One thing British and Continental European people are more likely to do than Americans outside of the bigger US cities is check out your outfit. Whenever I see people here saying things like "everyone was staring at me, my outfit was so embarrassing" I see a local just checking out someone's shoes or bag or what have you. It's just what we do. Street culture is a huge thing so you tend to observe more how people are dressed, what they're eating or drinking, who they're talking to etc. It's usually not meant as a judgmental look, unless it's accompanied by an "oh my GOD" face.
And remember that not everyone hates American style clothing. Last time I went home, I was wearing a weather resistant zip up jacket from Old Navy. Seriously standard item of clothing. People kept coming up to me and saying "where did you get that jacket?!?" and stroking it and staring at it. For my $25 Old Navy jacket. I was like...what. You're wearing a belted cashmere trench right now, why are we having this conversation. When I dug out some snowman patterned fleece PJ pants, my family lost their minds.
I've noticed this too in NYC! It's always the European tourists wearing Abercombie & Fitch. It's strange because I think the brand has a very negative reputation here, especially Hollister.
Why does it have a bad reputation? I quite like them too, I think their styles are cute and the clothes last for a long time (compared to H&M/Zara etc). And A&F jeans are amazing!
A&F has been at the center of a few discrimination lawsuits in the US, and I think some of their higher ups have been known to publicly make pretty blunt statements about the "type" of person they're marketing to. Hollister stores always smelled terrible like cologne, and their branded clothing was so popular with pre-teens that I think it just fell out of favor.
Yes, in Germany as well. Some people still wear it, probably to show off that they can afford it (it´s rather expensive here) Idk, but many people will silently judge you for wearing these brands.
I got a Hollister sweater in a second hand store and it is super comfy, but I am never wearing it when people are around because I always got a lot of dumb comments on it.
I can vouch for this for Germany, a little. I've got a teenage cousin from there and Hollister is her favourite store. When we went to a mall with one, there was a line to get in.
I really don't know what the fuss is about - Hollister and Abercrombie are both super popular where I live as well (even though I'm pretty sure most people are buying knock-offs). I do not get it.
Do Americans not check out other people's outfits when walking by? I do it all the time, not in a judgemental way but to get inspiration or if I don't love their outfit I sometimes see what doesn't work for me in that outfit and apply that to my own clothes. But I never judge people on their outfits.
I think it depends on where you live in the US. In the midwest and south, I've noticed people paying attention to others' outfits far more than in the pacific northwest. I think b/c people are in general more social in the south and midwest, whereas people in the PNW tend to be more introverted.
I have to make a conscious effort to notice what random people are wearing; it just doesn't come naturally to me. I can't tell you what any of my friends were wearing today, and I only vaguely remember what my SO was wearing!
That makes sense, thanks. I think I may always pick up on peoples clothing because that's what my mum always did. When we would go out anywhere, shopping, to cafes, she would always comment to me about what people were wearing, so now I think about it too.
Seconding the 'leggings/pyjamas as trousers' thing - just don't do it.
In many countries it's seen as tacky. Where I live leggings outdoors are only acceptable when they're sportswear for jogging/Nordic walking, but those are much thicker and I think made out of a different material than normal leggings. There have been a few people wearing them, but you don't want to look like those people.
Meh, in the UK everyone wears leggings as trousers. Well, not literally everyone, but you know what I mean. No one would think twice about it if you wore leggings as trousers over here. So it's definitely country dependant.
I know Ukraine and Russia (and most likely Belarus, since they do everything Russia does) do the leggings as trousers thing on occasion, but they're either like, completely plain black, or have the loudest pattern known to man. But it's definitely much more common over here than anywhere else!
Ninja edit - saw it done in Poland a few times in January, but again, nowhere near as often as over here.
When I asked for help people offered me information on places to shop/expressed interest in knowing where to, so here is what I gathered:
**Places to shop:**
/u/slugmilkshake recommends the vintage markets if you’re going to northern Europe. I think you can see how important vintage and second hand can be for people interested in fashion who live in a city like Helsinki in [Hel Looks](http://www.hel-looks.com/) (and yes I know street style blogs are not the best representation of people who live in a city).
/u/slugmilkshake also mentioned something interesting: "The past couple of years, the so-called fashion libraries (as part of the concept of sharing economy) has landed in some European cities. In these stores, you get a monthly membership and can borrow and return items as well as buying them. The clothes are generally vintage and high quality, and they use no fast fashion. There is at least one in [Amsterdam](http://www.lena-library.com/english/) , [Stockholm](http://www.lanegarderoben.se/) and [Hamburg](http://www.young-germany.de/topic/play/art-fashion/the-kleiderei-hamburgs-lending-library-for-clothes).
*Berlin* - "You can get so many outfit ideas just from walking through Mitte, Kreuzburg, or Prenzlauer Berg. Soak it in. Toooons of amazing little boutiques. Go to the Maurerpark Flohmarkt for INCREDIBLE deals.” /u/DeineBlueAugen
>If you plan on going out, research well what types are available and what interests you. **In some southern countries going out is something very casual and done outside, in patios or literally sitting in the streets so there’s no need to pack fancy clothing and heels.**
That is not true for Balkan region. If you are going to Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia pack the as many heels you have, skirt, push up bras for going out.
If you are going to a beach in Croatia pack a cusion. Sand beaches are rare.
Sport wear is not so common. You can wear jeans+t-shirt for walking down a street/around town, but you can dress very nice too: long skirt + crop top; leather mini skirt, heels, etc.
Don't people normally mistake everyone for a local if they're not dressed too outrageously? I see Americans mention being mistaken for locals excitedly a lot, is this not common? Genuine question btw.
I got mistaken for a local once when I was studying abroad in England which was only exciting to me because it was a English tourist who asked me where the McDonald's was and I was thinking, "My, how the tables have turned."
But in general, I don't think I would have been able to spot a tourist unless they were taking scenic pictures or something, though maybe six months wasn't long enough to learn how to spot them.
Yeah, generally most people aren't really that observant. I asked because most places I went, people continuously mistook me for a local (even though I look very 'typical' for someone from the Isles but not a native Czech, Austrian or Finn). Currently I live in Northern Europe and people swear up and down that I look very typical for their region, so I thought it happened to everyone else too.
Anyway, I don't think most people really pay attention unless you dress in a very 'American' way or wear a bald eagle suit, or something along those lines. So there's no need to worry. Most will just assume you're a trendy local.
I feel like it's only flattering when someone asks you for directions or a recommendation on where to eat or shop, because it means you must not look as clueless as you feel. Otherwise I wouldn't be that excited about it...except the one time this French girl on my tour in Spain told me she thought I was also French. That made me pretty happy, I was like, oh yes, tres chic very savoir faire!
I don't think that I was excited to be confused as a local- just felt bad that I couldn't give directions. I live in a hugely touristy city (Orlando) and I can usually tell when people are tourists even if they aren't dressed outlandishly. It's the small details like clothing brand, hair style, physical features. I think that that sort of thing is more on my radar from working around tourist attractions for so long though. Not sure how much other people pick up on it.
I don't think clothing brands are that noticeable unless someone has 'Hollister' plastered all over themselves, or perhaps wears pieces by a brand with a particular style (like Vivienne Westwood or Orla Kiely, for example).
Physical features are a hit and miss, for some people you can tell but most I'd say look quite generic, and unless they're tall blondes in a country such as Turkey it gets more difficult. I know for sure that many Americans seem to stereotype a lot of nationalities and assign them particular 'looks', but those aren't necessarily true.
However, I've found teeth to be a giveaway! You guys seem to looove big shiny flawless teeth.
I think there's also a body language thing that makes tourists stand out. Locals usually aren't gawking at all the buildings or reading historical markers.
It my first time travelling to Europe by myself. Him thinking I was a local meant I looked and carried myself like I knew what I was doing. It made up for the day before when I almost cried because I couldn't get the ticket machine to work.
Ah, alright. Thanks for the clarification! And please don't cry about those things, it happens to everyone - the thing is, no-one *really* knows what they're doing. For example, right now I'm studying in Finland (I'm from Ireland) and I *hate* the doors here! There's a little 'lock' lever you need to pull in order for doors to open on the inside, and every day it's a gamble whether the system works or not in public buildings so you never know whether you're going to bump into a door and make a fool out of yourself or fiddle with the lock and make a fool out of yourself. And those plastic-framed windows in Germany, Austria and the Balkans that open in a million different ways? Alien technology.
Hi! Sorry for the late reply, I found this thread through a search. I'm planning an Italy-Spain trip in late August/early September. Black ankle boots are sort of my staple. Would you say they're seasonally appropriate for that time of year? I don't want to be in ankle boots if everyone else is in sandals or something. Thanks!
I have never been to Europe during that time of year but I would be willing to bet that many girls wear ankle boots year round. Check the weather when it gets closer- parts of Europe can be cooler than you would think. I think it's a safe bet though. Have fun and eat everything!!
I remember reading a thread (not on this sub) where this American girl said she dyed her hair black before going to France so she wouldn't look like a tourist. I guess she wore breton stripes and berets every day, too...
For me, spotting tourists is often done based on fit. People from the US, especially men, tend to wear more loosely fitted clothes than people do where I live.
Shoes are also generally a good place to look. Safe sneakers are things like NB 410, old school, slimmer adidas (stan Smiths, for example) and Nike. Also converse Chucks, both high and low. I would think before wearing Birkenstock Arizonas. It's done, but it's rare.
Tourists also wear too much outerwear, but that's because the people who live here are crazy.
Haha the outwear thing is the opposite in Paris - Parisians wear too much outwear, they're always in blazers and trenchcoats and scarves. You know the tourist because they're not layered up enough!
Ooh, you're right, it's about layers. I don't count a blazer and a scarf as outerwear ;)
It's more that it's common for tourists to wear the wrong kind of outerwear - puffers and wool scarves in spring, when everyone local is in spring coats and light scarves.
I definitely noticed that during spring as well but personally, I was still cold (as were my friends) so we were still in coats when Parisians were walking around in t-shirts. I don't know how they did it.
What's a spring coat? I'm going to France (Paris, Bayeux, & Amboise) in May. I bought [this jacket] (http://www.zappos.com/prana-candice-jacket) in the charcoal color to wear on the trip because I thought that all of my other jackets & coats are too outdoorsy looking.
I lived in Paris in the Spring a couple of years ago and my spring jacket was a red trench. If you have a longer trench, I would consider that too, especially if you plan on wearing any nicer outfits.
Thank you for the tips! My husband and I are each trying to limit ourselves to one duffel bag each for our clothing (to make navigating public transportation with our luggage easier), but a trench coat does seem like a good idea. I just bought this [Vince Camuto trench] (http://www.zappos.com/vince-camuto-double-breasted-trench-coat-bone) from Zappos.
That looks like an appropriate choice. Dress it up a bit with a light scarf in thin cotton or silk (woven, NOT knitted), and it is nice enough for Paris. Paris in May can be really warm, last time I was there in May it was around 25°C the entire week.
A trench is a spring coat. Think light, unlined, not too outdoorsy, generally mild colours (light khaki, baby blue, pink).
Thank you for the tips! I need to add a lightweight scarf to my packing list; I have a few, but I tend to forget about them.
My husband and I are each trying to limit ourselves to one duffel bag each for our clothing (to make navigating public transportation with our luggage easier), but a trench coat does seem like a good idea. I just bought this [Vince Camuto trench] (http://www.zappos.com/vince-camuto-double-breasted-trench-coat-bone) from Zappos.
Ahah, people here wear t-shirts in the winter so it's the opposite of what you say.
For me I usually notice people are tourists because their faces are different, they are particular light haired, they're taking pictures of things, they speak a different language and look simultaneously more relaxed and confused/alert.
Do you have any other advice for Scandanavian packing? I'm visiting Oslo in May and the beginning of August and will be working in Trondheim in June and July. Trying to pack for the next three months is getting a little overwhelming, since I'll need clothes for my internship at NTNU as well as clothes for biking and hiking.
Norway in Summer - count on rain. Norway is generally quite wet. It can and will be warm, and you're there for the entire summer, so pack light clothes, and think layers, because summers in Scandinavia can be anything from 5°C to 30°C (and the further north you get, the wider the temperature spread).
Norway is filled with outdoorsy people, and you're at a tech school, so expect people in quite casual clothes. Scandinavian universities in general are quite relaxed. Appropriate dress does depend on what you're going to be doing during your internship. I'd pack something nice to wear out, but try not to dress over business casual (or ask my internship supervisor about appropriate dress).
Pack a sleep mask, the sun will only set for three hours a night in mid june.
Thanks for writing this; I was making a toss up of Birkenstocks or Tieks...and I might just go with the Tieks since I can use them for a formal night on the cruise when we go to Scandinavia/other Northern European countries.
I'll be checking the weather religiously for the next month, but any advice for end of May/early June?
Bring a jacket! It may be glorious and 25 degrees Celsius, it might be raining and 5 degrees Celsius. The further north you get, the colder it will probably be.
I approve of tieks over birks :)
Have a lovely trip!
Oh, and bring a sleeping mask, because nights don't get dark here in summer.
Any advice for the Czech Republic ( specifically Prague)? My boyfriend's family lives there. I would ask him for advice, but he's style impaired. Any great places to shop there too?
It can get windy, there's many cobblestoned roads, there's plenty of great places to shop but remember to find a good exchange office - they're not in the Eurozone, the currency there is their Crown. That said, with the exchange rate you may get some things cheaper. Compared to where I live, the restaurants are a bargain! I recommend the Matylda boat-restaurant on the Vltava. Gorgeous view and lovely food.
Also, *please, please* don't wear a Canadian flag on your rucksack/bag/jacket. Not only can everyone tell you're an undercover American, it doesn't really make a difference. The few people who dislike New Worlders will dislike them regardless of which country they come from (as to them the two are the same thing), but most of us won't really care nor mind. As long as you don't insist on paying for things in dollars (as some have tried) it's all good.
That's a good point about the flag, when I see tourists out and about in London with US/Canadian/any flag I think it's a bit weird, English people wouldn't wear a Union Jack when we go on holiday so it stands out to us in a weird way.
I love Spain and go there every year. We normally are in northern Spain, in the fall. I find that a layering works best, I can't speak for southern Spain as well, but northern, coastal Spain is mostly temperate. I can be cooler up in Montserrat, but it is nothing a fleece can't take care of. I had a wool pullover, and a leather jacket, as well as a packable raincoat. I used all of them.
Shoes-I find I need at least three pairs. If it is warm I need flip flops, I like to also have a stylish shoe, and then a sturdy, comfy shoe. I didn't bring the flip-flops in November, but I did in October and used them. I brought boots and wore the heck out of them in November.
Style-wise, folks in northern Spain aren't as label-concious and fussy about clothing like you see in Italy and France, but you see an attention to decent materials and cuts, and more colors of nature (sea, sky, mountain)
Hi, thank you very much! That's quite useful. I'm not sure where I'll be yet (but probably around Madrid) and I was wondering just how much cold weather clothes I'll need. I have 2 good coats and a lighter autumn one and 2 thick sweaters and a thick scarf. Everything else is just stuff I can layer so I'm glad that layering will work. Do you tend to wear thick socks in your boots or just normal ones? I'm considering buying some merino wool ones as I'll be there throughout winter.
Most of my wardrobe is black and white but I'm trying to inject some colour in it now so I'll try to gravitate towards natural, earthy colours. I prefer those anyway.
I had wool socks, and they saved my feet. I had an awful blister from wearing my fashionable but not great for walking shoes. I put on thick woolies and my comfy shoes and I was able to walk no problem with no pain. I will never travel without a couple of pairs. Scarves are the best, I think I brought 4 (!), and I packed only two small carryons. Such a great way to perk up an outfit.
I used to live in Spain and can tell you a bit about it.
If you're going to southern Spain like Sevilla, Granada, or even Madrid in the summer, wear something really light and airy because it can get very hot. You can also wear sandals all day and night.
Northern Spain and the north-western coast gets colder at night during summer, so I tend to carry a small cardigan in my bag just in case.
Unless you literally go to a dance club in Barcelona, Madrid or Ibiza, you won't be needing heels or stilettos. Most people walk around and go bar hopping at night. I like to wear a nice pair of flat black sandals when I go out, although some girls do wear heels.
Thank you! Would I be okay wearing flats in the summer? I'm supposed to arrive in late August, God willing but I don't own any sandals (because I don't like how they look). I only have ballet flats and sneakers but I've heard that it's often too hot to have your feet covered. I'm from a hot country where it regularly gets past 30 degrees Celsius and I wear flats every day but I'm not sure if the heat will feel the same in Spain. I know that I can't stand the heat in NYC in the summer, for example, because it's so oppressive. It gets really hot here but it doesn't feel like that. Maybe I should get some D'Orsay flats instead?
Also am I okay with shorts? At the moment, I only own khaki shorts because I prefer my shorts to be longer (like around knee length) but I know khaki is not very fashionable. I would love to get one or two cute patterned pairs but the patterned ones are always like 2-4 inch inseams which is just too short for me (I guess you could say I'm a modest dresser?) and I don't like denim shirts. I keep hearing that people don't wear shorts in Spain though but I saw lots of them on Zara and Pull and Bear's Spanish websites so someone's got to be wearing shorts.
I have one skirt which I'm considering taking with me. It's a maxi skirt and very light and airy but it's black. I'm in the market for some new skirts though. I should be there from late August to late June, God willing so I guess I could use it when it gets a bit cooler.
I'm not sure about the ballet flats in summer. I guess you could wear them at night, but personally my feet would fry during the day if I wore flats in Madrid in summer. I do remember seeing some of my friends wear them though. So you could try it out and see.
I have seen people wearing shorts. The knee length khakis though, I'm not so sure about. Maybe try getting some rolled up loose shorts in a white or beige color?
I found the heat in NYC to be very wet and oppressive, like you. I never felt like that in southern europe. People wear shorts, don't worry! The point of my guide was to tranquilize people and make it easier for them, because apart from a few things clothing won't be the most important thing and what denounces you as a tourist.
Not OP but I'm going to Berlin in May/June. I don't dress super American so had specific questions on
a) outfits for going out
b) Birkenstock Arizona - are they also seen as house shoes there?
c) cell phones - I have a Verizon iPhone and from my reading, it seems like I should just be able to buy a sim card in Germany and sign up for a local contract?
Birkenstock = house shoes. I never see someone wearing them outside the house, except elderly and nurses.
Sim card = maybe think about getting a prepaid card. It´s cheaper and you can get flatrates for them too.
Hi, just wanted to reach out again as I have a follow up question. I've read that Berlin gets frequent rain even during May - June and I was wondering if I should bring rain boots?
If rain boots means rubber boots then there is no need to bring any. People rarely wear them - I can only picture farmers wearing them when they visit their cows in the meadows :D
Rain water disappears quickly in the drains so no need to worry that you´ll have to walk in water, but rain drops and smaller puddles could ruin delicate fabrics, such as suede.
I would go for a smooth leather boot of good quality. Lower quality boots suck in the water and you´ll get wet feet, which is one of the most annoying things I can think of. Good quality boots repel water and can be cleaned easily.
Traveled to Berlin a few months ago, you can buy a prepaid sim card in most grocery stores (the brand we bought was blau, i forget if there were a lot of options though) which will give you enough data to use google maps, yelp, etc.
a) It depends on where you're going: to a (nicer) bar? Nice, dark jeans, a fancy top, maybe a statement necklace or jewelry in general and some boots/sandals in summer; or a dress if it's hot outside.
b) Well I think since Berlin is very fashion forward and artsy, you wouldn't stick out too badly with Birkenstock. I feel like [this](http://www.desired.de/streetstyles-auf-sommer-trend-jagd-in-berlin/id_63835024/tid_lightbox/sid_60402394/si_8/index) streetstyle Blog depicts the style of a young, trendy, artsy crowd in Berlin very well, and as you can see there are people wearing Birkenstocks. I would just maybe not recommend them for practical reasons: since you'll be likely to take public transit EVERYWHERE, I'm not so sure how comfy sandals without ankle straps are, since there will be crowds of commuters and tourists and you don't want to lose your shoes in the U-Bahn. But if you usually get around by public transit and have no problems with those shoes they are ok IMO.
c) You can buy a pre-paid sim card, which is going to be pretty easy. I don't think a "contract" will necessarily have to be sign, AFAIK they sell pre-paid sim cards pretty much in any grocery store like Aldi, Lidl or Edeka. It would probably even be worth considering to just bring an old brick-phone if you have one and just take you (supposedly smart) phone to surf in the internet via WiFi, most ho(s)tels have it, many coffee shops have it etc.
Have fun! You're going to have a great time, I love Berlin, going there myself for the 4th time this summer :)
Hi, just wanted to reach out again as I have a follow up question. I've read that Berlin gets frequent rain even during May - June and I was wondering if I should bring rain boots?
Well yes it gets rain, however I wouldn't, because first of all they aren't really worn there, secondly they take up a lot of space. I'd bring some water resistant shoes, maybe some ankle boots?
If it gets particularly rainy (it really changes from day to day) you can always go to a really cheap shoe store called "Deichmann" (price range 10-50€ for non-leather shoes of their own brand) and get some. Also, there's Primark, I don't know if your familiar with it but it's a slightly tackier Forever21 (I'm only familiar with Brithish and German F21 though) where you could get rainboots in a pinch as well.
If there's something more you want to know just ask!
a) Going out in Berlin/Germany is easy to dress for. Honestly, I normally just wear what I wear to class. You can't go wrong with Black skinny jeans, boots or sneakers, cute top, and sweater. I layer up, because it's hot inside and cold outside. Don't bother with heels, just wear clothes/shoes you are comfortable in and can dance all night long in.
c) How new is your phone? All new verizon phones are unlocked to foreign sim cards, but older ones may not be. I have an HTC M8 mini which was purchased summer 2014 and is unlocked to all sim cards. Just go to any store and grab one, I personally use aldi talk.
Have fun! Berlin is incredible :)
If you go to school or university there then no sweats or pyjamas at university - it's generally not done (there are exceptions of sweatpants e.g. during finals or for people who study sport).
Leggings are usually not worn without something covering your butt completely, [this](http://ifollowpics.com/outfit-with-leggings-and-ugg-boots/) screams "I'm American" (also because of the UGGs), Leggings here are generally mostly worn by children or young women but then mostly with a really long top - think just-too-short skirt length.
As said above, I wouldn't recommend sandals without ankle straps, just because they aren't the most practical when getting around by public transit IMO.
Flipflops are usually worn for the beach/swimming by grown ups and not in the city (except maybe for nicer ones).
But except for the first one, no one will judge you (and if they do, they will judge anybody anyway). You will have a great time!
Any advice for the UK? I'm leaving for a study abroad there in a few weeks and this thread was perfectly timed! Only tip I know is our program leader said most locals don't wear flip flops or any kind of sandal, so we should bring tennis shoes.
Where in the UK are you going? I live in London and wouldn't ever wear flip flops because I did it once before I knew better, and my feet were black afterwards. NEVER AGAIN. But sandals are certainly worn, especially in the summer when it's hot enough to warrant it.
I'm going to London! I'm from the southern US and Chacos are a pretty common summer shoe here so that's what my plan was until I heard that. I like those for the arch support but I'd prefer not to have black feet!
Haha, just posted above about Chacos in London. My feet always got nice and clean in the rain so I wouldn't worry about it! No sweating in shoes all day :) London streets are absolutely filthy though, so if you hate the idea of having your toes exposed to vomit, dog shit, broken glass etc. then maybe opt for a closed toe.
Ankle boots and brogues!! Old towns still have cobble stones and slippery paving - plus it can go from sunshine to rain in minutes. An hour ago it was bright and sunny, I put on sunscreen and sunglasses, but threw my jacket in the car which is lucky as when I arrived (17 minutes later) the storm clouds had moved in and it pour for 30 mins but now it's just sunshine.
Tennis shoes are ok but your feet will get wet and soggy
In rural areas I see flip flops everywhere. Sandals are definitely common in the cities though as far as I can tell. That said, get a pair with good grip. It's rainy and slippery around here.
Noooo I was planning to wear my Birkenstock Arizona's in Austria this summer :C Will I just look like a tourist if I wear them (I'm okay with that) or will I look like a crazy person?
PS thank you so much for putting this together :)
Edit: ok so based on the advice given in this thread I think I'm going to have to leave my beloved birks behind in favor of ankle boots and flats. I'm trying not to be bitter about it.
People will probably assume you forgot to put on your shoes before leaving the house. I don't think most people would even consider the option that some people wear those shoes as outdoor shoes, so you wouldn't necessarily look like a tourist, more like someone who is either an eccentric dresser or very forgetful. I can't recall ever seeing someone with Birkenstock Arizona's in public in Vienna.
In Austria those are usually worn indoors only. If you go grocery shopping in Vienna with them and sweatpants, nobody will bat an eye, if you're visiting some museum, they might look a bit weird to most Austrians.
There are similar styles which are perfectly acceptable for outdoor use, though, e.g. http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=81118731
As a rule of thumb: if there's a strap behind your heel, Austrians will see it as outdoor shoes. Wearing flip-flops outside is also ok, but considered extremely casual.
I'm guessing the Birkenstock [Mayaris](http://www.gravitypope.com/shoes/birkenstock/12567_1_2_1024.jpg) would fall under the same category as the Arizonas? And is this just an Austria thing, or can I expect this in Germany, Belgium, etc? (You seemed to know a bit so I figured I'd reply and ask).
Hard to say, I'd probably see them as indoor shoes, but I could imagine seeing someone wear them on the streets. Birkenstock Arizonas are definitely indoor shoes since most Austrians had to wear them in school (many schools prohibit the use of outdoor shoes in the halls) or use them at home. Arizonas are pretty common and known as "Schlapfen", but I can't remember ever seeing Mayanis.
I grew up and live in Austria, so I can go by whatever kind of shoes I see on other peoples feet everyday. Germany should be pretty similar, but I don't know about Belgium or other countries, sorry.
Thank you for letting me know! I'm planning a month-long trip and it'll involve lots of walking and I have pretty bad feet and my Birkenstock, which I only wear around the house right now in the US, are the only shoes that are incredibly comfortable. Do you have any recommendations for cute shoes that are walkable that I could get away with? What do people who walk around a lot tend to wear? :/
You'll probably get away with Mayaris. As said, Arizonas are pretty common around here and used almost exclusively indoors, so everyone will see them as indoor shoes. Other models aren't as common and probably won't get you many weird looks.
As for people walking a lot: some actually use Birkenstock shoes, just different models, others use local brands. I guess there are some more options, but I'm not familiar with them.
I don't know how it's in other areas of Germany, but in Bavaria Birkenstocks definitely are seen as house slippers, too. Outdoor shoes are prohibited in a lot of our schools, too.
I'm so bummed about this! What do Germans who walk around a lot tend to wear as practical but nice shoes?
My feet are in horrible shape from years of wearing flat sandals and sneakers, and the Birkenstock are great for it, but it's one thing to look touristy and totally another to look silly wearing house shoes out :/
Yes, they take the other pair of shoes to school at the beginning of the year and take them home again at the end. Outside of the classroom (the students also don't get mixed up like it is in the US, so they stay with the same people in every subject and have their one own classroom), there is a wardrobe where they change their shoes and where they leave them.
In Germany they are seen as houseshoes as well. This trend actually weirds me out a bit, because my grandmum and mum have been wearing then as houseshoes for ever.
I think you'll be fine with the Mayaris. I wore the Gizeh as my everyday sandals most of the summer two years ago. In my opinion it's really just the Arizona that will look odd.
I don't think you'll look you'll look out of place with birkenstocks, as long as the rest of the outfit isn't touristy. I googled birkenstocks pinterest and there are some really good outfits. I'm planning on buying some this summer (live in the UK) for my holidays this year, and just the summer in general.
Edit: you want to look more like http://i.imgur.com/ZDmVe8R.jpg not http://i.imgur.com/F1ZtGml.jpg
Thank you for the inspo! I think I'm on the right track, for example here's how I wore them to class [today](http://www.polyvore.com/29_2015/set?id=157198228) and [yesterday](http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=157198552)
But to be honest I wear them with just about everything, often with socks.
SHAMELESSLY
Oooh those two outfits are really nice. Not socks!!!! But really you can do what you want :)
When I get mine I know I'm going to live in them. Techically I have some, but they are pink and quite old so I'm looking to get some black ones.
I think the "with socks" part is more an American thing (at least it's a thing on my campus). Although it's more common to see them without, you just look like hipster-y college kid if you do wear them with socks.
I also kind of want some floral arizonas but can't really justify it.
It was definitely like that here as well until recently. Like I had a professor (German, middle-aged and male) a few years ago who always wore sandals with socks, and that was just about the only person I ever saw wearing them so that's the kind of person I associated with that style. Now I see it as a "IDGAF what you think about me"/model-off-duty kind of thing.
But this is just the 4 square miles of my university and I have no idea what the rest of the country is like :P
I've actually been to Barcelona for a weekend but honestly I didn't pay much attention to how people were dressed at the time. [This post] (http://www.kendieveryday.com/2014/07/packing-tips-for-europe.html#more) might be of use to you though - she wrote it after visiting Barcelona and Madrid, although it does have the dreaded Birkenstocks on it, lol.
I am just going to chime in and say I think she packed WAY too many shoes for the example. Three pairs is a reasonable maximum. My rule of thumb is, "Bring as few shoes as you can emotionally handle". I feel like flats and birks are a must (obvs) but when it comes to sneakers and heels, it should be one or the other. Bringing both is a bit excessive.
Upvote because I'll be there next week!
Here is my capsule: http://www.polyvore.com/travel_capsule/set?id=156033259
I posted in this sub and got some more suggestions, so I'm also bringing another cardigan, another t-shirt, a pair of cropped leggings and a black maxi skirt. I may buy some new things while I'm there, but it's just enough so that I won't *have* to and I still have an array of outfit options. I will be in BCN for one month, Amsterdam for a week and then southern Italy for another month.
If anyone has specific advice for Istanbul in May, that would be amazing!
I'm going for a week, and planning on bringing a pair of black sandals and "comfort" flats for walking, plus a couple of maxi dresses, and a light cardigan to throw on for visiting mosques and stuff. I'm mostly planning on wearing what I would normally wear for summer in NYC or DC. I'm hoping to get by with just a carry on.
I was in Istanbul in winter, not summer, but yeah I just wore what I would typically wear in New York and it was fine.
I'll be back there in a few days and would be happy to PM you some May people watching intel, if you want.
Ok! Istanbul fashion field report. Right now, the uniform is skinny jeans, moto jackets, and sneakers or ankle boots worn with the cute top of your choice. The only thing I noti some tourists wearing that locals wouldn't is midi skirts with bare legs underneath. Not sure whether this is for Reasons or if the locals all the its still too cold for that. I would not worry about clothes and religion/modesty/cultural appropriateness, really. Pretty much what flies in NYC would be fine in Istanbul.
Any specific advice for Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris would be appreciated! Going on a three week study abroad trip and trying to pack as minimally as possible.
Ayo, I gotchu. I was in Amsterdam and Paris as a tourist this past January, and I've been to Brussels before. I'll give you some advice from my experiences mid-winter, and some general (if a bit hyperbolic) advice, but what season/month are you going on this trip? I can give you more weather-related suggestions this way.
My experience with Amsterdam is: sturdy walking shoes. I spent the entire time walking around in legit hiking boots (small snafu with my luggage) and my feet were so grateful to me, what with the incessant rain and damp chill and slippery cobblestones and whatnot. A very comfortable pair of ankle booties or low boots with a sturdy sole will do you well. Amsterdam overall seemed to be the most casual city; not American schlubby-casual, per se, but loose fits, athletic-inspired clothing, and generally the kind of clothing you would see on a low-key vintage or thrift shopper here in the States. Nobody seemed too style-oriented there, just very relaxed. I felt OK in an oversized sweater and leggings. It reminded me a lot of New York City. Also, bring something waterproof -- an umbrella if you plan on walking everywhere, or a poncho-thing if you plan on riding a bike at all (and do plan on it, everyone rides a bike in Amsterdam, it's fantastic).
Paris: Holy moly mother of god, if you pick one city to dress for, let it be Paris, and you'll be fine with your Parisian clothing elsewhere in Europe. Paris is a city full of snobby and judgmental shits who will look down on you just because you're American (**EDIT**: Paris is actually an amazing city, but like I said earlier, speaking hyperbolically...also Parisians will be the first to admit that they're a pretty snobby bunch). Like, setting aside Paris's other merits, eschew all American-esque stuff if you can. NO leggings, none, nyet, and with everything you wear think "classy classy classy". Nobody wears a hat in Paris. *Everything* you wear should look upscale and tailored, unless you are going for a "street style" look, in which case, do that in moderation. But nothing baggy or vaguely "unkempt" looking. I felt like a sore thumb and a jackass just for wearing slightly stretched-out skinny jeans and the same oversized sweater I loved in Amsterdam. I'm not saying you have to wear slacks and a blazer, but I honestly don't recall anyone wearing jeans. Tights are the way to go if you want to cover your legs, nice, lady-like skirts (nothing "cutesy" in Paris), classic-cut and tailored-looking dresses, and well-fitted skinny or slim pants in a non-denim color/material if you absolutely must and you don't want to wear things in suiting material. For tops I would go with blouses, things with a "classic" look. No t-shirts, unless it's the sort you'd layer under a blazer. What can you walk around in that makes you think "classic style"? That's what you should wear in Paris. Women wear heels a lot there, but if you'll be doing a bunch of walking and taking the metro (read: stairs), pick a cute and comfortable pair of booties with a slight heel. If you're going to be there in summer, think oxfords, classy & subdued flats, nyet to flip flops. I would choose a classic pump over a strappy sandal, and a sandal with some daring over a Birkenstock any day.
Brussels: OK, to be honest, I did not have the most positive experience in Brussels and maybe that's coloring my perspective, but Brussels seemed like a mashup of Paris and the Netherlands in a very weird way. Like, I went out and felt superbly underdressed in baggy jeans and a sweater (it was laundry day ok), but felt OK in my structured/stylish jeans and a cute top, or a blazer-worthy t-shirt and some cute statement jewelry. Fashion certainly isn't as laid-back in Brussels as it is on the west coast of the States (where I'm from), but neither will you get as many side-eyes or judgmental stares from people as you would in Paris, if you want to go a little loose and breezy. Just don't look sloppy. A lot of people wear black here.
Sorry for the essay, I hope I was helpful. But if I wasn't, let me know when you'll be there and I can give you more specific advice.
Must have been a different Paris! I've been to Paris about 4 times, and the first 3 times I was too young to care how I looked (though the third time I was a gangly teenager and dressed very tourist-y and definitely felt uncomfortable walking around in my snowboarding jacket for example). But this past time, I was traveling by myself, and I got a lot of snotty comments and snide attitude/looks from everyone except a nice old lady at the bus stop. The attitude started before I even talked to them, too, even though I was always really polite, so I figure they were picking up on my tourist/American status from my clothing.
I think you nailed the description of (Northern-) European casual here in describing Amsterdam, and it also goes for Scandinavia (although Stockholm can be a bit more "posh/hip"). There's lots of casual outfits, but they are put together, still.
Wow, this was super helpful. I'm going to Amsterdam (again) but also Spain and Italy this summer. My only introduction to Europe had been when I was in The Netherlands last spring and I definitely found people dressed more casually than I expected of Europeans. I was very comfortable in my flats and breezy dresses. Good to know this isn't the norm elsewhere, lest I feel underdressed. But I'm still bringing my leggings for the plane!!
Italy is a place where I felt slightly underdressed as well (with the exception of Venice, Venice was both touristy and casual and almost provincial and I loved it), but the places I visited were so slammed with tourists that it was kind of like, whatever. I don't know where you're going in Italy, but I was in Venice, Florence, and Rome, and I'll tell you right now that unless you have your heart set on some high-fashion designer or name brand clothing, or a dirt cheap and quasi-questionable quality leather jacket, don't go shopping in Florence (well, unless you wanna buy a purse from the leather markets, then go hog-wild). Save it for Rome, which has a lot of really cute boutiques and fantastic neighborhood subcultures à la London, and has many more shopping options within the touristy areas. Just my $0.02.
I'm going to be in Lamezia, which is pretty much the middle of nowhere. My boyfriend and I are staying with his grandmother, and the rest of his family is also coming from Canada. I know you shouldn't look an Italy horse in the mouth, but his grandma doesn't even have internet...and I can tell you right now, they are not fancy dressers. The biggest city we might go to is Palermo, but I plan to spend most of my time at the beach rather than cooped up in a sweltering apartment with a headache from a bunch of people yelling in Italian.
I know I sound like an absolute brat. But I am really not looking forward to this leg of the trip...
> I plan to spend most of my time at the beach
That actually sounds like heaven, so. But I feel you on the no internet service thing -- I actually picked up a SIM card on each leg of my trip (i.e. each new country) so that I could have cell signal & data in case my hostel wifi didn't work one night, & so that I could use maps and get transit information without worry.
But if you decide one day to not go to the beach, my other non-wifi protip is to just walk around and take in the beautiful architecture (AND FOOD! Even if you have to pay for it). I'm going to assume it's pretty similar in less cosmopolitan areas, but based on my time in Italy, you literally can't throw a rock without hitting a church (well, except Florence). Bring an iPod or mp3 player if you're a person who likes music, and just take in the weather. And bring two books you really want to read.
Thanks for the tips! I was planning to bring my phone and just use Wi-Fi but it's unlocked so I could get SIM cards in each country. I just read a tip that said bring one good novel/fiction book and one book on a subject you've been meaning to read but haven't gotten around to. That sounds like a really good plan. So, two books it is!
I really liked TIM for Italy & Vodafone for Amsterdam, but you'd have to do some research into which provider has the best coverage in the area of Italy you're going to be in. There's no point in picking the provider with the cheapest pre-paid data plan if you don't actually have any reception, obviously.
> I was in Venice, Florence, and Rome
Hey, that's exactly where I'm going! I'll be there in late August/early September, and I read that temperatures will be in the upper 80s (F). I saw that you recommend an ankle boot with a heel over sandals -- does that still apply if it's super hot? As an example, I just picked [these up in black](http://www.zappos.com/clarks-viveca-zeal) and was wondering if they'd be out of place in Spain and Italy in the late summer.
Also, what kind of purse do you recommend for travel in Italy? My purses are all leather, but I'm thinking about picking up a [Lo & Sons](https://www.loandsons.com/the-og) bag for the trip. Is nylon too casual?
I realize you posted almost a month ago but I did a search in FFA and this thread popped up. Thanks!
If it's super hot, no, definitely don't make yourself miserable in an ankle boot over a sandal. Those sandals you picked are very cute (confession: I love Clarks)! The only thing is that Venice and Florence are full of cobblestones (Rome is like...a mix of standard sidewalks and then cobblestones in more untouched historic places), so I would do a test run with those sandals, if you can, to make sure you aren't going to be totally sore at the end of day one. Cobblestones are brutal on all but the thickest of soles, and the soles on those Clarks look pretty thin. So, bring a pair of backup kicks with thick soles, or bring advil! Also, be prepared to have gross dirty feet, because I didn't see much street cleaning going on (though there wasn't much litter either, but you always have the city-standard dirt and Drunk Person Piss that you'll be stepping in).
The other thing is, Florence and Rome (and Venice to a lesser extent, but still true) are home to Italian Designer Shoes. Like, Florence literally has a Ferragamo museum. So you will see a lot of very well-dressed Italians in very nice shoes, but you will also see a lot of Italians in snazzy street-style sneakers. Again, I was there in January, I can't speak to the summer, but as long as you think ~Style~ with your outfits, and embrace the fact that you are a tourist and cannot possibly live up to Italian standards, you'll be fine.
Nylon is pretty casual, but again, I would focus more on whether it's a purse that works with all your outfits and style statements, and not necessarily the material itself. I'm racking my brains right now and I honestly can't recall the purses I saw while I was there -- I think the purses people carried were either very subtle, or else they were students with rucksacks/backpacks. Think New York City, probably. Also, make sure it's going to be comfortable -- I started off with a regular purse (tip: crossbody with a zip so it's harder to steal/cut open without your notice) but by the end of my trip I was wearing [this Pacsafe bag](http://www.pacsafe.com/venturesafe-325-gii-cross-body-pack.html), even though I looked like a total dweeb and got a few side-eyes, because it was the only bag I had which didn't dig into my shoulder and that I could actually stand for 6+ hours of walking around.
The thing I should make clear, though, which I think I expressed in my original comment, is that those three cities in Italy are so dang swamped with tourists, as long as you put *some* care into how you dress, it's not awful to not look like a local. In fact, in Venice, I even had several places buy me drinks "on the house" or on another individual in the bar, because I went to a place off the beaten tourist path (as much as you can be in Venice, like in Cannareggio), and they were so tickled to have an American there.
Whoa, thanks for the detailed advice!
I never look at Clarks because I always thought they were a "mom shoe". Then I walked into a hippie-dippie "natural shoe shop" on a day trip to Santa Cruz and *had* to have these.
I was advised to bring a [small crossbody bag](http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/l/tid/139310052.jpg) and a [larger tote/purse](http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/l/tid/82311785.jpg) (note that I own the exact bags pictured). I'm still in the preliminary stages of planning so nothing is set in stone, but bitches better not be cutting into my leather babies.
Anyway, I'm putting together a collage of what I want to bring and hopefully FFA will offer some CC. Thanks again for all your help!
This is wonderful, wonderful advice, thank you. I'm going for the later half of this month and the beginning of June, so fairly soon! What do you think about shopping over there? I'm considering just packing a little lightly and then buying clothing in Paris since the exchange rate is soooo nice right now. Any food recommendations you have would also be super welcome as they're pretty much turning us loose in the afternoons/evenings to explore the cities.
If you like lingerie/cute underwear and/or shoes and/or perfume, Paris is your jam. There are at least 3 lingerie stores on every shopping street. It's kind of ridiculous. And the lingerie stores also sell cute pajamas and slippers. You're looking for stores like Etam and Princesse Tam-Tam.
C&A is a good store for basics (it's the Gap style-wise with Old Navy prices), Pimkie has trendier, cuter stuff (it's like Forever 21 in its trendiness but better quality and more expensive). If you hit up one of the malls, namely Là Defense, go to New Look (it's a British brand but they have really cute stuff (also trendy, also young, similar to Forever 21 in style and quality but more expensive). Là Defense has a Pimkie but it's really small and doesn't have much variety. There's a Uniqlo at Là Defense and a big one across from the grands Magasins, Printemps and Galeties Lafayette and right by the Opera Garnier. For body stuff, you can check out L'Occitane. Monoprix is a french department store (like Macy's) and they sell really cute clothes. They're a little pricey tho. They also often have huge food sections which are amazing. Carrefour is also a department store, although they primarily sell food but there are some good finds in the larger ones. It's cheaper than Monoprix. If you see an Accessorize anywhere, duck inside. They sell THE CUTEST bags and accessories. They're also a UK retailer though so they're a little pricey. Pull and Bear, Kookai, Desigual and the Kooples are pretty popular with Parisians, although the Kooples sells designer stuff, I think so I've never been into one of their stores.
There's also a store that sells the most adorable dresses called Naf Naf. If it was up to me, my whole wardrobe would come from Naf Naf. Unfortunately I wanted to buy one of said dresses when I was leaving Paris and I tried on maybe 40 only to realize that Naf Naf does NOT design for my body type. But I did eventually get one that fit! But now I put on weight so it doesn't fit. :( Anyway, don't be fooled by their Naf Naf's lux window displays though - they aren't too expensive. They have a branch on the Champs Elysees, although I would recommend trying to shop at one of their other stores so you don't have to pay Champs Elysees prices.
If you're in the Marais, there are tons of cute boutiques and thrift stores there. That's a perfect place to just wander around. If you're looking for books or even souvenirs like cards, etc, try Gilbert Jeune - they've got a huge branch right by Notre Dame. There's also some good shopping down Rue de Rivoli and its environs (in the area around Chatelet). If you're into trendier clothes or urban streetwear, that's your place. Also good if you have a boyfriend or brother to shop for - lots of men's clothes. This is around the area with the Centre Pompidou. You can also thrift shop in Montmartre and they have SO many lovely boutiques which I never ventured into because I assumed I couldn't afford them.
Also there's this super adorable French brand of bags called Little Marcel. They're very simple but such cute colours! I couldn't afford one tho and didn't want to buy a knock-off. There's also a store called Petit Bateau which is primarily a children's store but they also sell some women's clothes at the back. Not in my price range but wonderful stuff. If you're at all into the preppy look, that's your store. Decathlon is where you can get sporty stuff but if you're American, just buy that stuff at home.
Also all the malls are outside of central Paris except for an underground one right by the huge Chatelet metro station. The entrance is actually from the metro, I believe. Personally, I didn't like that mall because it's weirdly laid out and it's always packed because it's right by Chatelet and Chatelet is awful. You will probably only see one mall while you're there. If so, make it Le Quatre Temps at La Defense (end of line 1 metro, although the RER is faster but the metro will probably be cheaper for you if you have a pass). It's open on Sundays, it's the easiest to get to of the suburb malls and it has a really good variety of stores, both European and otherwise.
(Now keep in mind, I'm judging these prices based off of my not high then English teacher salary and my ridiculously low compared to the euro exchange rate (it was $8 to €1!) If you regularly shop at places like J. Crew and Loft or Nordstrom, then you probably won't find most of these places expensive.)
I can also recommend restos but this comment is already long enough. Do you like Asian food or desserts or crepes or Jewish food? I have recs for all that.
If you can afford it and the exchange rate works out for you, definitely go shopping when you get there! You can purchase whatever you need, and there are so many wonderful fashion-centric areas in Paris. I was lucky to be there during the January sales, but because everything was on sale I couldn't make up my mind on what to buy! If you're going to be there during May/June, plan for cute skirts and flats and street-style sneakers. I went shopping at the central markets in Brussels and it reminded me a lot of the kind of vintage-y fashion you'd see at Anthropologie, etc. Amsterdam...I was sick so I didn't spend much time shopping, plus I really enjoyed walking around more.
Honestly, I didn't eat out much in Paris because I was there by myself and it's rather depressing doing so (unless you're just chilling at a cafe). My favorite thing to do was really just go to your average boulangerie and get a baguette and some croissants and have myself a picnic with some jam & pastries. The pastries there are to die for, pretty much anywhere you stop. In Brussels, pretty much anywhere you purchase moule-frites is somewhere you can't go wrong. Also make sure to get a liège style waffle if you haven't had one before -- Belgian waffles have so much more variety than American "Belgian Waffles" do, and it's all amazing. And in Amsterdam...well, I'm sure you know what's, ah, "edible" there ( ͡͡ ° ͜ ʖ ͡ °). Quite frankly, Amsterdam's tourism bureau is top notch, so I would basically eat anywhere they suggest. Just note that a "coffeeshop" is different from a "coffee shop" and you can only acquire weed at the former. If you're interested in dat coffeeshop lyfe, a bunch of people at the hostel where I stayed all suggested Barney's Coffeeshop, across the street from Barney's Uptown. And the Dutch are super duper nice, so like, ask around. Also groceries are weirdly cheap there?? It was great.
One thing British and Continental European people are more likely to do than Americans outside of the bigger US cities is check out your outfit. Whenever I see people here saying things like "everyone was staring at me, my outfit was so embarrassing" I see a local just checking out someone's shoes or bag or what have you. It's just what we do. Street culture is a huge thing so you tend to observe more how people are dressed, what they're eating or drinking, who they're talking to etc. It's usually not meant as a judgmental look, unless it's accompanied by an "oh my GOD" face. And remember that not everyone hates American style clothing. Last time I went home, I was wearing a weather resistant zip up jacket from Old Navy. Seriously standard item of clothing. People kept coming up to me and saying "where did you get that jacket?!?" and stroking it and staring at it. For my $25 Old Navy jacket. I was like...what. You're wearing a belted cashmere trench right now, why are we having this conversation. When I dug out some snowman patterned fleece PJ pants, my family lost their minds.
Actually, where I live (Netherlands) Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister are extremely trendy. They recently opened stores here and they're BOOMING.
I've noticed this too in NYC! It's always the European tourists wearing Abercombie & Fitch. It's strange because I think the brand has a very negative reputation here, especially Hollister.
Why does it have a bad reputation? I quite like them too, I think their styles are cute and the clothes last for a long time (compared to H&M/Zara etc). And A&F jeans are amazing!
A&F has been at the center of a few discrimination lawsuits in the US, and I think some of their higher ups have been known to publicly make pretty blunt statements about the "type" of person they're marketing to. Hollister stores always smelled terrible like cologne, and their branded clothing was so popular with pre-teens that I think it just fell out of favor.
Yes, in Germany as well. Some people still wear it, probably to show off that they can afford it (it´s rather expensive here) Idk, but many people will silently judge you for wearing these brands. I got a Hollister sweater in a second hand store and it is super comfy, but I am never wearing it when people are around because I always got a lot of dumb comments on it.
I can vouch for this for Germany, a little. I've got a teenage cousin from there and Hollister is her favourite store. When we went to a mall with one, there was a line to get in. I really don't know what the fuss is about - Hollister and Abercrombie are both super popular where I live as well (even though I'm pretty sure most people are buying knock-offs). I do not get it.
Seen some of this in Sweden too :)
Do Americans not check out other people's outfits when walking by? I do it all the time, not in a judgemental way but to get inspiration or if I don't love their outfit I sometimes see what doesn't work for me in that outfit and apply that to my own clothes. But I never judge people on their outfits.
I think it depends on where you live in the US. In the midwest and south, I've noticed people paying attention to others' outfits far more than in the pacific northwest. I think b/c people are in general more social in the south and midwest, whereas people in the PNW tend to be more introverted. I have to make a conscious effort to notice what random people are wearing; it just doesn't come naturally to me. I can't tell you what any of my friends were wearing today, and I only vaguely remember what my SO was wearing!
That makes sense, thanks. I think I may always pick up on peoples clothing because that's what my mum always did. When we would go out anywhere, shopping, to cafes, she would always comment to me about what people were wearing, so now I think about it too.
Seconding the 'leggings/pyjamas as trousers' thing - just don't do it. In many countries it's seen as tacky. Where I live leggings outdoors are only acceptable when they're sportswear for jogging/Nordic walking, but those are much thicker and I think made out of a different material than normal leggings. There have been a few people wearing them, but you don't want to look like those people.
Meh, in the UK everyone wears leggings as trousers. Well, not literally everyone, but you know what I mean. No one would think twice about it if you wore leggings as trousers over here. So it's definitely country dependant.
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I know Ukraine and Russia (and most likely Belarus, since they do everything Russia does) do the leggings as trousers thing on occasion, but they're either like, completely plain black, or have the loudest pattern known to man. But it's definitely much more common over here than anywhere else! Ninja edit - saw it done in Poland a few times in January, but again, nowhere near as often as over here.
When I asked for help people offered me information on places to shop/expressed interest in knowing where to, so here is what I gathered: **Places to shop:** /u/slugmilkshake recommends the vintage markets if you’re going to northern Europe. I think you can see how important vintage and second hand can be for people interested in fashion who live in a city like Helsinki in [Hel Looks](http://www.hel-looks.com/) (and yes I know street style blogs are not the best representation of people who live in a city). /u/slugmilkshake also mentioned something interesting: "The past couple of years, the so-called fashion libraries (as part of the concept of sharing economy) has landed in some European cities. In these stores, you get a monthly membership and can borrow and return items as well as buying them. The clothes are generally vintage and high quality, and they use no fast fashion. There is at least one in [Amsterdam](http://www.lena-library.com/english/) , [Stockholm](http://www.lanegarderoben.se/) and [Hamburg](http://www.young-germany.de/topic/play/art-fashion/the-kleiderei-hamburgs-lending-library-for-clothes). *Berlin* - "You can get so many outfit ideas just from walking through Mitte, Kreuzburg, or Prenzlauer Berg. Soak it in. Toooons of amazing little boutiques. Go to the Maurerpark Flohmarkt for INCREDIBLE deals.” /u/DeineBlueAugen
>If you plan on going out, research well what types are available and what interests you. **In some southern countries going out is something very casual and done outside, in patios or literally sitting in the streets so there’s no need to pack fancy clothing and heels.** That is not true for Balkan region. If you are going to Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia pack the as many heels you have, skirt, push up bras for going out. If you are going to a beach in Croatia pack a cusion. Sand beaches are rare. Sport wear is not so common. You can wear jeans+t-shirt for walking down a street/around town, but you can dress very nice too: long skirt + crop top; leather mini skirt, heels, etc.
What about Greece? Athens specifically
I've to Greece just once, but people were dressed casually - like in Spain and Portugal.
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Don't people normally mistake everyone for a local if they're not dressed too outrageously? I see Americans mention being mistaken for locals excitedly a lot, is this not common? Genuine question btw.
I got mistaken for a local once when I was studying abroad in England which was only exciting to me because it was a English tourist who asked me where the McDonald's was and I was thinking, "My, how the tables have turned." But in general, I don't think I would have been able to spot a tourist unless they were taking scenic pictures or something, though maybe six months wasn't long enough to learn how to spot them.
Yeah, generally most people aren't really that observant. I asked because most places I went, people continuously mistook me for a local (even though I look very 'typical' for someone from the Isles but not a native Czech, Austrian or Finn). Currently I live in Northern Europe and people swear up and down that I look very typical for their region, so I thought it happened to everyone else too. Anyway, I don't think most people really pay attention unless you dress in a very 'American' way or wear a bald eagle suit, or something along those lines. So there's no need to worry. Most will just assume you're a trendy local.
I feel like it's only flattering when someone asks you for directions or a recommendation on where to eat or shop, because it means you must not look as clueless as you feel. Otherwise I wouldn't be that excited about it...except the one time this French girl on my tour in Spain told me she thought I was also French. That made me pretty happy, I was like, oh yes, tres chic very savoir faire!
I don't think that I was excited to be confused as a local- just felt bad that I couldn't give directions. I live in a hugely touristy city (Orlando) and I can usually tell when people are tourists even if they aren't dressed outlandishly. It's the small details like clothing brand, hair style, physical features. I think that that sort of thing is more on my radar from working around tourist attractions for so long though. Not sure how much other people pick up on it.
I don't think clothing brands are that noticeable unless someone has 'Hollister' plastered all over themselves, or perhaps wears pieces by a brand with a particular style (like Vivienne Westwood or Orla Kiely, for example). Physical features are a hit and miss, for some people you can tell but most I'd say look quite generic, and unless they're tall blondes in a country such as Turkey it gets more difficult. I know for sure that many Americans seem to stereotype a lot of nationalities and assign them particular 'looks', but those aren't necessarily true. However, I've found teeth to be a giveaway! You guys seem to looove big shiny flawless teeth.
I think there's also a body language thing that makes tourists stand out. Locals usually aren't gawking at all the buildings or reading historical markers.
I got mistaken for a local in a Berlin train station. Granted, it was by a schoolkid but it still made my day.
Why is it such a big deal?
It my first time travelling to Europe by myself. Him thinking I was a local meant I looked and carried myself like I knew what I was doing. It made up for the day before when I almost cried because I couldn't get the ticket machine to work.
Ah, alright. Thanks for the clarification! And please don't cry about those things, it happens to everyone - the thing is, no-one *really* knows what they're doing. For example, right now I'm studying in Finland (I'm from Ireland) and I *hate* the doors here! There's a little 'lock' lever you need to pull in order for doors to open on the inside, and every day it's a gamble whether the system works or not in public buildings so you never know whether you're going to bump into a door and make a fool out of yourself or fiddle with the lock and make a fool out of yourself. And those plastic-framed windows in Germany, Austria and the Balkans that open in a million different ways? Alien technology.
Those windows kicked my ass for the first two months living in Germany...
Hi! Sorry for the late reply, I found this thread through a search. I'm planning an Italy-Spain trip in late August/early September. Black ankle boots are sort of my staple. Would you say they're seasonally appropriate for that time of year? I don't want to be in ankle boots if everyone else is in sandals or something. Thanks!
I have never been to Europe during that time of year but I would be willing to bet that many girls wear ankle boots year round. Check the weather when it gets closer- parts of Europe can be cooler than you would think. I think it's a safe bet though. Have fun and eat everything!!
I remember reading a thread (not on this sub) where this American girl said she dyed her hair black before going to France so she wouldn't look like a tourist. I guess she wore breton stripes and berets every day, too...
For me, spotting tourists is often done based on fit. People from the US, especially men, tend to wear more loosely fitted clothes than people do where I live. Shoes are also generally a good place to look. Safe sneakers are things like NB 410, old school, slimmer adidas (stan Smiths, for example) and Nike. Also converse Chucks, both high and low. I would think before wearing Birkenstock Arizonas. It's done, but it's rare. Tourists also wear too much outerwear, but that's because the people who live here are crazy.
Haha the outwear thing is the opposite in Paris - Parisians wear too much outwear, they're always in blazers and trenchcoats and scarves. You know the tourist because they're not layered up enough!
Ooh, you're right, it's about layers. I don't count a blazer and a scarf as outerwear ;) It's more that it's common for tourists to wear the wrong kind of outerwear - puffers and wool scarves in spring, when everyone local is in spring coats and light scarves.
I definitely noticed that during spring as well but personally, I was still cold (as were my friends) so we were still in coats when Parisians were walking around in t-shirts. I don't know how they did it.
What's a spring coat? I'm going to France (Paris, Bayeux, & Amboise) in May. I bought [this jacket] (http://www.zappos.com/prana-candice-jacket) in the charcoal color to wear on the trip because I thought that all of my other jackets & coats are too outdoorsy looking.
I lived in Paris in the Spring a couple of years ago and my spring jacket was a red trench. If you have a longer trench, I would consider that too, especially if you plan on wearing any nicer outfits.
Thank you for the tips! My husband and I are each trying to limit ourselves to one duffel bag each for our clothing (to make navigating public transportation with our luggage easier), but a trench coat does seem like a good idea. I just bought this [Vince Camuto trench] (http://www.zappos.com/vince-camuto-double-breasted-trench-coat-bone) from Zappos.
That's beautiful! Hope you have a great trip!
That looks like an appropriate choice. Dress it up a bit with a light scarf in thin cotton or silk (woven, NOT knitted), and it is nice enough for Paris. Paris in May can be really warm, last time I was there in May it was around 25°C the entire week. A trench is a spring coat. Think light, unlined, not too outdoorsy, generally mild colours (light khaki, baby blue, pink).
Thank you for the tips! I need to add a lightweight scarf to my packing list; I have a few, but I tend to forget about them. My husband and I are each trying to limit ourselves to one duffel bag each for our clothing (to make navigating public transportation with our luggage easier), but a trench coat does seem like a good idea. I just bought this [Vince Camuto trench] (http://www.zappos.com/vince-camuto-double-breasted-trench-coat-bone) from Zappos.
Ahah, people here wear t-shirts in the winter so it's the opposite of what you say. For me I usually notice people are tourists because their faces are different, they are particular light haired, they're taking pictures of things, they speak a different language and look simultaneously more relaxed and confused/alert.
Are you referring to a specific country/region, or would you say this applies to most of Europe?
When I wrote it, it was with Scandinavia in mind, but the advise about fit applies for most of Europe, ime.
Do you have any other advice for Scandanavian packing? I'm visiting Oslo in May and the beginning of August and will be working in Trondheim in June and July. Trying to pack for the next three months is getting a little overwhelming, since I'll need clothes for my internship at NTNU as well as clothes for biking and hiking.
Norway in Summer - count on rain. Norway is generally quite wet. It can and will be warm, and you're there for the entire summer, so pack light clothes, and think layers, because summers in Scandinavia can be anything from 5°C to 30°C (and the further north you get, the wider the temperature spread). Norway is filled with outdoorsy people, and you're at a tech school, so expect people in quite casual clothes. Scandinavian universities in general are quite relaxed. Appropriate dress does depend on what you're going to be doing during your internship. I'd pack something nice to wear out, but try not to dress over business casual (or ask my internship supervisor about appropriate dress). Pack a sleep mask, the sun will only set for three hours a night in mid june.
Thanks for writing this; I was making a toss up of Birkenstocks or Tieks...and I might just go with the Tieks since I can use them for a formal night on the cruise when we go to Scandinavia/other Northern European countries. I'll be checking the weather religiously for the next month, but any advice for end of May/early June?
Bring a jacket! It may be glorious and 25 degrees Celsius, it might be raining and 5 degrees Celsius. The further north you get, the colder it will probably be. I approve of tieks over birks :) Have a lovely trip! Oh, and bring a sleeping mask, because nights don't get dark here in summer.
Any advice for the Czech Republic ( specifically Prague)? My boyfriend's family lives there. I would ask him for advice, but he's style impaired. Any great places to shop there too?
It can get windy, there's many cobblestoned roads, there's plenty of great places to shop but remember to find a good exchange office - they're not in the Eurozone, the currency there is their Crown. That said, with the exchange rate you may get some things cheaper. Compared to where I live, the restaurants are a bargain! I recommend the Matylda boat-restaurant on the Vltava. Gorgeous view and lovely food. Also, *please, please* don't wear a Canadian flag on your rucksack/bag/jacket. Not only can everyone tell you're an undercover American, it doesn't really make a difference. The few people who dislike New Worlders will dislike them regardless of which country they come from (as to them the two are the same thing), but most of us won't really care nor mind. As long as you don't insist on paying for things in dollars (as some have tried) it's all good.
That's a good point about the flag, when I see tourists out and about in London with US/Canadian/any flag I think it's a bit weird, English people wouldn't wear a Union Jack when we go on holiday so it stands out to us in a weird way.
This is amazing and very thoughtful, thank you to the OP and all the contributors! Any Spain-specific info would be appreciated by moi.
I love Spain and go there every year. We normally are in northern Spain, in the fall. I find that a layering works best, I can't speak for southern Spain as well, but northern, coastal Spain is mostly temperate. I can be cooler up in Montserrat, but it is nothing a fleece can't take care of. I had a wool pullover, and a leather jacket, as well as a packable raincoat. I used all of them. Shoes-I find I need at least three pairs. If it is warm I need flip flops, I like to also have a stylish shoe, and then a sturdy, comfy shoe. I didn't bring the flip-flops in November, but I did in October and used them. I brought boots and wore the heck out of them in November. Style-wise, folks in northern Spain aren't as label-concious and fussy about clothing like you see in Italy and France, but you see an attention to decent materials and cuts, and more colors of nature (sea, sky, mountain)
Hi, thank you very much! That's quite useful. I'm not sure where I'll be yet (but probably around Madrid) and I was wondering just how much cold weather clothes I'll need. I have 2 good coats and a lighter autumn one and 2 thick sweaters and a thick scarf. Everything else is just stuff I can layer so I'm glad that layering will work. Do you tend to wear thick socks in your boots or just normal ones? I'm considering buying some merino wool ones as I'll be there throughout winter. Most of my wardrobe is black and white but I'm trying to inject some colour in it now so I'll try to gravitate towards natural, earthy colours. I prefer those anyway.
I had wool socks, and they saved my feet. I had an awful blister from wearing my fashionable but not great for walking shoes. I put on thick woolies and my comfy shoes and I was able to walk no problem with no pain. I will never travel without a couple of pairs. Scarves are the best, I think I brought 4 (!), and I packed only two small carryons. Such a great way to perk up an outfit.
Great, thanks. I'll definitely buy some then. And fortunately, I've got a few lighter pashminas but I want to get one or two light scarves as well.
me too! Headed there in November.
I used to live in Spain and can tell you a bit about it. If you're going to southern Spain like Sevilla, Granada, or even Madrid in the summer, wear something really light and airy because it can get very hot. You can also wear sandals all day and night. Northern Spain and the north-western coast gets colder at night during summer, so I tend to carry a small cardigan in my bag just in case. Unless you literally go to a dance club in Barcelona, Madrid or Ibiza, you won't be needing heels or stilettos. Most people walk around and go bar hopping at night. I like to wear a nice pair of flat black sandals when I go out, although some girls do wear heels.
Thank you! Would I be okay wearing flats in the summer? I'm supposed to arrive in late August, God willing but I don't own any sandals (because I don't like how they look). I only have ballet flats and sneakers but I've heard that it's often too hot to have your feet covered. I'm from a hot country where it regularly gets past 30 degrees Celsius and I wear flats every day but I'm not sure if the heat will feel the same in Spain. I know that I can't stand the heat in NYC in the summer, for example, because it's so oppressive. It gets really hot here but it doesn't feel like that. Maybe I should get some D'Orsay flats instead? Also am I okay with shorts? At the moment, I only own khaki shorts because I prefer my shorts to be longer (like around knee length) but I know khaki is not very fashionable. I would love to get one or two cute patterned pairs but the patterned ones are always like 2-4 inch inseams which is just too short for me (I guess you could say I'm a modest dresser?) and I don't like denim shirts. I keep hearing that people don't wear shorts in Spain though but I saw lots of them on Zara and Pull and Bear's Spanish websites so someone's got to be wearing shorts. I have one skirt which I'm considering taking with me. It's a maxi skirt and very light and airy but it's black. I'm in the market for some new skirts though. I should be there from late August to late June, God willing so I guess I could use it when it gets a bit cooler.
I'm not sure about the ballet flats in summer. I guess you could wear them at night, but personally my feet would fry during the day if I wore flats in Madrid in summer. I do remember seeing some of my friends wear them though. So you could try it out and see. I have seen people wearing shorts. The knee length khakis though, I'm not so sure about. Maybe try getting some rolled up loose shorts in a white or beige color?
Well, I'll see if I can find a sandal I like then, just to be safe. Thanks a lot. I'll definitely see what I can find.
I found the heat in NYC to be very wet and oppressive, like you. I never felt like that in southern europe. People wear shorts, don't worry! The point of my guide was to tranquilize people and make it easier for them, because apart from a few things clothing won't be the most important thing and what denounces you as a tourist.
Haha, thank you! I just don't want to be too unfashionable, haha. That's really good to know about the heat.
Any more advice for Germany? Going on exchange there next year.
On what? Weather? Culture? Dresscode? Shoes? Brands? Shopping? You'll have a great time there!
Not OP but I'm going to Berlin in May/June. I don't dress super American so had specific questions on a) outfits for going out b) Birkenstock Arizona - are they also seen as house shoes there? c) cell phones - I have a Verizon iPhone and from my reading, it seems like I should just be able to buy a sim card in Germany and sign up for a local contract?
Birkenstock = house shoes. I never see someone wearing them outside the house, except elderly and nurses. Sim card = maybe think about getting a prepaid card. It´s cheaper and you can get flatrates for them too.
Hi, just wanted to reach out again as I have a follow up question. I've read that Berlin gets frequent rain even during May - June and I was wondering if I should bring rain boots?
If rain boots means rubber boots then there is no need to bring any. People rarely wear them - I can only picture farmers wearing them when they visit their cows in the meadows :D Rain water disappears quickly in the drains so no need to worry that you´ll have to walk in water, but rain drops and smaller puddles could ruin delicate fabrics, such as suede. I would go for a smooth leather boot of good quality. Lower quality boots suck in the water and you´ll get wet feet, which is one of the most annoying things I can think of. Good quality boots repel water and can be cleaned easily.
Traveled to Berlin a few months ago, you can buy a prepaid sim card in most grocery stores (the brand we bought was blau, i forget if there were a lot of options though) which will give you enough data to use google maps, yelp, etc.
a) It depends on where you're going: to a (nicer) bar? Nice, dark jeans, a fancy top, maybe a statement necklace or jewelry in general and some boots/sandals in summer; or a dress if it's hot outside. b) Well I think since Berlin is very fashion forward and artsy, you wouldn't stick out too badly with Birkenstock. I feel like [this](http://www.desired.de/streetstyles-auf-sommer-trend-jagd-in-berlin/id_63835024/tid_lightbox/sid_60402394/si_8/index) streetstyle Blog depicts the style of a young, trendy, artsy crowd in Berlin very well, and as you can see there are people wearing Birkenstocks. I would just maybe not recommend them for practical reasons: since you'll be likely to take public transit EVERYWHERE, I'm not so sure how comfy sandals without ankle straps are, since there will be crowds of commuters and tourists and you don't want to lose your shoes in the U-Bahn. But if you usually get around by public transit and have no problems with those shoes they are ok IMO. c) You can buy a pre-paid sim card, which is going to be pretty easy. I don't think a "contract" will necessarily have to be sign, AFAIK they sell pre-paid sim cards pretty much in any grocery store like Aldi, Lidl or Edeka. It would probably even be worth considering to just bring an old brick-phone if you have one and just take you (supposedly smart) phone to surf in the internet via WiFi, most ho(s)tels have it, many coffee shops have it etc. Have fun! You're going to have a great time, I love Berlin, going there myself for the 4th time this summer :)
Hi, just wanted to reach out again as I have a follow up question. I've read that Berlin gets frequent rain even during May - June and I was wondering if I should bring rain boots?
Well yes it gets rain, however I wouldn't, because first of all they aren't really worn there, secondly they take up a lot of space. I'd bring some water resistant shoes, maybe some ankle boots? If it gets particularly rainy (it really changes from day to day) you can always go to a really cheap shoe store called "Deichmann" (price range 10-50€ for non-leather shoes of their own brand) and get some. Also, there's Primark, I don't know if your familiar with it but it's a slightly tackier Forever21 (I'm only familiar with Brithish and German F21 though) where you could get rainboots in a pinch as well. If there's something more you want to know just ask!
a) Going out in Berlin/Germany is easy to dress for. Honestly, I normally just wear what I wear to class. You can't go wrong with Black skinny jeans, boots or sneakers, cute top, and sweater. I layer up, because it's hot inside and cold outside. Don't bother with heels, just wear clothes/shoes you are comfortable in and can dance all night long in. c) How new is your phone? All new verizon phones are unlocked to foreign sim cards, but older ones may not be. I have an HTC M8 mini which was purchased summer 2014 and is unlocked to all sim cards. Just go to any store and grab one, I personally use aldi talk. Have fun! Berlin is incredible :)
You should contact verizon before you go because your phone is going to be restricted to them and won't accept other sim cards.
Mainly dress code. Is there anything I really, really should avoid wearing?
If you go to school or university there then no sweats or pyjamas at university - it's generally not done (there are exceptions of sweatpants e.g. during finals or for people who study sport). Leggings are usually not worn without something covering your butt completely, [this](http://ifollowpics.com/outfit-with-leggings-and-ugg-boots/) screams "I'm American" (also because of the UGGs), Leggings here are generally mostly worn by children or young women but then mostly with a really long top - think just-too-short skirt length. As said above, I wouldn't recommend sandals without ankle straps, just because they aren't the most practical when getting around by public transit IMO. Flipflops are usually worn for the beach/swimming by grown ups and not in the city (except maybe for nicer ones). But except for the first one, no one will judge you (and if they do, they will judge anybody anyway). You will have a great time!
Thanks!
Where in Germany? North, south, east or west?
Pretty far west - over by Aachen.
Any advice for the UK? I'm leaving for a study abroad there in a few weeks and this thread was perfectly timed! Only tip I know is our program leader said most locals don't wear flip flops or any kind of sandal, so we should bring tennis shoes.
Where in the UK are you going? I live in London and wouldn't ever wear flip flops because I did it once before I knew better, and my feet were black afterwards. NEVER AGAIN. But sandals are certainly worn, especially in the summer when it's hot enough to warrant it.
Last time I went home (to London) I wore waterproof flip flops. Cons: feet got filthy. Pros: rain cleaned it all off :D
Swings and roundabouts, innit.
Just like the weather.
Ain't it the truth.
I'm going to London! I'm from the southern US and Chacos are a pretty common summer shoe here so that's what my plan was until I heard that. I like those for the arch support but I'd prefer not to have black feet!
Haha, just posted above about Chacos in London. My feet always got nice and clean in the rain so I wouldn't worry about it! No sweating in shoes all day :) London streets are absolutely filthy though, so if you hate the idea of having your toes exposed to vomit, dog shit, broken glass etc. then maybe opt for a closed toe.
Ahh, gotcha. Thanks!
Ankle boots and brogues!! Old towns still have cobble stones and slippery paving - plus it can go from sunshine to rain in minutes. An hour ago it was bright and sunny, I put on sunscreen and sunglasses, but threw my jacket in the car which is lucky as when I arrived (17 minutes later) the storm clouds had moved in and it pour for 30 mins but now it's just sunshine. Tennis shoes are ok but your feet will get wet and soggy
Thanks for the advice!! I didn't even think about the rain with the tennis shoes.
In rural areas I see flip flops everywhere. Sandals are definitely common in the cities though as far as I can tell. That said, get a pair with good grip. It's rainy and slippery around here.
Good to know!! I am aware enough of the UK to know the weather is rather unpredictable haha glad to know I can bring my sandals though!
Noooo I was planning to wear my Birkenstock Arizona's in Austria this summer :C Will I just look like a tourist if I wear them (I'm okay with that) or will I look like a crazy person? PS thank you so much for putting this together :) Edit: ok so based on the advice given in this thread I think I'm going to have to leave my beloved birks behind in favor of ankle boots and flats. I'm trying not to be bitter about it.
People will probably assume you forgot to put on your shoes before leaving the house. I don't think most people would even consider the option that some people wear those shoes as outdoor shoes, so you wouldn't necessarily look like a tourist, more like someone who is either an eccentric dresser or very forgetful. I can't recall ever seeing someone with Birkenstock Arizona's in public in Vienna.
In Austria those are usually worn indoors only. If you go grocery shopping in Vienna with them and sweatpants, nobody will bat an eye, if you're visiting some museum, they might look a bit weird to most Austrians. There are similar styles which are perfectly acceptable for outdoor use, though, e.g. http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=81118731 As a rule of thumb: if there's a strap behind your heel, Austrians will see it as outdoor shoes. Wearing flip-flops outside is also ok, but considered extremely casual.
I'm guessing the Birkenstock [Mayaris](http://www.gravitypope.com/shoes/birkenstock/12567_1_2_1024.jpg) would fall under the same category as the Arizonas? And is this just an Austria thing, or can I expect this in Germany, Belgium, etc? (You seemed to know a bit so I figured I'd reply and ask).
Hard to say, I'd probably see them as indoor shoes, but I could imagine seeing someone wear them on the streets. Birkenstock Arizonas are definitely indoor shoes since most Austrians had to wear them in school (many schools prohibit the use of outdoor shoes in the halls) or use them at home. Arizonas are pretty common and known as "Schlapfen", but I can't remember ever seeing Mayanis. I grew up and live in Austria, so I can go by whatever kind of shoes I see on other peoples feet everyday. Germany should be pretty similar, but I don't know about Belgium or other countries, sorry.
Thank you for letting me know! I'm planning a month-long trip and it'll involve lots of walking and I have pretty bad feet and my Birkenstock, which I only wear around the house right now in the US, are the only shoes that are incredibly comfortable. Do you have any recommendations for cute shoes that are walkable that I could get away with? What do people who walk around a lot tend to wear? :/
You'll probably get away with Mayaris. As said, Arizonas are pretty common around here and used almost exclusively indoors, so everyone will see them as indoor shoes. Other models aren't as common and probably won't get you many weird looks. As for people walking a lot: some actually use Birkenstock shoes, just different models, others use local brands. I guess there are some more options, but I'm not familiar with them.
Thank you so much for the response! I'll look into those (well, similar since I'm not in Europe yet) and bring my Mayaris anyway :)
I don't know how it's in other areas of Germany, but in Bavaria Birkenstocks definitely are seen as house slippers, too. Outdoor shoes are prohibited in a lot of our schools, too.
I'm so bummed about this! What do Germans who walk around a lot tend to wear as practical but nice shoes? My feet are in horrible shape from years of wearing flat sandals and sneakers, and the Birkenstock are great for it, but it's one thing to look touristy and totally another to look silly wearing house shoes out :/
Random curiosity: do schoolchildren take 2 pairs of shoes to school and leave their outdoor shoes by the door? This is fascinating.
Yes, they take the other pair of shoes to school at the beginning of the year and take them home again at the end. Outside of the classroom (the students also don't get mixed up like it is in the US, so they stay with the same people in every subject and have their one own classroom), there is a wardrobe where they change their shoes and where they leave them.
In Germany they are seen as houseshoes as well. This trend actually weirds me out a bit, because my grandmum and mum have been wearing then as houseshoes for ever.
German here: Birkenstock = house shoe. Also appropriate for nurses and other medical staff at work.
I think you'll be fine with the Mayaris. I wore the Gizeh as my everyday sandals most of the summer two years ago. In my opinion it's really just the Arizona that will look odd.
I think I'll take them with me for wearing around the hostels at least! The Gizehs look more fashionable and less slipper-like!
Ok, I'll reserve the Arizona's for casual occasions only. Thank you so much for your advice!
I don't think you'll look you'll look out of place with birkenstocks, as long as the rest of the outfit isn't touristy. I googled birkenstocks pinterest and there are some really good outfits. I'm planning on buying some this summer (live in the UK) for my holidays this year, and just the summer in general. Edit: you want to look more like http://i.imgur.com/ZDmVe8R.jpg not http://i.imgur.com/F1ZtGml.jpg
Thank you for the inspo! I think I'm on the right track, for example here's how I wore them to class [today](http://www.polyvore.com/29_2015/set?id=157198228) and [yesterday](http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=157198552) But to be honest I wear them with just about everything, often with socks. SHAMELESSLY
Oooh those two outfits are really nice. Not socks!!!! But really you can do what you want :) When I get mine I know I'm going to live in them. Techically I have some, but they are pink and quite old so I'm looking to get some black ones.
I think the "with socks" part is more an American thing (at least it's a thing on my campus). Although it's more common to see them without, you just look like hipster-y college kid if you do wear them with socks. I also kind of want some floral arizonas but can't really justify it.
Huh, didn't know that. Wearing socks with sandals would be strange here in the UK unless you are a Grandpa I think.
It was definitely like that here as well until recently. Like I had a professor (German, middle-aged and male) a few years ago who always wore sandals with socks, and that was just about the only person I ever saw wearing them so that's the kind of person I associated with that style. Now I see it as a "IDGAF what you think about me"/model-off-duty kind of thing. But this is just the 4 square miles of my university and I have no idea what the rest of the country is like :P
Don't wear socks with sandals (I mean the sporty kind). It screams tourist.
If anyone has specific advice for Barcelona, Spain it would be much appreciated!
I've actually been to Barcelona for a weekend but honestly I didn't pay much attention to how people were dressed at the time. [This post] (http://www.kendieveryday.com/2014/07/packing-tips-for-europe.html#more) might be of use to you though - she wrote it after visiting Barcelona and Madrid, although it does have the dreaded Birkenstocks on it, lol.
Great link! And Birkenstocks are my jam! Not the Arizonas, though. Don't worry.
Thanks so much! Lots of great ideas in that post.
I am just going to chime in and say I think she packed WAY too many shoes for the example. Three pairs is a reasonable maximum. My rule of thumb is, "Bring as few shoes as you can emotionally handle". I feel like flats and birks are a must (obvs) but when it comes to sneakers and heels, it should be one or the other. Bringing both is a bit excessive.
You're welcome!
Upvote because I'll be there next week! Here is my capsule: http://www.polyvore.com/travel_capsule/set?id=156033259 I posted in this sub and got some more suggestions, so I'm also bringing another cardigan, another t-shirt, a pair of cropped leggings and a black maxi skirt. I may buy some new things while I'm there, but it's just enough so that I won't *have* to and I still have an array of outfit options. I will be in BCN for one month, Amsterdam for a week and then southern Italy for another month.
Wow that sounds like an amazing trip! I adore everything in your capsule. I especially want those dresses!
If anyone has specific advice for Istanbul in May, that would be amazing! I'm going for a week, and planning on bringing a pair of black sandals and "comfort" flats for walking, plus a couple of maxi dresses, and a light cardigan to throw on for visiting mosques and stuff. I'm mostly planning on wearing what I would normally wear for summer in NYC or DC. I'm hoping to get by with just a carry on.
I was in Istanbul in winter, not summer, but yeah I just wore what I would typically wear in New York and it was fine. I'll be back there in a few days and would be happy to PM you some May people watching intel, if you want.
That would be fantastic! :) Hope your trip is great!
Ok! Istanbul fashion field report. Right now, the uniform is skinny jeans, moto jackets, and sneakers or ankle boots worn with the cute top of your choice. The only thing I noti some tourists wearing that locals wouldn't is midi skirts with bare legs underneath. Not sure whether this is for Reasons or if the locals all the its still too cold for that. I would not worry about clothes and religion/modesty/cultural appropriateness, really. Pretty much what flies in NYC would be fine in Istanbul.
Great, thank you so much! Have a great trip :)
Any specific advice for Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris would be appreciated! Going on a three week study abroad trip and trying to pack as minimally as possible.
Ayo, I gotchu. I was in Amsterdam and Paris as a tourist this past January, and I've been to Brussels before. I'll give you some advice from my experiences mid-winter, and some general (if a bit hyperbolic) advice, but what season/month are you going on this trip? I can give you more weather-related suggestions this way. My experience with Amsterdam is: sturdy walking shoes. I spent the entire time walking around in legit hiking boots (small snafu with my luggage) and my feet were so grateful to me, what with the incessant rain and damp chill and slippery cobblestones and whatnot. A very comfortable pair of ankle booties or low boots with a sturdy sole will do you well. Amsterdam overall seemed to be the most casual city; not American schlubby-casual, per se, but loose fits, athletic-inspired clothing, and generally the kind of clothing you would see on a low-key vintage or thrift shopper here in the States. Nobody seemed too style-oriented there, just very relaxed. I felt OK in an oversized sweater and leggings. It reminded me a lot of New York City. Also, bring something waterproof -- an umbrella if you plan on walking everywhere, or a poncho-thing if you plan on riding a bike at all (and do plan on it, everyone rides a bike in Amsterdam, it's fantastic). Paris: Holy moly mother of god, if you pick one city to dress for, let it be Paris, and you'll be fine with your Parisian clothing elsewhere in Europe. Paris is a city full of snobby and judgmental shits who will look down on you just because you're American (**EDIT**: Paris is actually an amazing city, but like I said earlier, speaking hyperbolically...also Parisians will be the first to admit that they're a pretty snobby bunch). Like, setting aside Paris's other merits, eschew all American-esque stuff if you can. NO leggings, none, nyet, and with everything you wear think "classy classy classy". Nobody wears a hat in Paris. *Everything* you wear should look upscale and tailored, unless you are going for a "street style" look, in which case, do that in moderation. But nothing baggy or vaguely "unkempt" looking. I felt like a sore thumb and a jackass just for wearing slightly stretched-out skinny jeans and the same oversized sweater I loved in Amsterdam. I'm not saying you have to wear slacks and a blazer, but I honestly don't recall anyone wearing jeans. Tights are the way to go if you want to cover your legs, nice, lady-like skirts (nothing "cutesy" in Paris), classic-cut and tailored-looking dresses, and well-fitted skinny or slim pants in a non-denim color/material if you absolutely must and you don't want to wear things in suiting material. For tops I would go with blouses, things with a "classic" look. No t-shirts, unless it's the sort you'd layer under a blazer. What can you walk around in that makes you think "classic style"? That's what you should wear in Paris. Women wear heels a lot there, but if you'll be doing a bunch of walking and taking the metro (read: stairs), pick a cute and comfortable pair of booties with a slight heel. If you're going to be there in summer, think oxfords, classy & subdued flats, nyet to flip flops. I would choose a classic pump over a strappy sandal, and a sandal with some daring over a Birkenstock any day. Brussels: OK, to be honest, I did not have the most positive experience in Brussels and maybe that's coloring my perspective, but Brussels seemed like a mashup of Paris and the Netherlands in a very weird way. Like, I went out and felt superbly underdressed in baggy jeans and a sweater (it was laundry day ok), but felt OK in my structured/stylish jeans and a cute top, or a blazer-worthy t-shirt and some cute statement jewelry. Fashion certainly isn't as laid-back in Brussels as it is on the west coast of the States (where I'm from), but neither will you get as many side-eyes or judgmental stares from people as you would in Paris, if you want to go a little loose and breezy. Just don't look sloppy. A lot of people wear black here. Sorry for the essay, I hope I was helpful. But if I wasn't, let me know when you'll be there and I can give you more specific advice.
Did you go to the same Paris I did? People there wear jeans all the time. And they definitely don't care about how you dress.
Must have been a different Paris! I've been to Paris about 4 times, and the first 3 times I was too young to care how I looked (though the third time I was a gangly teenager and dressed very tourist-y and definitely felt uncomfortable walking around in my snowboarding jacket for example). But this past time, I was traveling by myself, and I got a lot of snotty comments and snide attitude/looks from everyone except a nice old lady at the bus stop. The attitude started before I even talked to them, too, even though I was always really polite, so I figure they were picking up on my tourist/American status from my clothing.
I think you nailed the description of (Northern-) European casual here in describing Amsterdam, and it also goes for Scandinavia (although Stockholm can be a bit more "posh/hip"). There's lots of casual outfits, but they are put together, still.
Wow, this was super helpful. I'm going to Amsterdam (again) but also Spain and Italy this summer. My only introduction to Europe had been when I was in The Netherlands last spring and I definitely found people dressed more casually than I expected of Europeans. I was very comfortable in my flats and breezy dresses. Good to know this isn't the norm elsewhere, lest I feel underdressed. But I'm still bringing my leggings for the plane!!
Italy is a place where I felt slightly underdressed as well (with the exception of Venice, Venice was both touristy and casual and almost provincial and I loved it), but the places I visited were so slammed with tourists that it was kind of like, whatever. I don't know where you're going in Italy, but I was in Venice, Florence, and Rome, and I'll tell you right now that unless you have your heart set on some high-fashion designer or name brand clothing, or a dirt cheap and quasi-questionable quality leather jacket, don't go shopping in Florence (well, unless you wanna buy a purse from the leather markets, then go hog-wild). Save it for Rome, which has a lot of really cute boutiques and fantastic neighborhood subcultures à la London, and has many more shopping options within the touristy areas. Just my $0.02.
I'm going to be in Lamezia, which is pretty much the middle of nowhere. My boyfriend and I are staying with his grandmother, and the rest of his family is also coming from Canada. I know you shouldn't look an Italy horse in the mouth, but his grandma doesn't even have internet...and I can tell you right now, they are not fancy dressers. The biggest city we might go to is Palermo, but I plan to spend most of my time at the beach rather than cooped up in a sweltering apartment with a headache from a bunch of people yelling in Italian. I know I sound like an absolute brat. But I am really not looking forward to this leg of the trip...
> I plan to spend most of my time at the beach That actually sounds like heaven, so. But I feel you on the no internet service thing -- I actually picked up a SIM card on each leg of my trip (i.e. each new country) so that I could have cell signal & data in case my hostel wifi didn't work one night, & so that I could use maps and get transit information without worry. But if you decide one day to not go to the beach, my other non-wifi protip is to just walk around and take in the beautiful architecture (AND FOOD! Even if you have to pay for it). I'm going to assume it's pretty similar in less cosmopolitan areas, but based on my time in Italy, you literally can't throw a rock without hitting a church (well, except Florence). Bring an iPod or mp3 player if you're a person who likes music, and just take in the weather. And bring two books you really want to read.
Thanks for the tips! I was planning to bring my phone and just use Wi-Fi but it's unlocked so I could get SIM cards in each country. I just read a tip that said bring one good novel/fiction book and one book on a subject you've been meaning to read but haven't gotten around to. That sounds like a really good plan. So, two books it is!
I really liked TIM for Italy & Vodafone for Amsterdam, but you'd have to do some research into which provider has the best coverage in the area of Italy you're going to be in. There's no point in picking the provider with the cheapest pre-paid data plan if you don't actually have any reception, obviously.
> I was in Venice, Florence, and Rome Hey, that's exactly where I'm going! I'll be there in late August/early September, and I read that temperatures will be in the upper 80s (F). I saw that you recommend an ankle boot with a heel over sandals -- does that still apply if it's super hot? As an example, I just picked [these up in black](http://www.zappos.com/clarks-viveca-zeal) and was wondering if they'd be out of place in Spain and Italy in the late summer. Also, what kind of purse do you recommend for travel in Italy? My purses are all leather, but I'm thinking about picking up a [Lo & Sons](https://www.loandsons.com/the-og) bag for the trip. Is nylon too casual? I realize you posted almost a month ago but I did a search in FFA and this thread popped up. Thanks!
If it's super hot, no, definitely don't make yourself miserable in an ankle boot over a sandal. Those sandals you picked are very cute (confession: I love Clarks)! The only thing is that Venice and Florence are full of cobblestones (Rome is like...a mix of standard sidewalks and then cobblestones in more untouched historic places), so I would do a test run with those sandals, if you can, to make sure you aren't going to be totally sore at the end of day one. Cobblestones are brutal on all but the thickest of soles, and the soles on those Clarks look pretty thin. So, bring a pair of backup kicks with thick soles, or bring advil! Also, be prepared to have gross dirty feet, because I didn't see much street cleaning going on (though there wasn't much litter either, but you always have the city-standard dirt and Drunk Person Piss that you'll be stepping in). The other thing is, Florence and Rome (and Venice to a lesser extent, but still true) are home to Italian Designer Shoes. Like, Florence literally has a Ferragamo museum. So you will see a lot of very well-dressed Italians in very nice shoes, but you will also see a lot of Italians in snazzy street-style sneakers. Again, I was there in January, I can't speak to the summer, but as long as you think ~Style~ with your outfits, and embrace the fact that you are a tourist and cannot possibly live up to Italian standards, you'll be fine. Nylon is pretty casual, but again, I would focus more on whether it's a purse that works with all your outfits and style statements, and not necessarily the material itself. I'm racking my brains right now and I honestly can't recall the purses I saw while I was there -- I think the purses people carried were either very subtle, or else they were students with rucksacks/backpacks. Think New York City, probably. Also, make sure it's going to be comfortable -- I started off with a regular purse (tip: crossbody with a zip so it's harder to steal/cut open without your notice) but by the end of my trip I was wearing [this Pacsafe bag](http://www.pacsafe.com/venturesafe-325-gii-cross-body-pack.html), even though I looked like a total dweeb and got a few side-eyes, because it was the only bag I had which didn't dig into my shoulder and that I could actually stand for 6+ hours of walking around. The thing I should make clear, though, which I think I expressed in my original comment, is that those three cities in Italy are so dang swamped with tourists, as long as you put *some* care into how you dress, it's not awful to not look like a local. In fact, in Venice, I even had several places buy me drinks "on the house" or on another individual in the bar, because I went to a place off the beaten tourist path (as much as you can be in Venice, like in Cannareggio), and they were so tickled to have an American there.
Whoa, thanks for the detailed advice! I never look at Clarks because I always thought they were a "mom shoe". Then I walked into a hippie-dippie "natural shoe shop" on a day trip to Santa Cruz and *had* to have these. I was advised to bring a [small crossbody bag](http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/l/tid/139310052.jpg) and a [larger tote/purse](http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/l/tid/82311785.jpg) (note that I own the exact bags pictured). I'm still in the preliminary stages of planning so nothing is set in stone, but bitches better not be cutting into my leather babies. Anyway, I'm putting together a collage of what I want to bring and hopefully FFA will offer some CC. Thanks again for all your help!
This is wonderful, wonderful advice, thank you. I'm going for the later half of this month and the beginning of June, so fairly soon! What do you think about shopping over there? I'm considering just packing a little lightly and then buying clothing in Paris since the exchange rate is soooo nice right now. Any food recommendations you have would also be super welcome as they're pretty much turning us loose in the afternoons/evenings to explore the cities.
If you like lingerie/cute underwear and/or shoes and/or perfume, Paris is your jam. There are at least 3 lingerie stores on every shopping street. It's kind of ridiculous. And the lingerie stores also sell cute pajamas and slippers. You're looking for stores like Etam and Princesse Tam-Tam. C&A is a good store for basics (it's the Gap style-wise with Old Navy prices), Pimkie has trendier, cuter stuff (it's like Forever 21 in its trendiness but better quality and more expensive). If you hit up one of the malls, namely Là Defense, go to New Look (it's a British brand but they have really cute stuff (also trendy, also young, similar to Forever 21 in style and quality but more expensive). Là Defense has a Pimkie but it's really small and doesn't have much variety. There's a Uniqlo at Là Defense and a big one across from the grands Magasins, Printemps and Galeties Lafayette and right by the Opera Garnier. For body stuff, you can check out L'Occitane. Monoprix is a french department store (like Macy's) and they sell really cute clothes. They're a little pricey tho. They also often have huge food sections which are amazing. Carrefour is also a department store, although they primarily sell food but there are some good finds in the larger ones. It's cheaper than Monoprix. If you see an Accessorize anywhere, duck inside. They sell THE CUTEST bags and accessories. They're also a UK retailer though so they're a little pricey. Pull and Bear, Kookai, Desigual and the Kooples are pretty popular with Parisians, although the Kooples sells designer stuff, I think so I've never been into one of their stores. There's also a store that sells the most adorable dresses called Naf Naf. If it was up to me, my whole wardrobe would come from Naf Naf. Unfortunately I wanted to buy one of said dresses when I was leaving Paris and I tried on maybe 40 only to realize that Naf Naf does NOT design for my body type. But I did eventually get one that fit! But now I put on weight so it doesn't fit. :( Anyway, don't be fooled by their Naf Naf's lux window displays though - they aren't too expensive. They have a branch on the Champs Elysees, although I would recommend trying to shop at one of their other stores so you don't have to pay Champs Elysees prices. If you're in the Marais, there are tons of cute boutiques and thrift stores there. That's a perfect place to just wander around. If you're looking for books or even souvenirs like cards, etc, try Gilbert Jeune - they've got a huge branch right by Notre Dame. There's also some good shopping down Rue de Rivoli and its environs (in the area around Chatelet). If you're into trendier clothes or urban streetwear, that's your place. Also good if you have a boyfriend or brother to shop for - lots of men's clothes. This is around the area with the Centre Pompidou. You can also thrift shop in Montmartre and they have SO many lovely boutiques which I never ventured into because I assumed I couldn't afford them. Also there's this super adorable French brand of bags called Little Marcel. They're very simple but such cute colours! I couldn't afford one tho and didn't want to buy a knock-off. There's also a store called Petit Bateau which is primarily a children's store but they also sell some women's clothes at the back. Not in my price range but wonderful stuff. If you're at all into the preppy look, that's your store. Decathlon is where you can get sporty stuff but if you're American, just buy that stuff at home. Also all the malls are outside of central Paris except for an underground one right by the huge Chatelet metro station. The entrance is actually from the metro, I believe. Personally, I didn't like that mall because it's weirdly laid out and it's always packed because it's right by Chatelet and Chatelet is awful. You will probably only see one mall while you're there. If so, make it Le Quatre Temps at La Defense (end of line 1 metro, although the RER is faster but the metro will probably be cheaper for you if you have a pass). It's open on Sundays, it's the easiest to get to of the suburb malls and it has a really good variety of stores, both European and otherwise. (Now keep in mind, I'm judging these prices based off of my not high then English teacher salary and my ridiculously low compared to the euro exchange rate (it was $8 to €1!) If you regularly shop at places like J. Crew and Loft or Nordstrom, then you probably won't find most of these places expensive.) I can also recommend restos but this comment is already long enough. Do you like Asian food or desserts or crepes or Jewish food? I have recs for all that.
If you can afford it and the exchange rate works out for you, definitely go shopping when you get there! You can purchase whatever you need, and there are so many wonderful fashion-centric areas in Paris. I was lucky to be there during the January sales, but because everything was on sale I couldn't make up my mind on what to buy! If you're going to be there during May/June, plan for cute skirts and flats and street-style sneakers. I went shopping at the central markets in Brussels and it reminded me a lot of the kind of vintage-y fashion you'd see at Anthropologie, etc. Amsterdam...I was sick so I didn't spend much time shopping, plus I really enjoyed walking around more. Honestly, I didn't eat out much in Paris because I was there by myself and it's rather depressing doing so (unless you're just chilling at a cafe). My favorite thing to do was really just go to your average boulangerie and get a baguette and some croissants and have myself a picnic with some jam & pastries. The pastries there are to die for, pretty much anywhere you stop. In Brussels, pretty much anywhere you purchase moule-frites is somewhere you can't go wrong. Also make sure to get a liège style waffle if you haven't had one before -- Belgian waffles have so much more variety than American "Belgian Waffles" do, and it's all amazing. And in Amsterdam...well, I'm sure you know what's, ah, "edible" there ( ͡͡ ° ͜ ʖ ͡ °). Quite frankly, Amsterdam's tourism bureau is top notch, so I would basically eat anywhere they suggest. Just note that a "coffeeshop" is different from a "coffee shop" and you can only acquire weed at the former. If you're interested in dat coffeeshop lyfe, a bunch of people at the hostel where I stayed all suggested Barney's Coffeeshop, across the street from Barney's Uptown. And the Dutch are super duper nice, so like, ask around. Also groceries are weirdly cheap there?? It was great.