"Ugly Americans"

[Zhena]

We've probably all seen the cartoons of clueless American tourists stumbling around the world. You know, the ones with the guy wearing a Hawaiian shirt with shorts and black socks with sandals, and a camera around his neck. His wife is in capri pants, a shirt with horizontal stripes, sunglasses and a ridiculous hat, carrying an overflowing tote bag. The images been around since, I don't know, maybe the 50's. The cliche probably used to have some validity or it wouldn't have lasted so long.

So in a couple of weeks, DH and I will be travelling in Europe, and I'm wondering about the current version of the cliche. What are the give-aways that people are Americans? I heard somewhere that shoes are important and Americans tend to wear athletic shoes when Europeans wouldn't. What about jeans? Or has the world really become such a small place that people dress the same everywhere? Any hints about "what not to wear" in cities or in vacation destinations?

Thanks!

 

[Me]

I would say, no jeans. Europeans wear jeans but they look different from a lot of American jeans.

Also, no tennis shoes.

Ballcaps are also a big no-no.

Lots of young Europeans wear American branded clothing - the older ones do not. So use your judgement on that one.

Otherwise I think you should be okay. Just don't wear anything that obviously labels you as 'different.' I'll never forget our trip to Italy. My mother wore this huge and billowing black cape, thinking it was chique or whatever. Well she was the only person in Italy wearing a cape... and as a result, all of us were picked on by every loser on the street trying to sell junk, beg for money, or flat out steal from you.

Just try not to wear anything that really stands out. Try to wear say, a leather jacket (not bomber) or a nice wool coat. A shocking pink hoodie will get you harassed by every loser in the street.

And as always, be very aware of the volume of your voice. Speaking loud English will get you landed on every time, plus draw some disgusted looks in restaurants.

 

[SPratt74]

I don't know. I dress for comfort. I wore tennis shoes on every trip that I've taken (unless I had to have on a formal). I wore sweatshirts when it was cold and a warm coat. I just would rather dress for comfort than trying to be like them, because I would want to enjoy myself. If you constantly worry about what you look like compared to them, then you aren't going to enjoy the trip as much. They aren't going to care anyways, because they don't know you. And you'll be out of their minds in how many minutes after they see you.

Oh one tip that I always think about when going over seas or on any trip is that I always take plenty of dark clothing. When I've gone and visit places, I've always been amazed at how dirty a person can become after a day or so after sitting in dirty cabs or what have you. So, I always take dark clothing instead of light clothing. That might sound silly, but you can do a lot with black shirts. Just dress them up with necklaces and blazers or something like that. Anyways, it's just a tip. It works for me even though it might not for someone else.

 

[waltzgirl]

I only really know about England, but here are my tips for there:

Voice level is very important. The English actually have less physical personal space in public than we do. On a crowded street, they will pass so close to you that both people need to swivel their shoulders back to avoid hitting each other. And they will stand much closer in line at an ATM (called "cashpoint" there). But they maintain their sense of privacy in public by not letting their voices impinge on strangers. Be especially aware of this in restaurants and on the tube.

Say "thank you" much more frequently and earlier in transactions. For example, when paying for something in a store, etc., hand the money directly to the clerk (not on the counter) and say "thank you" as you hand it over. Say it again when you get your change.

Say "Sorry" rather than "Excuse me," and say it even if you're not at fault, if someone bumps into you or whatever.

Have a great trip!

 

[DancinAnne]

We've probably all seen the cartoons of clueless American tourists stumbling around the world. You know, the ones with the guy wearing a Hawaiian shirt with shorts and black socks with sandals, and a camera around his neck. His wife is in capri pants, a shirt with horizontal stripes, sunglasses and a ridiculous hat, carrying an overflowing tote bag. The images been around since, I don't know, maybe the 50's. The cliche probably used to have some validity or it wouldn't have lasted so long.

So in a couple of weeks, DH and I will be travelling in Europe, and I'm wondering about the current version of the cliche. What are the give-aways that people are Americans? I heard somewhere that shoes are important and Americans tend to wear athletic shoes when Europeans wouldn't. What about jeans? Or has the world really become such a small place that people dress the same everywhere? Any hints about "what not to wear" in cities or in vacation destinations?

Thanks!

I like to dress well, wherever I go. I don't wear tennis shoes or t-shirts or ball caps. I have a pair of tennis shoes for yard work only. Jeans on occasion. But mostly slacks, skirts... I aim for sophisticated and/or classy most of the time, depending on the sitch. Prolly doesn't always work out...

And that is the same way I dress for vacations. I don't buy a special wardrobe for vacationing. I say just be yourselves.

That's my 2 cents... for what it's worth.

 

[SPratt74]

I like to dress well, wherever I go. I don't wear tennis shoes or t-shirts or ball caps. I have a pair of tennis shoes for yard work only. Jeans on occasion. But mostly slacks, skirts... I aim for sophisticated and/or classy most of the time, depending on the sitch. Prolly doesn't always work out...

And that is the same way I dress for vacations. I don't buy a special wardrobe for vacationing. I say just be yourselves.

That's my 2 cents... for what it's worth.

My sister dressed in high heeled boots and dressy shoes when we went to NYC. I dressed in tennis shoes. She ended up with blisters and sores all over her feet while I didn't. But what she said to me was that she didn't care, because she looked cute. But she sure didn't feel well after the trip lol!!! But I agree. Just be yourselves. They really don't care about who is a tourist and who isn't. I'm sure they are used to all kinds of different people as it is by now anyways.

 

[little_mouse]

You can wear athletic shoes - just make sure they are not white. I've seen plenty European women wearing tan Pumas (not for the evenings out though). Buy them here because they are double the price over there.

 

[Laura]

Hey Zhena,

I travel a lot, and I must say that in Europe people tend to dress much better than in the USA. Don't wear sneakers -- especially white ones! However, those "comfort" shoes based on tennis shoes that are currently in fashion, made out of brown or black leather and with interesting preforations, etc. are in fashion -- last time I was in Amsterdam I saw people wearing non-sneakery "fashion" athletic shoes all over the place. But fashion changes all the time, it's best to just go with something that is neat and not too trendy and comfortagble. Ecco, Clarke's, Mephisto, and Dansko are all European "comfort" shoe brands which you can get in the USA. My favorite travelling shoes are by the Italian company Geox, and they're fantastic because they have composition rubber soles (shock absorbing!) with little preforations in the soles and a patented membrane that allows heat and water vapor (sweat) out, while preventing water from the outside from seeping in. I had a pair of black Geox loafers that I wore everywhere in central Europe. You can get them at zappos.com I think.

People do wear jeans, but not faded baggy old Wranglers or whatever. I don't know what is fashion now, but when I was last in London boot-cut very dark wash (like navy colored) jeans were in for women.

Don't wear pleated pants! They aren't in fashion for women anywhere on planet Earth as far as I am concerned!

I love dressing for the occasion and like to find ways to be comfortable yet stylish. I've found I get better service on planes, in restaurants, etc. if I look nice. Don't worry too much, I'd really say just avoid the cliche's of white sneakers, baseball caps, baggy sweatshirts, and things with lots of logos or brand names or place names on them. I tend to go in trousers that have some lycra in them (prevents wrinkles and are more comfortable), decent shirts (no athletic looking t-shirts), and comfortable loafers with good soles that were designed for walking.

Make sure you carry a good bag. You want something that will hold all your stuff and be easy to carry and not hurt your arm or shoulder. Check out TravelSmith.com or Magellans.com for ideas.

Since you live near me, I'd be willing to go shopping with you if you wanted!!!

 

[Zhena]

.... But fashion changes all the time, it's best to just go with something that is neat and not too trendy and comfortagble. Ecco, Clarke's, Mephisto, and Dansko are all European "comfort" shoe brands which you can get in the USA. ...

People do wear jeans, but not faded baggy old Wranglers or whatever. I don't know what is fashion now, but when I was last in London boot-cut very dark wash (like navy colored) jeans were in for women.

Don't wear pleated pants! They aren't in fashion for women anywhere on planet Earth as far as I am concerned!

... Don't worry too much, I'd really say just avoid the cliche's of white sneakers, baseball caps, baggy sweatshirts, and things with lots of logos or brand names or place names on them. I tend to go in trousers that have some lycra in them (prevents wrinkles and are more comfortable), decent shirts (no athletic looking t-shirts), and comfortable loafers with good soles that were designed for walking. ...

Since you live near me, I'd be willing to go shopping with you if you wanted!!!

Oooh, I'd love to go shopping with you sometime! But what you said just made me comfortable with what I have already.

For shoes, I plan to rely on my SAS black lace-up walking shoes and SAS black sandals, plus one pair of black heels by Oh! (strange brandname) that are actually extremely comfortable (the salesman said they were designed by a shoemaker who used to make ballroom shoes -- AFTER I told him I planned to wear them dancing at places with questionable floors). DH lives in solid black athletic shoes, but he's bringing a pair of dress shoes (in addition to dance shoes), so he should be OK.

I don't find jeans all that comfortable, but DH does. He's also bringing some khakis, so I'll try to encourage him to wear them in the cities and save the jeans for the vacation spots. I have a pair of black non-wrinkle pants from Talbot's, dark green pants from Orvis, light green linen-y pants, and one pair of khakis (pleated ... hmmm).

Again, I don't wear T-shirts or sweatshirts much - even when I wear "T-shirt" kind of things I prefer a little extra style in the cut or color, and I HATE logos. I'm bringing an Eileen Fisher jacket to cover up when appropriate for churches/mosques or museums. No baseball caps -- a nice packable straw hat I like to wear for garden tours ...

I didn't even have to buy anything for all the fancy evenings -- I sort of went on a buying binge since I started dancing, so I have lots of pretty things to wear. The only problem is trying not to overpack...

As I said, everyone's advice is much appreciated, especially because it's not making me change my plans. Thanks for your help!

 

[DancinAnne]

My sister dressed in high heeled boots and dressy shoes when we went to NYC. I dressed in tennis shoes. She ended up with blisters and sores all over her feet while I didn't. But what she said to me was that she didn't care, because she looked cute. But she sure didn't feel well after the trip lol!!! But I agree. Just be yourselves. They really don't care about who is a tourist and who isn't. I'm sure they are used to all kinds of different people as it is by now anyways.

I dress nicely. But I don't sacrifice comfort. There are many comfortable and beautiful shoes out there that aren't tennis shoes. Thankfully!

Oh, no sweatshirts either. Ugh.

 

[Pacion]

I dress nicely. But I don't sacrifice comfort. There are many comfortable and beautiful shoes out there that aren't tennis shoes. Thankfully!

Yes, you just have to look at some of the Audrey Hepburn movies/photos to get a good idea on style/understated elegance. I think part of the Ralph Lauren concept of simple elegance was inspired by Ms Hepburn.

The English actually have less physical personal space in public than we do. On a crowded street, they will pass so close to you that both people need to swivel their shoulders back to avoid hitting each other. And they will stand much closer in line at an ATM (called "cashpoint" there).

This is an interesting observation. I can't say for outside of London, but I think part of the reason for the lower/reduced sense of personal space is the cramped conditions of the tube/underground system. It can get so crowded that you are lucky to have one part of your body not touching someone else! However, this changes once you are above ground.

I would disagree though re the standing close in line at the ATM aka Cashpoint. There have been so many robberies or 'distraction' related robberies, or card fraud, that people are generally more wary and respectful, of standing too close to someone else.

Distraction related robberies = robberies where someone is standing close to you at the ATM, getting onto the bus or even on the street, accidentially spilling something on you (according to the police, usually coffee) and helping to wipe it up. In the process of cleaning it up, they will then either rob/pick pocket you, or an accomplice will. Therefore, just as you would in the US, be vigilant about anyone coming close to you.

 

[Merrylegs]

I vote no for tennis shoes and jeans. The itinerary for my trip to Italy last year stated that some the churches we would be visiting expected women to have their arms (and I think legs, too) covered up. Remember, you're visiting a different country with a different culture and it's wise to be respectful of that. You can easily rememedy the arm situation with a sweater. Plus it gets darn cold in those places!

I would pack lightweight _non-wrinkle_ pants. I didn't pack jeans for my trip because I figured if we were out all day sightseeing and then went straight to dinner I didn't want to be the bum in jeans. Plus they're not comfortable to be sitting in for 8 hours on a plane.

I brought my Dansko clogs as my walking shoes and since they're the dressier "non-nurse" style they look great with pants and tights and a skirt. They were about $130 but they've been to 4 countries with me and have held up well and still look great. It was a great investment.

Parts of England seemed more casual but that may have been because I was visiting a graduate student friend there. But, come to think of it, he wore lightweight suits most of the time.

 

[Joe]

Rockports.

If DH must wear khakis, try to make them dark-colored.

 

[samina]

puma's definitely the hip athletic shoe brand in europe... and they've got great-looking shoes. i'd get a pair for myself if i were travelling through europe.

 

[fascination]

yep...our exchange student, a guy, had a mauve colored pair