles of walking on varied terrain, most likely to in wet circumstances; I was in london 7 nights and it rained cats and dogs 6 of those days, non-stop, soaked to my knees every night I came back to my accomodation. Second of all, wearing high end clothing to blend in; I would be cautious about wrinkle savvy clothing, clothing that needs to be dry cleaned, or clothing that special needs for washing. I travel in the winter, so my European wardrobe consists of dark blue jeans, thin sweaters from the Gap, and an underlayer. I can wear these items multiple time without having to wash them after every wear. I just don't want to carry around multiple outfits as I carry my luggage on board. Perhaps try shopping at stores they have in London: Mango, H&M, Gap. Also remember if you had rain like I did, your pants will be trashed every night, up to your knees.
I am not trying to discourage you. I am a young 38 year old. I want to look my best when abroad, trying hard not to stick out like an ugly tourist, but you have to be practical sometimes. Locals most likely don't do as much walking as I do when I travel, so when you see that fashionable lady in a cafe with thigh high boots with 5 inch heel, I am sure she is not putting on the miles as you are.

All very good advice, but, for the hundredth time, nobody cares what you wear.
Be warm, dry, and comfortable.

Lest I raised too much of a firestorm... I'm not saying don't dress up, or don't try to be as stylish as you want to be. Just don't expect the clothes alone to do the blending in for you. Nothing male or female about that observation.

I have two rules when dressing for London: Rule #1: Never get more than arms length from your waterproof rain jacket. Rule #2: They're not kidding when they say "four seasons in one day". Always be prepared for any weather, even when it looks like nice weather in the morning (or you've been lugging your rain jacket around half the day with not a cloud in sight). I guess I can add a general Rule #3: In any large city, the dress is likely to be more formal than in the country or small towns. That said, no one expects you to wear business suits, but short skirts or shorts with sneakers are going to look (and thus make you feel) awkward. So, my recommendations: A good waterproof rain jacket (long enough to cover your bottom and a hood are valuable features), some warm items that can come off and be packed in a bag easily (cap/hat, gloves, scarf, button/zip-up sweater), long pants, warm socks, waterproof walking shoes. I personally am not a fan of packing umbrellas. They don't work well in the wind and can always be purchased there if you want one.

No insecurities, guys. It's just if you don't look like a slob at home, why should you look like one traveling. Travel isn't an excuse for lowering your standards.

And ignore comments made by posters who appear to be men and again we see hate. Comes fairly frequently when somebody wants to know how to get dressed. No reason to slap down half of the human race based on gender, any more than for race, gender orientation, age or religion. Do you see anybody here say you have to be Catholic to comment on Vatican City. A few of the top fashion designers and labels have been and are men, you know. Disagree with the comments made, perhaps, but prejudice of any sort is not good.

Of course, one should wear whatever he wishes to wear and whatever makes him most comfortable while on vacation. Some have no fashion sense whatsoever and don't care...that's fine. Some have no fashion sense but want to change it up a bit for whatever reason...also fine. Others have great fashion sense and will instantly fit in no matter where they are (USA, Canada, Europe, Asia, etc.). Maybe they wear international brands, like Bershka, Zara, UNIQLO, or Superdry. They may be on vacation, so the guidebook and smartphone camera shots of everything in sight will give them away, but they don't care (and shouldn't...they're on vacation). They may be male or female and will look awesome in London, Toronto, New York, Seoul, or Tokyo. There are even a few such people on this Helpline but not many. And on this Helpline, most fashion advice is coming from middle-aged folks or older. That's who posts here, so keep this in mind. Maybe that works for you, and maybe it doesn't. "Living like a local/looking like a local" is an entirely different phenomenon found most often on the RS Helpline and is ridiculous. The male/female debate is absurd. Anyone recall that former XFL/CFL/NFL player with the name, "He Hate Me"? That just popped into my head when I read that someone here feels hurt and hated by the opposite gender in this thread.

I can't see where any of the guys gave fashion advice, just blending comments. Read the whole thread, read it again. Ignore posts by wimmins who think guys don't look around. But, just to chunk more logs on the fire and since there's a good chance I've spent more time in London, over a heck of a lot more years, than anybody who doesn't speak with an accent: A collage of a condensed day hopping around...... Spend a couple of weeks at the Langham (apartment $1200 per night, patrons in boots accepted). Go down to the snazzy private eating joint that you can't get into if you're staying in the common people's rooms. When you get tired of counting the number of staff members, start looking around at what the women are wearing - - jeans and sneakers to five grand outfits. Stand in the lobby and watch who's coming out of the Palm Court, common people's breakfast joint - - holy cow, a lot of those people are famous from all over - - and they're wearing all kinds of stuff - - yeah, well the BBC broadcast center is just across the street and they need to get their faces in front of the public. If your eyes aren't floating from too much coffee, wander a couple blocks down Regent Street to the Nero (blue sign, black letters) and note that nobody matches, they're all different - - that really sucks when you're trying to blend in since you can't tell who to copy to look fashionable.

Back outside, continue downhill to Oxford Circus. Three choices: further down to the snazzy shops, left toward the museum ..... nah, let's be different and hang a right for a couple blocks. Look, that's Selfridges - - it's on TV just like Downtown Abbey - - fashionable clothes in the windows, also stuff that looks like it came from the Gap. Shoppers walking around look like they match the mannequins - - how to blend in when there's no standard. Maybe they all aren't fashionable locals, time to check drivers licenses. Time to look around somewhere else (hour hands of clock spinning magically). No sense going south of the river since all the women are trollops and nobody wants to blend in with them. Barking's out too, since looking like a Hindu or Moslem would be in really bad taste. Might as well stay local. Into the Natural History museum to look at dinosaurs. Nope, probably just tourists what else is around. Hmmm....... Harrods. That's really expensive. Look at all the people coming out with the green and gold shopping bags. That crowd is really fashionable - - scarves, high boots,the works. Uh,oh, he next batch don't match. How can you blend in when they're all no even wearing the same kind of jeans. And some of those sneakers look like they're waterproof or something. And the crocs all aren't the same color. What about the difference between the wax jacket and the Adidas windbreaker? Hurry. Cut through Hyde Park over to the Dorchester. Mr Steves doesn't know it exists. Huh, again. The gal getting out of the Super Rover is fashionable as heck and the old lady climbing into the Super Lexus must be hired help or something.

Helpline posters think Kensington is pretty spiffy. We could go down through the parks and see what's up at the playground, but that'd be just soccer moms ....but they'd be local soccer moms right in the spiffy area......nope, that can't count since they might not be fashionable. Synopsis: described as seen, where seen, in a two-week period less than a year ago. Exercise: Snatch ten people from fifty major cities of the world (skip the ones in kilts, loin cloths, and Eskimo parkas since they'd be obvious at the next step). Pick an even number in whatever fashionable clothes are and some that look like they're getting ready to was the dog. Put a bag over their heads so you can hide slanty eyes, turbans, kinky hair, etc. Put them in a box and shake it up. Put the people back where you think they belong, use fashion if it helps. Take the sacks off their noggins so they can talk and fess up to where they're from. You probably didn't get ten percent right, but, surprisingly, they all fit. Conclusion: You can blend in anywhere because ten percent of the people around you will be wearing the same duds you are, fashionable or comfortable. People dress for what they're about. No matter what you wear, you can't miss being pegged as a tourist if you're gawking, wearing a daypack with hydration kit, carrying a guidebook, and bumping in to walls when you're got your nose in a map.

Wtf?

this is getting interesting.... what happend to not using acronyms with out spelling them out first.....lol.

We were in London a couple of weeks ago. Maybe it was the area we were staying ( Lincoln's Inn Fields) but I'd say half the non-tourist women I saw were wearing knee-length skirts and black tights. By now they are probably wearing nice boots with that outfit.

Hey Tina. If you read through the group therapy above, there's some good advice. I'll thrown in my share since I like the fashion stuff and have been to London more than a few times recently and heading back in 10 days. I wear tall leather black boots every day because I don't have to worry about getting wet and getting my clothes dirty. There's several brands that are good for walking 10 miles a day in. I also only were skirts, dresses, and dark skinny jeans that tuck into the boots to avoid the dirt/water too. You will see lots of the local ladies do this for the same reason. Also, black is very prominent in London. Typical in all big cities during this time of year but very much so here. Another staple is a fitted black pea coat. It doesn't get soaked unless it's pouring and not just misty. I bring a fitted rain coat too. Unfortunately most of them you buy over here look like a plastic yurt on but there's tons of shops in London that sell cute fitted ones that look like dresses without all the logo junk on them and they are real bargains. It's totally up to you and what you feel comfortable with, but for me a trip to London is an excuse to wear my fanciest stuff. Don't forget the scarf and gloves. Oddly, Burberry is as popular in Europe as it is here, but not so much in London except with the tourists. I leave it at home.

Odd. Burberry's headquarters is in London and they hold royal warrants (or so sez the window sign on the Regent Street store). Apparently the hoi polloi aren't getting the notices.

Yep. It's odd. I have a friend who works in the business point it out. I wouldn't have probably noticed it otherwise. You would think there would be more home team support. Maybe it's like people in Orlando that refuse to go to Disney. Leave it for the tourists.

Hah! The rain has stopped and so shall the dissertation. Gentle parting shots: Does anybody know how big london is? Has anybody gotten much beyond the Kensington, Regent's Park, Tower Hill semi-circle plus a little bit of the south bank? Does anybody know how many multinational corporations are in the city? Has anybody stayed in an area where their hide color doesn't match the majority's? Has anybody slogged through Smithfield Market at dawn or is it just Portobello, Borough, and Covent Garden at fashionable times? Has anybody had breakfast with the butchers on Smithfield's lower level, or is it just high tea at the Orangery? Do the people in all of the above areas dress the same? What colors do the street sweepers wear? Is Lower Manhatten representative of all of New York?
Is M Street representative of all of Wasington, DC? And the mean macho parting shot: Do women only notice the clothing of other women who they'd like to resemble? Hah!

I know fake Burberry has been beloved by chavs in Britain, so maybe that has damaged the brand among the target audience in the home country/city.

I have a black pair of Dr Marten Mary Jane's that I wear. They don't make the style I have any more but just scored a new pair on Ebay. They go with my black slacks and they go with tights and skirts as well as jeans. They don't look horribly chunky and the soles are hollowed out and had some sort of cushion put in them so they are not heavy like most Dr Martens. They have been all over London 5 times in the last 4 years and they go with everything are cute and comfy.

Its cold and damp in London. My bad luck has been that during my four visits it has always rained, and been cool. I have visited only once in March and it was horrible.. but my other three visits were july and augusts.. so take an umbrella, take a warm coat( I wore my wool pea coat , hits me mid thigh) and loved it.. yes its heavier then some other types but it keeps the wind out and wool insulates wet or dry, plus a fitted wool coat can be very smart looking. As for what tourists do and where they go and stay.. they go and stay in nicer or touristy areas so no need to worry about what they are wearing in the sketchier areas now is there ?

I've stayed in what, based in recommendations on this board, are probably considered sketchy areas - Bethnal Green and Whitechapel - and had no problems at any hour of the day. I've also stayed in Hampstead and Paddington and found them very neighborhoody as well. Lots of different clothing styles in all places.

Not knowing when you're going or your age, but recognizing that you will need comfortable shoes that will keep your feet dry and happy while walking or standing for many hours, you might consider the British shoe company Hotter: http://www.hotterusa.com/. If you have time before you go, you can order something appropriate from them and have the knowledge that you are wearing a local brand. They have all kinds of shoes from sandals to flats to boots to Gore-Tex. The website also shows some young women dressed for the fall. They look like country rather than city outfits, but if you look at the autumn-winter photo shoot video, there's a bit more variety. I have some Jade boots from them that I wore in rainy, cold Belgium and Holland in April and I really like them. They look the same to me as the Mystery boots. If you call, the service people will have the appropriate accents and they might be able to tell you where you can buy them in London should you want or need to wait. These or something similar should be fine for your trip. Finally, here's a fun little guide to packing for London by season: http://travelfashiongirl.com/what-to-pack-for-a-trip-to-london-and-the-uk-a-seasonal-guide/.

"I know fake Burberry has been beloved by chavs in Britain, so maybe that has damaged the brand among the target audience in the home country/city." If anyone needs a visual cue to explain what Will has referenced, look here.

Since the pot hasn't been stirred for a while: What if some of the tourists aren't from the US? Berlin, Westbygod Nottinghamshire, Bromley, East Midlands, Near Ringworm? Smart clothes all? Maybe the odd pair of sneakers? Which brings up the Newsflash Supper Clothing Report for tonight. Straight from a smaller tourist-oriented town in the northern part of the United Kingdom. About fifty people in a joint in the upper tier of about ten, but not the most expensive - - upper supper prices about twenty-five bucks with a pint and dessert. One American (me), four Germans (based on language), the rest British, but I can't break down by accent. One couple was local based on their being known to the staff, three guys at the bar were definitely local. The rests probably were tourists. Jackets could have been shuffled and reissued and would have looked about right. All were serviceable. Many sweatshirts, two with recognizable logos (Harvard and USMC), neither mine. Sweaters, blouses, and shirts could have come out of anybody's closet. Britches were more jeans than not, mostly blue, some real dark, one orange-red, no regard to gender. A couple of gals had on those tight leggings, one should not have. More sneakers (all colors) than leather shoes. Two women had on wellies, one had on suede boots with fur on top, more sneakers on women than on men, frumpy

old ladies had on frumpy old lady shoes, one gal had on shoes that kept her feet cold. A couple of sets of something that looked like crocs, worn with socks. Some of the leather shoes were actually hiking boots Lots of scarves, few that I'd call stylish, more like the kind you wore with a snowsuit in the second grade, but it's cold as hell and the wind is blowing like stink. Women's hats ranged from one stolen from Mick Dundee, one swiped from Nikita Khrushchev, two drug in from Peru, one that Delta Force had turned in to the surplus store, and some fairly regular looking knit hats. Standing on the street slurping expresso later, the weight shifted to mostly blue jeans and leggings, and almost nothing but sneakers. As a side note, we have another house in a pretty spiffy ski area. The way you can tell us yucks from the tourists is that the tourists have all the expensive, fashionable, stylish ski clothes that they wear when they march around town drinking frappacappamango latte.

" I have a deep concern about what shoes to wear most of all. " Men should not even try to answer this one! It's a trick question & likely has nothing to do with foul weather footwear!

Wow-wasn't trying to be "full of hate" when advising OP to ignore the posts made by men! It's just that usually when a woman posts here asking for fashion advice (and yes, read her post-it wasn't just blending in, she wants to be fashionable as well)- most of the men tell her she's being silly, it doesn't matter, etc. Well to her, it does matter, or else she wouldn't be asking. I love the posters who tried to answer her question instead of commenting on her "insecurities".

What's wrong with being full of hate, exactly? It creates more interesting dialogue than answering 'Please provide precise tube directions (w/ approx tvl times )from Nilson's Column (trifalger square, london) to the National Portrait Gallery. Thanks in advance. Cherrio!'

Tom, that link is pretty funny, innit?!

I hope you learned your lesson, Tina. In case you haven't figured it out, the Helpline is awash with dementia.

Well stated, Michael!

"A pair of dark rinse jeans and some nice sweaters or tops with flats or boots should take you from breakfast through dinner. Wear a real coat and carry an umbrella in your purse (yes, a purse, not a "daypack" or a PacSafe) - not something made from Goretex that turns into a rain poncho & bears a North Face logo." This is honestly the most straightforward and helpful answer in this entire silly thread. Just wear casual-but-not-sloppy that clothes you would wear in any other city. If you're going to buy clothes specifically to wear on vacation, buy something you can see yourself wearing in "real life" at home. There's nothing wrong with being a tourist - if anything, it's being a tourist who is trying way too hard that's silly.

Tom, thanks for that link! Learn something new here every day.. now I know what a chav is.. lol.

Wear a nice warm coat, a nice hat to match, that keeps you warm and a nice scarf that also matches the coat and keeps you warm. Also wear comfortable shoes, because no matter how nice you look, if your feet hurt, you will have a lousy time. Look at black short boots that you can wear warm socks and low heel. Bring an extra pair of shoes so if one get wet, they can dry out and you have another pair. Wear black pants, you can bring a few sweaters, turtle necks and they all match black pants. Wear jeans on the plane, they are great to wear to museums and pubs. Tan pants also a great color and match lots of different colored tops, sweaters, one blazer. So if you take photos, you will look nice and the sweater and slacks will look nice when you take the coat off. Not too long a coat, but not a short one either. Something easy to take off so you can check it in the museums. Have a great time.

It appears as though some of the Helpline schlubs and schlumps got their unfashionable big boy panties in a heapin' wad over another ladies What to Wear question and thus forgot to take their daily dose of Lithium. But thanks for the laugh!

Yes Ceidleh,
I have been reading the Travelers Helpline for many years now, and in my experience, nothing elicits the hysterical (mostly) male response more than a woman asking what to wear -- to blend in and look fashionable while on vacation. If I had a dollar for every one of these responses, I could finance my next trip to Paris!

I've re-read this entire thread. Not a single male responder has discouraged the original poster from dressing as fashionabley as she wants, nor offered any advise beyond basic practicalities and the obvious, that clothes alone can't blend people in. But the 4th response contained this phrase "I disagree with the standard hetero male response..." and it all went down hill from there. So, who's being hysterical here? PS- Maybe Ed was making specific recommendations, I'm not sure. Sometimes I'm not clever enough to follow his humor.

I only report what I see. Recommendations for anything are prejudicial, dangerous, and lead to the friggin alligator pit. Search the history and try to find a place where I've recommended a sight, hotel, or beanery ....... there ain't none. I don't give a rat's rear bumper what anybody does. I've been to London maybe close to a hundred times, but I'm not an expert by any means. The only time I've been in the National Portrait Gallery was when mom drug me in kicking and screaming when I was a kid, I've never been in the V&A, and I have no idea where the Tate Modern even is. All of which proves that I have no couth ...... but I do have eyes.

Tina, I'd suggest wearing whatever you find "fashionable" at home. However in choosing travel clothing, you'll also need to consider practical aspects as the weather won't be the same as it is at home (not sure where "Albion" is so don't know what type of weather you usually get?). You didn't say what time of year you'll be travelling, but you'll have to choose your wardrobe to make sure it's suitable for rain or colder weather. Focus on practicality as well as fashion, so that you'll be comfortable in whatever type of weather you encounter. Pack clothes that are suitable for "layering" and "mix & match", as well as some rain gear. Happy travels!

The only reason I open any of the chains about "what to wear" is for the sheer entertainment value. Once again, folks have not disappointed. Thanks so much!

Keep in mind that what is in fashion can differ from one country to the next, even between European countries. I just returned yesterday from London and here are some of my observations: 1. Wear layers 2. Wear layers that you feel comfortable in. 3. Wear comfortable shoes. Well broken in! And if you don't, then you'll end up with a blister on your little toe like I did every day during your trip. Ouchie! But my shoes sure did look great. 4. People of all ages wore scarves. Even the men often wore certain styles of scarves that in the U.S. I would deem only something that a female would wear. This is not a judgement...just an observation. 5. The under-35 crowd wore a lot of skinny jeans. But don't wear skinny jeans just to fit in. If you like them and you own a pair, by all means wear them. 6. Wear what you are comfortable in & what you feel stylish in. Comfort & style can be had all in the same package. 7. Remember that if you're bringing only 1 suitcase/bag and you only have a couple of days' worth of changes of clothes, bringing stylish dry-clean-only clothing won't work very well. 8. The Underground can get very warm & sweaty & uncomfortable. 9. The weather can change very quickly. and last but not least:
London is an eclectic city fashion-wise. I saw people who looked like they were in a punk band, business men & women dressed in fancy business suits & expensive shoes to match, lots of One Direction style of dress, and everything in between. Some women wore high heels, some women wore trendy sneakers, other women wore something in between those two extremes. Honestly, most people will not pay much attention to what shoes you are wearing.

But I guess it's OK for a female to say what the men are being accused of, see Joan's post on the 23rd at 5:32 AM. This isn't a knock against Joan, that's her opinion and is entitled to it and one should never be chastised for their thoughts, no one posting here owns the board. And BTW, her advice is spot on.

I shy away from peacoats and boots only because I'm a carry-on only traveler. If I intended to wear these all the time, great. If not, they just don't work with carry-on only traveling because they're too big and heavy for my one small bag.

To cut through all the stuff above.... wear what you would wear to look nice but stay comfy in visiting any big US city. Boots and jeans unless it's the summerknee boots with skinny jeans look nice. If it is cold, bring a nice coat and scarf. Make sure the boots are ones you can walk in, like flat riding bootsa style the Brits invented! I am from New York and I wear in London what I wear here. Their style is not too different from US East Coast style. That being said, I agree with the people who say that you can't blend in. I say this all the time here. But if you want to look fashionable just for fun, then go ahead. On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with bringing a little of your own American fashion sense in, since blending in is a non-starter. Wear whatever makes you feel cute and comfortable. As to the people above who talk about women's insecurities: when we stop seeing ads all around with size 2 women who are photoshopped into even greater perfection, women will stop being insecure. This is a cultural problem that runs deeper than the question of what to wear in London, and I don't think this is the correct forum for addressing it. Now, there are certainly men who can offer good fashion advice, but many on this forum say instead "why do you care?" which is not a useful response when the people asking clearly do care.
Making people feel bad for caring about how they look just fosters the insecurities people complain about. Unless you have something concrete to add to the discussion, even if it's "being comfortable is more important than being fashionable because you will walk a lot," then consider staying out of it.

What some of us are saying is not "Why do you care?" but that the people in the countries you will visit truly do not care what you wear.

Joan, that is a sentiment I agree with. I was paraphrasing too quickly the attitude that seems to be behind comments by people who seem puzzled as to why this question comes up again and again.

Great post, Christina. I'm all about comfort when I travel. I only care about how I look when I'm around people I'll see more than once!

You can find Burberry in SF, maybe across the street from Brooks.

I listened to Rick Steves' lecture on Italy last Saturday, on his website Travel Festival, and virtually the first thing he said was when going to Europe, you should reconcile yourself to the fact that there are different customs, ways of doing things and you should "embrace" these changes. "Living as a temporary local" is one of his signature phrases. I agree with this philosophy. It's what I try to do, whether it's adjusting my behavior when dining in a restaurant, taking public transportation everywhere, etc. I like to participate and be part of my surroundings as much as I can. For me this includes how I dress. It's not insecurity, or an attempt to disguise the fact that I am an American. I like to be comfortable, and don't buy a new wardrobe just to wear in Europe. I want to look reasonably fashionable and enjoy being part of the stylish women I see walking around Paris, London or Florence. (particularly in Italy where strolling around looking at each other is an art). Wine or food connoisseurs might immerse themselves in the cuisine of a country, that they may not do at home. Music lovers may go to events that they would not ordinarily do at home because it is a fun and unique experience. Participating in the European street fashion show is a legitimate cultural experience. I respectfully suggest the people who love to bash (the mostly women) who have this interest, find something else to do.

There's two schools of thought in regards to what to wear when travelling. The first is be comfortable and wear comfy shoes. The second is be comfortable, wear comfy shoes, yet look fashionable. I'm with the second group. I just got back from London and saw lots of women wearing boots. I was lucky enough to find a pair of flat, gray knee high Kenneth Cole boots at TJ Maxx that I wore with skinny jeans tucked into them. Btw, I'm 50 and darn it, I wear skinny jeans and I rock them. I also have a pair of black Exofficio flats that I alternate with my boots. Stick to a color palate. Mine is blue and black. I wore dark blue or black skinny jeans and brought long sleeve tops that I can layer with a camisole and a long sleeve shirt under. Top the whole ensemble with a nice coat and jaunty scarf and you are set. I also went to Italy on this trip and was asked by a couple of Italians for directions so I felt pretty good! Of course, if you wear a camera around your neck then that will ruin all your efforts to be fashionable!

For me, part of being comfortable is feeling that I am dressed appropriately for wherever I am, even if I don't exactly fit in. In 2009 out of the corner of my eye, I caught a guy laughing at me. I'm not sure why or what I was doing. When I made eye contact, he stopped laughing, but still kept the smirk on his face. I do know that I was wearing some typical tourist cargo pants that were a little short and some low profile hiking boots. Fast forward 3 years to 2012 and I caught a woman perusing what I had on in what was obviously an interested way, looking at the top, the scarf and the jacket. Both of these experiences happened in Paris. It's easy to guess which one made me feel embarrassed and which one increased my comfort level as a tourist. After that 2009 event, I vowed that I would not have that happen again. So I dress the way I do at home, which is comfortable in all the ways that is possible. I don't wear any of the "typical" traveler clothing. I keep my very small camera in my purse or pocket and only pull it out when I want to take a picture. By the way, I'm 67 and my husband is 65. When he tells me it doesn't matter what I wear, I tell him that even at my advanced age, it matters to me.

Must fashionable and comfortable be mutually exclusive? I think not. From the perspective in this village, locals don't give a fig whether fashionable and/or comfortable clothing is worn. However, you will be noticed and arrested for streaking. An occasional, typically alcohol fueled, stunt.

I am interested in being both stylish and comfortable when travelling as well and wear my nice jeans with a variety of tops and/or sweaters depending on what country I'm in. My Calvin Klein removable-hood short trench style rain jacket (comes to top of legs)has been the perfect topper. For winter/snow I'd wear a black wool hooded coat. But as far as shoes go, I only wear Fluevogs. They blend comfort and style and take it to a new level. For a week of hard walking (hours and hours every day, museums, the Tube) in London I took a pair of low-heeled boots and 1" flex-sole mary janes (still being made, called Sandra) and that suited me fine.

Wear there what you wear here to look nice and feel well while being warm and comfy. My observations were: Black is the color to wear, all ages of women wearing knee length skirts with black/dark tights, nice neck scarves on women & men, boots, dark rinse jeans on women & men; nice light cardigans on women & men; Long sleeve button tailored blouses/shirts on women & men, lightweight tailored coats, peacoats,
-and umbrellas! Good comfy shoes and a pair of comfy boots will be helpful to your feet and to sustain the weather/puddles/splashing etc.

In choosing clothing for your travels it pays to think of the maintenance required. If it can be hand washed or laundered, keeping your wardrobe stylish-looking will be easier. Wrinkle-resistance is a plus. Boots and tights are popular.