College Logo Apparel?

Back in May, there were even Irish wearing U.S. college apparel. There was a young woman in a sweatshirt with an American university name/logo. I don’t recall the exact place I saw it, and don’t recall the school, but she was Irish, not American. I believe I saw a U.S. university ball cap or two (or three) in Ireland, as well.

If your jacket doesn’t have big rips in the fabric, or isn’t covered with oatmeal or ketchup stains, you’ll be good. It might even be a conversation starter with locals.

I agree with Cyn based on what we observed in Ireland in 2019 and England in 2022. We were tickled last year in Cheltenham England to pass someone the street wearing a Rhinegeist T-shirt from a local Cincinnati brewery. So wear what you like.

Have a wonderful trip!

When I was younger and on trips to Europe, I had the opposite problem. I wanted to buy European university shirts or sweatshirts but had a really hard time finding them. This may be different now, not sure. Or it may be that European students didn't have the same tradition of wearing their school logo clothes around that US college students do, so such clothes weren't commonly for sale.

Honestly no one cares what you wear.

People love reppin' their schools from all over, and it's totally cool to show your pride wherever you go! it's a budget-friendly move

Fake US college logo tee shirts and sweatshirts seemed very popular in shop windows when we were in Bologna last September and again in March. I say “fake” because they were obvious. For example, one red sweatshirt that read “California University” in the exact same font and style used on the “Cal” (UC Berkeley) logo sportswear for over 50 years. I recognize it because half my family wears Cal stuff. The irony is that the cardinal red in the sweatshirt in Bologna is the signature color of Cal’s arch rival Stanford. Also, there is no “California University” —so no one could sue them for infringement.

I suspect it is similar in other countries in Europe. I say wear your college logo jacket with pride. You may even meet fellow alums.

Not college, but in some countries it seems the standard issue hat is a New York Yankees ball cap. There are plenty of logos you will see, so a jacket would not be out of place. But wearing a logo jacket, a logo hat, logo t-shirt under the jacket and color coordinated pants and shoes might be too much.

Last summer in Germany I saw someone wearing a t shirt with my alma mater's logo on it. I said "Hook'em" and did the horn sign (I went to the University of Texas) and got a blank stare in return. Since that is the official greeting for Longhorns everywhere, I can only guess that his t shirt was merely a fashion statement.

It's only a faux pas if its a team I don't like-and I can't name those on this site because my post would be deleted. Of course, most of those school logos just give me reason to laugh at their delusions of grandeur.

LAB,
The “hook ‘em” sign may have a different meaning in Germany than it does in Texas.

I live in Europe and we wear our UNC gear on a daily basis. No one cares. On a rare occasion it even makes life interesting when we encounter a fellow Tar Heel.

A hugely popular brand of clothing in Europe right now is Franklin & Marshall. You see the sweatshirts everywhere. My dad is an alumnus of F&M so we find this all very funny as no one wearing the shirt understands what it means.

My husband had on his Braves hat in Nice a few years back and a guy commented from across the way. We ended up chatting with him and his wife and we lived not terribly far apart in the Atlanta 'burbs. We traded contact info and became pretty good friends with them. You never know when your fandom will make you a new friend.

Hopefully the guy with the Texas Tshirt wasn’t an Italian tourist. In Italy, the proud Texan “hook ‘em” horns gesture is a grave insult to a male, on the magnitude of raising the middle finger here.

https://www.mozzarellamamma.com/2011/corna-and-cornuti/

Yes, I am well aware of the other meaning of the horns sign...I thought it would be OK because I figured he was a fellow Texan! Next time I will just call out "Hook'em" and wait to see what happens!!

I always wear some clothing with my alma mater's logo on it while traveling overseas. On many occasions, I received positive comments, and sometimes I will run into fellow alums. While visiting a pub in Ireland, someone bought me a pint because of my sweatshirt. So in my view, wear it proudly!

Another Texas Ex here with the Hook 'em Horns sign 🤘. It's also shown as an American Sign Language sign, but I can't seem to find what it means. I did find that this is I Love You in ASL 🤟. What a difference a thumb makes.

There are so many gestures we can make or words we can use that mean something totally different to the person who sees or hears them elsewhere in the world. It's helpful for people who know more about this than we do to advise us on how we might unintentionally offend people in the countries we visit.

As for collegiate clothing, when I was in Bruges I got a tourist fake college tee that says University of Brugge, Est. 850 on it. Of course I never wore it there, but I do wear it at the gym here. It always gets a perplexed look.

I suspect that many Europeans are much more familiar with US college names than Americans are with European ones. I agree that you should feel free to wear what you want or need to wear. If your college is not one of the biggees, it could prompt a fun discussion.

If you are going to Northern Ireland, the only thing you might want to be aware of is to not wear orange or green in the wrong pub. We were advised about that last summer.

If it's Aggie apparel, then it's appropriate and appreciated everywhere. May even get you discounts at venues.

Mister E, Nope. Roll Tide. Go Dawgs. Go Gamecocks.

If you are not going to reply to my question without all of your college yacking, then go away.....lol

Claudia said it best - no one cares what you wear.

I might be reluctant to wear a Salve Regina shirt in Northern Ireland. But other than that, wear whatever school gear you have.

Claudia said it best - no one cares what you wear.

As long as it isnt burt orange

and

As long as it is approprate for the venue.

This kind of College talk seems so uniquely American (Canadian too? Not sure?). I can't think of any other country where university ties are so important and celebrated after the fact as they are in the US. I often see on here people bantering and referencing their teams, mottos etc. The whole conversation above is joyous...but also weird to this outsider! It makes sense that wearing the clothing is part of this too. I think it would be broadly similar to football shirts in the UK or rugby jerseys in NZ and AU.

However, I do think you're misguided to believe that there are many people outside of the US (and Canada?) choosing to wear certain US college or team logos for any reason other than fashion and are seeing yours as anything other than a logo on a shirt. It's like H&M selling 70s and 80s band tee shirts.

Well, I shouldn't judge from fictionalized TV shows, but apparently Posh college ties are pretty darn important in the U.K.! I can also remember when, like right after Lockerbie, and when there were a lot of hijackings, being told by my employer not to wear tee shirts with English words on them.

Kiwi-In 32 days, 5 hours and 22 minutes we can go back to hating people for the right reasons. Although hating certain teams is actually a year-round thing.

This kind of College talk seems so uniquely American (Canadian too?
Not sure?).

No. We have university sports, but it's nowhere near the over-the-top fanaticism seen in the US.

Should I know what is happening in 32 days? I don't think it's the World series that only involves one country, is it? :P

kiwi-it's the beginning of college football season. You can google "low long until college football season begins" and get it down to the second.

Strangely, unlike the US, in much of the world people associate colleges and universities with education, not sports teams.

Continuing in the off-topic discussion...many Americans love our Alma Maters not just because it is where we were educated. It is often the place where we meet our life long favorite people...spouses and best friends. It is sometimes the recipient of our charitable giving. It is where we form travel groups (looking it you, Traveling Aggies) and get discounts on our insurance. It is the home of so many memories and firsts and lasts from a time in our lives when so much is changing, and you are becoming who you are. I don't care about sports, but I love it when the Horns beat the Aggies! My children go to one of UT's rival universities and have learned to do the Horns Down sign. When they do, I remind them that UT helped make me who I am.
There is a reason we call it an Alma Mater. Nourishing Mother. We love our mothers.

"It is the home of so many memories and firsts and lasts from a time in our lives when so much is changing, and you are becoming who you are."

Very elegantly said! You put into words what I was feeling.

I'll also say although I am not a huge sports fan, I can clearly remember one of my first Gator FB games...Sept 20, 1969. University of FL vs Houston. 70 yard pass from Reaves to Alvarez. Right in front of the student section. Wow. I had never been in a crowd that went that (appropriately) wild before. You wanted to be a part of this!

To the OP...you do you! You may wind up wearing a conversation starter! Or no one may notice at all.... Enjoy Ireland!

Strangely, unlike the US, in much of the world people associate colleges and universities with education, not sports teams.

Yeah I don't think that so strange at all. The one thing is, that for many of us the local college is so laced into the community and college athletics is all too often the only local sports teams to follow, to root for, even if one were not a student or associated with the school. I think of east Tennessee and how it is awash in UT orange. I live a block from W&M's football stadium on a street full of student residents and just can't help to hear the games and get caught up in the excitement of the school year. It's not just that it's sports -- these match ups are long storied rivalries and histories of the school & the communities. When I go to get a burger, I'll sit by a photo of Jon Stewart in his W&M soccer kit from his playing days, then afterwards he did some coaching at a local high school.

I couldn't find an "irony" emoji to add to my comment.

Yanks will know who Jon Stewart is but doubt others will care.

My favorite story was in Oprah’s hey day she traveled to the UK and the security and staff at Harrods had no clue who she was, nor cared.

Thanks for all of the "interesting" feedback. I have always tried to avoid looking like a non-touristy tourist toting a camera.....actually I have been misidentified as a local at times....ha! Thanks again......and not to be overlooked "Boomer!"