Adjusting your personal style after moving to Europe

[Ollie]

I have just made the move from one side of the world to another, from New Zealand to France. And in an effort to assimilate with my new surroundings and culture I thought one starting point would be with what I wear, apparently wearing jandals (flip flops) in winter is looked down upon. Unfortunately I have little experience of French menswear (within my budget) so if anyone could point me in the direction of good stores, designers or trends that would be much appreciated.

 

[Street_a_Licious]

Zara. Great choices for a tight budget.

Dressed up. You're old enough to wear things that are more grown up lookwise. Check out F/W 08/09 Hermes. You can't go wrong with that. Some people call it boring, but it's timeless chic and with the right attitude, you can "young it up"

Which brings me to my last point. (For now at least )
Bring on the attitude. If i could wear flip flops all year around, i would. It's not like Flip Flops aren't generally looked down upon in Vienna, but when you love it and it feels right to you, do it. You just gotta bring in enough spunk to make flip flops all year around work. (And keep your feet nicely pedicured! if your feet look like Chewbaccas, NO SPUNK in the WORLD can help you making it work.)

 

[Les_Sucettes]

Ditch the flip flops, shorts or anything that resembles the beach.
Here in London you can recognize Australians and people from New Zealand for miles and they always fit the stereotype and are dismissed in terms of style girls included, and I guess no one wants to look like a stereotype , I'm also a foreigner and i know there is nothing worse to be what people are expecting of you based on the country you are coming from.

I do not know how old you are, but you can never go wrong in A.P.C and Massimo Dutti, Massimo Dutti belongs to Inditex(the same group as Zara) and has everything that a man could possibly want in terms of great clothes, it's a bit more expensive than Zara because the quality is superior, it has the best "proper" shirts you will ever find in the high street and even has tailoring service, it is not a trend led shop but they are always in fashion in terms of colors, materials, and you will always find something special.

 

[pucci_mama]

I actually think shorts can look quite good in the city but at a longer length in navy or black.

Yes, no flip flops in winter are you crazy? It's cold and it looks bad... Get some raw denim jeans, that is such a staple APC has some good one's a cheaper alternative to Dior Acne as well. Simple denims are the way to go.

Avoid bright colours and anything with print on, think high quality basics shirts in white navy, grey. A good coat with a high percentage of wool with a slim fit will instantly transform your look.

 

[Traversant]

Been there! I moved from a small southern town in the US to France (time divded between Paris and Rennes). The biggest thing I learned was to "dress up" - which isn't "dressy" to a European mind, but for example coming from the US everyone in Europe seems so dressy. Definitely no flip-flops! Layer, no bright colors unless used sparingly,accessories like scarves and hats.

I'm sure by now you've made the transition though

 

[The_Ida]

Been there! I moved from a small southern town in the US to France (time divded between Paris and Rennes). The biggest thing I learned was to "dress up" - which isn't "dressy" to a European mind, but for example coming from the US everyone in Europe seems so dressy. Definitely no flip-flops! Layer, no bright colors unless used sparingly,accessories like scarves and hats.

I'm sure by now you've made the transition though

I have a big problem with the term "European". I'd say that dressing in DK and dressing in France are two different things, yet we are still in Europe. Europe is not a country. You don't live in Europe, you live in France, Spain, whatever. It annoys me so very much, really.

I'd love to see anyone wear flip flops in 50 cm snow though France isn't very casual, so yeah, beachy is a no-go. Unless you are actually at the beach

 

[Traversant]

^^ You're right, I guess since I lived in France I mostly mean in France.. but I did see it in a lot of other European countries I visited too. I'm not saying it's exactly the same as France, but compared to where I come from everywhere I saw in Europe was "dressy"

 

[The_Ida]

^^ You're right, I guess since I lived in France I mostly mean in France.. but I did see it in a lot of other European countries I visited too. I'm not saying it's exactly the same as France, but compared to where I come from everywhere I saw in Europe was "dressy"

I don't think Europe as a whole is dressy. But I've lived here a bit longer of course

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Traversant, I understand what you're saying. It's not that people aren't casual, but it's a dressier casual (here we have a term "business casual"). It's like in the US we have a casual basement (the shorts and flip-flops), and in Europe the elevator stops at the first floor

 

[Traversant]

^ lol exactly