Fashion problems when traveling

[Stanley]

I have seen first hand the problems some tourists get into when they dress like slobs. For some reason, the fastidious owner of a great restaurant in Florence did not like the idea of his customers dressed in sweat shirts and gym shorts. Gosh, I wonder why.

Here is a funny article on how not to look like a grubby American tourist. And from what I have seen some Brits and Canadians can also take a hint.

10 Fashion Faux Pas for Travelers - SmarterTravel.com

 

[Amethyst]

Funny, I dressed like a tourist everywhere I went in Europe and people were still nice to me. Could it have been because I made an effort to be nice to THEM? Of course, we didn't eat in fancy restaurants....

N.B., Brits find the notion of wearing a "fanny pack" hilarious. And not because it looks funny.

A.

 

[Sarah in SC]

Is this a good place to talk about the magic underwear?
It is the bomb!
Other than that, I think I'm safe from the aforementioned issues. Though I'm a big fan of the zip-off leg pants that dry quickly and look pretty awful.

 

[rodi]

Maybe our cousins are low class.. but they had white sneakers, track suits (the men), and cameras when they were taking us around Sicily.

FWIW - these are all college educated, professionals... upper middle class folks...

We took our cue from them.

 

[UserRequested]

For some reason, the fastidious owner of a great restaurant in Florence did not like the idea of his customers dressed in sweat shirts and gym shorts. Gosh, I wonder why.

The best places to eat in Italy are the local mamma and pappa joints that serve beautiful authentic Italian food.
I usually give the snobbish high end restaurants a miss. But then i'm cheap

 

[DeborahB]

Is this a good place to talk about the magic underwear?
It is the bomb!

That underwear looks like a fabulous idea! Is it comfortable and worth the price? I'm going to be travelling a lot over the next few months...

 

[Sarah in SC]

That underwear looks like a fabulous idea! Is it comfortable and worth the price? I'm going to be travelling a lot over the next few months...

I am a ridiculously happy user of the magic underwear. Look around online for the best prices, but it is still expensive-I think I bought it from Magellan's. They dry super-quick and are very comfortable. Easy to wash out in the sink and dry by morning.

 

[HFWR]

I am a ridiculously happy user of the magic underwear. Look around online for the best prices, but it is still expensive-I think I bought it from Magellan's. They dry super-quick and are very comfortable. Easy to wash out in the sink and dry by morning.

Magic underwear? I'm intrigued...

And, btw, this post is useless without pics.

 

[timeasterday]

Just buy any synthetic underwear. Ex-Officio is pricey but you can find similar stuff at most department & sporting good stores. I found several at Ross for $3-$5 a piece.

 

[Sarah in SC]

Just buy any synthetic underwear. Ex-Officio is pricey but you can find similar stuff at most department & sporting good stores. I found several at Ross for $3-$5 a piece.

Ah, you can say this, but you cannot buy the magic of the magic underwear for a mere $3 to $5 a piece. Only when you own the magic underwear, in all the magnificent glory, can you pass judgement on lesser panties.

 

[HFWR]

I wear Commando brand...

 

[Sarah in SC]

I wear Commando brand...

Have you no chafe? Even on that bike?

 

[REWahoo]

Have you no chafe?

+1

Commando brand rubs me the wrong way.

 

[BigNick]

25 or 30 years ago, you could spot the US tourists in Europe from a mile away, especially the ones from the Mid-West: women in salmon-pink polyester pant suits, men in those awful checked Bermuda shorts, and most of them, both sexes, being Absolutely Fricking Huge. These days, they blend in a lot better, thanks (IMHO) to better U.S. dress sense (+/- 50% of the change), European adoption of U.S. dressing habits (+/- 30%; it's amazing how many German seniors wear baseball caps), and the fact that many Europeans are also now Absolutely Fricking Huge (+/- 20%).

 

[haha]

Just buy any synthetic underwear. Ex-Officio is pricey but you can find similar stuff at most department & sporting good stores. I found several at Ross for $3-$5 a piece.

This has not been my experience. I bought several brands of quick dry underwear from REI, including Exofficio. (They don't call it magic for men). Only ones I kept were the Exofficio. They are much more comfortable than other even fairly pricey brands.

Ha

 

[MichaelB]

Magic underwear? I'm intrigued...

And, btw, this post is useless without pics.

I wear Commando brand...

So, who's asking for the pics?

 

[Stanley]

I will have to try the quick drying stuff. My current tactic is to bring about 5 changes of underwear all of which are well used. The last 5 days of the trip I start throwing the stuff away to make room for souvenirs.

I can still tell the Americans by their size in some foreign cities. There are a lot of BIG British running around, so it is hard there. But, the Spanish women, even the one's in the 40-70 year old range, still have great figures. Most of the men seem rather slim also, though the number of pot-bellies is growing probably due to more modern processed food. 99% of Spaniards dress better than Americans. No doubt about that.

 

[Sarah in SC]

This has not been my experience. I bought several brands of quick dry underwear from REI, including Exofficio. (They don't call it magic for men). Only ones I kept were the Exofficio. They are much more comfortable than other even fairly pricey brands.

Ha

Well, to be completely fair, I'm not sure if they call it magic for ladies, either, but I carry on so much about it that my friends all call it the magic underwear. DH wears it too, in the boxer brief model, and is also a big fan, though does stop short of referring to it as magic as well.

I think my new favorite accessory for travel is the locally produced version of the "Buff", called a gaiter. It works as a neck warmer, a headband, or pretty much everything a bandanna used to do for me, but in a quick dry model that is easy to just leave around my neck. Here's my favorite model wearing one in a more unorthodox mode.

When we were in Peru, it was nice to have something that I could cover my hair with, and yet be breathable. And as Nick pointed out, way better than a ballcap, that ubiquitous American accessory.

 

[grasshopper]

I will have to try the quick drying stuff. My current tactic is to bring about 5 changes of underwear all of which are well used. The last 5 days of the trip I start throwing the stuff away to make room for souvenirs.

I have what I call my firefighter skivvies. These are the drawers you have worn for 5-6 days straight on a wilderness fireline, not the kind you would wear to your annual physical. Just toss them at the hotel we stay at while traveling.

 

[HFWR]

So, who's asking for the pics?

Looks just like me...

 

[Lsbcal]

The article said to avoid white athletic shoes. When one is standing in museums a lot and walking on pavement a lot, I think one's feet are much more important then fashion statements.

Last trip we regretted not taking some very comfortable track shoes. Next trip we plan on taking them, even in the European cities. BTW, nowadays it's not too hard to get dark colored track shoes although they might come with some wild accent colors. My current ones have bright lime-green laces. Will be wearing them with my REI washable slacks -- the sporty look.

 

[REWahoo]

I like Rockport leather walking shoes when we travel. A bit more fashionable than athletic shoes...

 

[mpeirce]

I don't strive to look completely out of place and certainly not like a (complete) slob, but I never really understood trying to blend in like a local. Maybe because I never do anyway - being 6' 6". Try that in Asia!

And while I do like walking in my black Rockport shoes too, my white New Balance sneakers are even more comfortable for long days of walking. I'll see if the Germans and Dutch mock me next month when I visit them...

 

[DeborahB]

I'm going to Italy this summer - I'll have to see how touristy I feel

 

[Lsbcal]

These are my current running shoes (Brooks Glycerin 10) which I'll wash up and wear in Britain. The Scots will love them!