Looking like a tourist

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong in looking "american". There are those who enjoy wearing bright hawaiian shirts, or where the entire clan wears the exact same items. It just helps if you blend in to avoid the petty crimes like purse snatch, pickpocket, etc.

When you stick out like a sore thumb, you are prone to be a target.

For instance, in your town, if you see someone out of place, don't you notice them immediately as an out of towner? I think that's why some of the Rick travelers want to blend... to avoid being pointed out as "hey, look who's got the good toys?"

I have commented on this many times here, but my personal take on the issue is, it's better to dress appropriately for where you are going in Europe than to dress as if you are spending a day at Disneyland - meaning extremely casually -- particularly if in a major European city. I realize travel wardrobes are small and it is often very hot, but shorts and tank tops look bad (and I'm sorry to say many Americans do not have bods that look good in them) and they are inappropriate to wear to churches, nice cafes, even just strolling around. To me it gives off the attitude that everything is just an amusement, there for your enjoyment. This is shown by the constant comments here from people who are surprised that they can't wear shorts and skimpy tops into churches. They are working institutions, not amusement venues. But In the countryside or beaches shorts, zip off cargo pants, etc. are appropriate. I like to look similar to the native people, to blend in -- but I'm not trying to hide the fact that I'm a tourist.

I'm in the middle on this one. I don't thnk it matters too much what a person wears, as long as it is not jarringly different ( for instance would it ever be right to wear a Hawaiian mumu down the Champs Elysees, LOL ) , but I agree with poster who says why stick out in a crowd looking like a " pick my pocket I am just off the farm" sort of look as opposed to looking more like just one of the crowd. Truth is most in crowd are middle of the road, yes, jeans and runners are pretty common.
Short shorts and hockey jerseys are not.. LOL

This might be helpful.

http://www.parisescapes.com/paris_wear_winter06.html

Americans stick out no matter what we are wearing because we are fatter and have different body language.

My response is simple, "You cannot avoid looking like a tourist, Just don't look like a stupid American tourist." Or you can change that to unaware Am tourist. Where many of these discussion miss the point is that there is a difference between blending in and standing out. While it may be difficult to blend in, it is easy to avoid standing out. Pickpockets, petty theft, con artists etc. are professionals in their own ways. They try to be successful as possible. They are not going to hit ten people and hope that they are successful a couple of times. They are going to survey the crowd, pick a mark, and go after them. And they tend to go after Americans because we have more money and are less suspicious that our European counterparts. We can be easy targets. So when they see us, I hope they think, '"Are they German ?? French ?? English" and decide that someone else is a better target. You decide how much attention you want to call to yourself.

Margaret,

My family and I are about to take our first trip to Europe, however, we are basing our wardrobe on practicality. For instance, when we go to Orlando, we wear shorts, t's, and running shoes. In contrast, when we go to NYC (for a day, weekend, whatever) we don't always know ahead of time what we will be doing so we wear decent clothes (usally dark so as not to show travel grime) that are comfortable enough for lots of walking and that would be appropriate at a restaurant, art gallery, or matinee if we are lucky to get tickets. We will follow the NYC wardrobe choice in Europe.
m

I have two clothing worries for travel, neither of which is people guessing where I'm from (After all we don't speak English, we speak American).

The first is am I dressed appropriately? I try to pack versatile clothing to take me from the beach to the opera. It may not be exactly what I wear at home, but I don't look totally out of place (i.e. black socks and wing tips with my bathing suit at the beach or bathing suit, tank top and flip flops at the Vatican). Everything does double or triple duty and gets worn a lot.

The second is security. Am I making myself a target for theft by walking around with luggage, shopping bags, camera equipment, expensive jewelry, etc. and a lost look on my face? I keep my load to one bag (carry on, daypack or shopping bag) and keep track of it carefully.

I've also learned from experience to bring as little cotton as possible (I bring none). While cotton is great at home. It doesn't perform well without a machine wash and dry between each use.

Hi Margaret,

... Have you ever considered that other touring nationals stand out, too? German tourists often seem bent on total relaxation... wearing airy sandals, for example...
... It's fun to see if you can spot another touring national, right?

... bon voyage! P

Matgaret,

I don't understand it either and when I travel I wear what I like. However, here in the US I can't buy clothes from the women's dept, but from young adults dept. I find majority of woman clothes here being ugly, they are not fitted and made for fat bodies. For this reason, clothes made in US look very different than those made in Europe.
It is true that you don't really see many people wearing shorts in museums, or at the zoo in Europe.
Another thing is that Americans look very different than Europeans, more fat, disproportioned, and have a different body language as another poster said. I always recognize Americans, before they start talking.

May I chime in as a European?
It is NOT about looking like a tourist. It is NOT about looking American!
It is about respect.
You are not visiting Bush Gardens or Disney World, you are diving into different cultures.
Can you imagine a bare-breasted, straw-skirted Polynesian tourist group in Portsmouth, Maine?
You are American. Be proud of it. Don't try to hide it (as if you could ;-), but adhere to a few basic rules, or look like total fools.
Save the shorts, Crocs and sleeveless T-Shirts for the beach (where Europeans tend to go naked),
wear something decent for city tours and cultural excursions, and by golly- RELAX & Enjoy!

Gee, Now I'm beginning to get anxious about my clothes. Yes, I am an older, slightly overweight, American. I'm also from Arizona which is just inching closer to 100 degree temp. each day. Flip-flops or light sandals are the norm - even in church. Light colorful clothes...I've even see shorts & bare shoulders in church. I think "repect" is the issue - and I think there are Americans that need to be a little more aware. I want to respect the country I'm traveling to...which is Italy in May. I guess jeans and tennis shoes are a no go. I do have a pair of black dress pants..every day I should wear them???? T-shirts are out??? I did buy a long black wrinkle skirt...but I don't usually wear high heels. Capris or no?? I'm thinking of theft issues and trying to make everything in my small roll on match everything else...mostly black. :-( It may be boring but...I may not look too novice of a traveler for the pick pockets!)

Barabra,,

NO, jeans and runners are not out, no one has said that at all. Nice jeans are very popular and worn by most,, (nice jeans as opposed to baggy farmer jeans) . Runners are very popular in Europe, with the younger set they wear what I consider "fashion" runners, ( Puma and the like, which are styled like runners but are in fact useless for running, LOL ) , as opposed to say big white basket ball shoes.

Shoes are too critical to a nice holiday, number one rule, no matter what, make sure they are COMFY, you will walk more then you expect, and climb more stairs then you thought possible. The streets are often uneven, bumpy, or cobblestones, so for me flimsy flip flops are out, apparently younger folks whos feet never get sore like them though, I do have some nice Rockport flip flops that I sometimes bring, they are leather with good soles though, not the cheap rubber type.

If you are going somewhere hot( like Italy) then bring skirts, they are cooler then black slacks

for day time touring, just make sure they go to the knees as knees and shoulders must be covered to enter many churches( a short sleeve is fine,just cover shoulders) . Just a side note, yes in my church at home you can wear what ever, but, my church is

a) not Catholic ( which is stricter as a rule) and

b) not dealing with thousands of looky loo tourists day in and out.

Bring black slacks for dinners out, or cool evenings, and bring capris, they are great for day time touring also.

Bring shorts if you are going to the beach. Exception would be "city shorts" which are almost capri length, but are tailored, and look good with nice shoes,, beach wear shorts are for the beach though.

Tee shirts are fine, but keep in mind( as you well know I am sure) that some heavey cotton Tshirts are pretty uncomfortable in the heat. I bet you already have lots of good tops . I like the sound of the wrinkly shirt you have already.
Tank tops with skinny straps are not city wear.

Approach your question thusly: dress appropriately for where you are (shorts in the Vatican? Nyet); that's important. Better yet: be the American tourist that'll be welcomed/invited to RETURN! I was witness to glaring 'ugly americans' in both London and Paris.
Paris - NICE restaurant, table of LOUD Americans; rude to their waiter, obnoxious as could be. AWFUL example of tourists...
Nice London eatery; 2 couples criticizing the Royal family - loudly. Notice in the UK that they speak quietly - in church or the bus! I was with my father - after the others left, dad went to each table to apologize for the loudmouths. For me that made the whole event even worse.
I try hard to be the visitor that would be welcomed back - even invited to return! Leave coarse speech home - ratty clothes and t-shirts too. Dress comfortably, but nicely. Observe the people that you are visiting, show respect, emulate their behavior, let them take the lead. Leave them smiling and with good memories of you!

Thank you all for your wisdom! I readjusted my small roll-on and feel much better about the choices. I belive in being respectful - always. So that should not be a problem. Thanks again!

Corinna from Austria,

I agree with you about respect, but you are saying the the t-shirts are just for the beach is Europe...well I don't agree. Younger people wera t-shirts and jeans all over Europe.It's true they go naked on the beach, but until there they wear comfy clothes.
However you don't really see shorts in museums or retaurants and I agree, people should wear more conservative clothes for these ocasions. I don't wear shots in restauranst here in the US, unless I go to McDoland's

Bea,
you are absolutely right,
T-shirts are really okay mostly everywhere in Europe.
I was thinking more in direction of tank-tops, and should have said so.
Thanks for the correction.

Quote:
Americans stick out no matter what we are wearing because we are fatter and have different body language

Hey Matti.. don't speak for all of us!! Laugh
I work out 4 times a week so I DON'T look like a fat american!

Michelle,

It's not just the fat that gives up Americans. As Patti said, it's the body language and also the face.I always recognize Americans in other countries.