Warning: jeans in Europe!

Susan and Monte, love to hear about your trip. I don't understand why everyone is so worried about not looking like a tourist. When I was 16, I spent a school semester in Frankfurt. Guess what, everyone was wearing jeans and t-shirts just like Americans. Though I do remember them being really baggy with tight belts when in US we were in the skinny tight stage, but they were jeans. Be more worried about how much weight carrying those jeans are in your carry on or how are they going to dry by the time I have to leave on the next train etc... Know your surroundings and keep your valuables safe. No matter how hard you try, you will still look like an American. Worry more about making it to the museum before it closes or catching a plane on time

This isn't new, jeans have been popular for years in Europe.. it is the STYLE that is different. No baggy butt jeans on the youngsters at all.. well fitting jeans , with a closer fit,same for ladies, the ladies in Paris wear nice tailored jeans, no sloppy elastic waist bands seen anywhere.

I never saw any baseball caps though,, was it raining??

Often people are councelled against jeans not because they will look like a tourist, but because they take ages to dry ,they are hot, they weight a ton, so for those who are interested in packing light, they are just not the best option,, at least not for June--Oct .. in the winter they are at least warmer then lightweight pants and dresses.

Jeans are a very new thing for adult women in France (and I guess Italy, too--last time I was in Italy, 6 years ago, I didn't see women in any kind of pants, ever!). It used to be, not too long ago, only teens wore them. Just in the last 5 years I've noticed a real shift. This now causes much consternation among older people as you can imagine.

Germanic countries have a much different dress code than France or Italy--those aren't places most people worry about dressing too much.

This time of year jeans are very comfortable and almost everyone is wearing them. I don't take them because they take the same wieght and space as three pairs of regular pants. I cringe a little when I see people who plan to pack two or three pairs of jeans, a pair of denim capris plus some other bottoms.

Jeans are also too hard to launder and (sans machine wash and dry) tend to stretch out of shape at the waist, butt and knees.

If I lived in Europe and could afford the energy bill, I'd be wearing jeans all the time for fall casual wear. Since my wardrobe has to be carried comfortably in my carry-on, my jeans wait for me at home.

Yes, you're right Brad, but the beauty of jeans (in cool weather) is that as your jeans stretch out you don't feel any weight gain so you can keep on eating and not feel quilty until you get home and wash your jeans!

LOL, Susan and Monte. I love my jeans better after they are relaxed and stretched out!

What I really find amusing is the young Europeans wearing sweatshirts and tee-shirts with wording that looks like American sports related shirts but is total gibberish. So I guess Americans wearing shirts with wording that makes sense will stand out.

I must do an inordinate amount of crouching, I guess petting dogs or taking close-up or unusual angle photos. After awhile when I stand up, the knees of my jeans look like they're still bent. Also the butt that fit well when freshly laundered starts to get that saggy "gang" look (or maybe the full diaper look). I wouldn't care about the waste, but when the top two inches of my underwear start showing I feel like I'm copying my sons. LOL

We saw tons of Europeans wearing jeans when we were France and Holland. It was July and Raining and cold. The fit is the key (just like any fashions). They have been "into" jeans in Holland since way back when. They call them "spikabroek", but understand "jeans". I did notice in Paris that the "young and trendy" women were wearing their "boxers" with the waistband showing. Calvin Klein etc. Not quite as awful as the way the boys wear them in North America, and No Thongs (thank goodness).

We have just returned from a month in Italy. We vow never again to pack the dockers or dress shoes. Everybody wears jeans. Yes, most are very expensive designer models. But most Italians aren't 58 year old men from Ohio. Go figure. We had a great time in our Levis.

My husband and I were just in Paris late September - early October and everyone was wearing jeans. Wear Jeans, boots and scarves and you'll fit right in.

I just got back from Sweden and Germany and I couldn't tell you what people were wearing. I guess it didn't make any impression on me. I also don't care if I look like a tourist (What is wrong with tourists? I'm happy to be one), and I'm always puzzled by how much people seem to worry about this. Maybe I'm naive, but I figure people will judge me by how I act not what I'm wearing. If they don't talk to me, then maybe they will make a judgment based on my clothes, but why would I care? I just want to be comfortable and not look too dowdy or hideous. Not sure I succeed, but that's my goal.

Hey Carroll,

That's a great attitude! I agree.

Paul

Yeah, but Carroll, didn't you post not too long ago about having your wallet stolen?

I never wear a money belt (carry the same purses I carry day to day in NYC) and try to blend in and have NEVER been pick-pocketed or robbed

And to OP and other posters - people on the boards have been saying for ages that puma style sneakers are ok (ie fashion sneakers). Ditto nicer looking jeans.

It's the combo of factors that make tourists stand out - the same people who wear white running shoes with shorts and fanny packs are the same people who stop in the middle of the sidewalk to pull out a map. You don't have to dress like a European, you just need to be less obviously a tourist. I live in NYC and can tell a tourist (no matter what the nationality) from miles away.

If you don't mind being targeted by pickpockets and scam artists dress however you want.

Actually, I depend on there being a lot of obvious-looking American tourists so I don't get pestered with gold ring scams, string bracelets, pickpockets, etc. I'll be disappointed the day American tourists don't dress like Americans in Europe. Maybe Europeans dressing like American tourists will take up the slack as scam-bait. ;-)

Yep, that was me that thought I had my wallet stolen, though it turned out I dropped it when I pulled out my camera. Definitely stupid.

I can see the advisability of trying not to look like a tourist in order to avoid being a target for petty theives. However, I get the feeling that is not what is driving a lot of these comments. As for me, since I am constantly taking pictures, I don't see how I can avoid looking like a tourist, no matter what I am wearing. So I don't even try. However, I will try A LOT harder not to be careless.

Susan and Monte,

You didn't recognize Americans just by the "physique"? ha ha.
I just came back from Italy and my friend and I were playing this game a few times per day, to see if we can recognize Americans, and guess what we were right 100% of the time.
As I said before it's the just clothes that give up Americans, it's the body shape, body language and the loudness.The clothes that Europeans wear look different than the American ones.I very rarely saw people wearing Levi's jeans , and if I think about it better, the only guy I saw wearing Levi's was an American, not an European. European clothes have a different shape and design in general.Majority of women's clothes here look like a square, no shape, waist.Pants are lose, with elastic band.European clothes are fitted, showing curves.
The only people I noticed wearing those yankee baseball caps were the poorer ones.They were very cheap at the streets vendors, under 10 euros.

American tourist sighting on our trip last year...

I swear this is the truth..

While we were in Korcula..it was off season..the town was quite sleepy and there was my fellow countryman...

A 30 something man wearing orange and blue plaid shorts, bright green crocs, and carrying a Rick Steves book...

loudly yelling ....hey you guys ...It's this way!

we went the opposite direction

In regard to your question, "What is this world coming too?", well, I'd like to hope we are all gaining a bit more common sense (though I realize "common" sense isn't always common) and realizing there are more important things than how a person dresses (i.e - how they act, how we act toward them, how we get along etc etc.).

I didn't see too many baseball caps on our earlier visit, so maybe it depends on the time of year?

Jeans have always been in as far back as I can remember, and it depends on how you dress them up/down.

In general, I find that many North Americans don't have a clue about "style." It's disgusting to me to go out to eat, shop, or run errands and see grown women/men dressing like they were getting ready for bed or gardening. We did see a few of those in our travels and shook our heads. Comfort is one thing, but dressing like a slob is another. I really admired the French and Italians for the way they dressed and carried themselves.

You are so right Eli.
I saw people wearing PJ on the streets and in the library, as well.

I wonder what type of headgear I should wear.I need a cap to keep the sun off my head and wear a baseball cap only when outdoors in the sun.I take one along that has no writing on it.

I live here, and believe me, it is not a myth. We just got back from Ohio and I could not believe how trashy many of the teens looked, greasy hair, stained clothes, and this was a common sight, not just a one off. Over here, the teens take extreme pride in how they look, both girls and boys. Yes, you see the occasional down and outer and inappropriate dressed person (think mullets on 50 year old guys and tribal tattoos on granny) but for the most part, it is dressier. As to those baseball caps, teens may wear them, but I certainly would not say they are common and that everyone wears them. I am not sure where you have been traveling, but it must be in different places then I have been.

Jeans are worn by everybody though, as are tennis shoes, trainers, whatever you want to call them. It is getting harder to tell Americans from the rest of the crowd, but sometimes there is just something that makes them stick out. Perhaps it is the different hair styles on both men and women, strictly American brands, really obese people with elastic banded shorts, the clutching of the bags, nervously looking around. If you really want to fit in, carry a bag from a local grocery store, carry a local paper and then just look non-nonchalant as you stroll around. Act like you belong there, practice your dirty look and a firm No or Nein, etc. and you will never be bothered by beggars and scammers again.

I'm with Jo - living here, Europeans DO dress better than Americans. Sorry, but it's reality! Yes, there are folks here that probably dress down - but that's more economics than choice ... I live in a blue collar neighborhood and see that.

Yet day-in and day-out Italians are better dressed. Style and appearance is very important to the Italians. And yes, younger folks do wear baseball caps - often with US slogans on them - including many college logos. Of course, the most popular baseball cap in Italy seems to be any one with the NY Yankees logo!

Italians wear slimmer, more fashionable, tighter, better fitting clothing, and use more accessories (i.e. scarves) to create a look. Though they do wear boots 12 months of the year!

Like Jo, I was in the States last year and was amazed at what folks wore...

Women should shave their arms! James, what planet are you from?

There are a whole bunch of generalizations made by you James, but I think that you have posted them here to provoke people. So, this will be my last post on this thread. Provocation for provocation sake is a poor use of anyones time.