As the high tourist season in Europe approaches I started thinking about some of the best ways to avoid being branded a “tourist”. Apparently Americans have been branded the worst dressed tourists by a survey of European hoteliers. Well let's try and change this.
What do you wear to Europe? Well there are differening opinions. Some advocate wearing what you would normally wear to Europe, just so long as you are comfortable. This may seem all well and good until you arrive in Europe and immediately note the vast difference between the way tourists dress and the typical urban European. Tourists really do stand out, which while your clothes may be comfortable your psyche may not.
Other experts state that it is too difficult to pull off a European look. Oh Please! It’s not about sporting the latest fashions. If all you do is wear black you are 100% completely ahead of the game.
Tourists traveling in groups may be unable to avoid the dreaded "tourist" label. However for the independent traveler it may be well worth the effort to blend in for a more authentic experience. Will people still know you are a tourist? If you follow my Travelista Guidelines for travel clothes no one will know you’re a tourist until you attempt to order café au lait in your best high school French. Feel free to add any other tourist fashion faux pas to the list.
What not to wear in Europe
1. Clunky tennis shoes, trainers are OK
2. Gym clothes
3. Ball caps
4. Sweatshirts
5. Sweat suits (not oven the expensive kind)
6. Yoga Pants, these are for Yoga
7. Khakis
8. Zip off cargo pants
9. Khaki Shorts
10. Oversize parkas
11. Hiking boots
12. Fanny packs
13. White socks
14. Pastel colors
15. Flower prints
16. Ratty blue jeans
17. Printed or overly logo-ed shirts
18. Exposed midriffs
19. Tapered jeans/pants
20. Money belt around your neck on the outside of your clothes
21. Uggs, over and uggly
22. Foamy platform thong flip flops (I'm talking about the ridiculous 4" heel kind)
23. Crocs (if literally everyone and their grandmother wears them here in the states you know they will not pass for European chic)
24. Super low-rise jeans
25. Giveaway tees that advertise your last frat party or the last 5K you ran
26. Baggy clothing, fitted clothing gives a more European vibe
27. Tee shirts with marginally clever phrases on them
28. Hawaiian or bold print shirts
29. Dry Clean Only clothing
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