Why is what you wear to Europe so important you ask? Does it really matter? Well yes, yes it does. Even if you don’t give a flip about fashion there are a few things you should think about before you dust off your fanny pack.
First of all Europeans as a general rule dress up more than your casual Friday, make that casual everyday American.
Europeans dress to impress and as a means to communicate their good taste, it sounds pretentious I know but its true - just go with it. The amazing thing is that they accomplish this not by buying out designer showrooms each fashion season but by buying a few items of quality that they ingeniously accessorize. This is the essence of my packing and travel fashion philosophy.
Yes, there are those that can afford the luxury of the latest and greatest designer offerings and they do look breathtakingly fabulous. Alas we are not going to Europe to walk the runway. We’re going to walk the streets and become part of the cultural landscape and try not to disrupt it with bright, white tennis shoes.
“Dressing the Part” of the European also helps dispel a tourist mentality. I don’t like feeling like a tourist or an outsider while traveling. I prefer the idea of blending in with the locals and soaking up the culture in a more integrated way. If you don’t look like a tourist you won’t automatically be dismissed as one, which can lead to a more authentic experience.
They will still let you into the country even if you are donning your brightest, whitest tennis shoes along with your swooshiest track suit. However, trust me when I tell you, you’ll feel much better while there even if you put forth just the slightest effort to fashion a stylish travel wardrobe. Check out my Travel Clothes section to get you started! Ciao!
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