What to wear when you're a tourist

[Veronica]

Mini skirts should be fine in France. Try looking up some French fashion websites (if you haven't already). These mini's from La Redoute would be perfect.

I'm going to Crete this year and plan on taking skirts and dresses (too hot for trousers and I don't do shorts). I will be taking mini skirts.

 

[helena]

Originally posted by faust@Mar 30th, 2004 - 12:04 pm
I think leyla m. will give you the best advice. Where are you, leyla?

From my traveling experience in Europe (and I'm an american too, sort of), a typical young american tourist wears sweatshirts, baseball hats, running/cross training sneackers, khaki shorts, khaki pants. Avoid those, and you'll be fine. However, it's not what earns americans disrespect, it's their loud, snobby, disregardful manner of behavior. Learn a few words in french, behave civilly, and you will never encounter any problems. I never have, and I've been to Europe plenty (I'd like to move there, actually...)

Faust is sooo right. Learn some french - if anything annoys the french its expecting them to talk to you in english. Try to get a good accent too - don't just pronounce the words like you would in english. Be very polite - when you enter a shop/restaurant/bar - say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' - that is important.

Style wise - the cote d'azur is pretty glitzy but i prefer 'riviera chic' of yesteryear - striped jerseys, sun tops, circle skirts, pedal pushers, flat shoes, headscarves & sandals. Avoid skip caps and those bumbags (although I think they are called 'fannypacks' in the US) at all costs.

I will be in Nice in August so looking forward to it.

 

[purplelucrezia]

Originally posted by leyla m.+May 27th, 2004 - 12:54 pm--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (leyla m. @ May 27th, 2004 - 12:54 pm)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-purplelucrezia@May 27th, 2004 - 7:51 pm
You should dress like this...

that is very pretty and totally fits in [/b][/quote]
Thanks, I thought it might.
Despite the fact that I've never been to France in my life...

 

[shopgirl123]

How to Avoid looking like a Tourist...

hey everyone! i'll be going to england this summer, in and around london, and was wondering if anyone had been or lives there that could help. i don't want to look like a tourist, i would much prefer to look impossibly chic without standing out too much. any advice?
thanks

 

[Amerie]

Don't wear shorts and hang a camera round your neck

 

[Fabulyss]

I can't help but think that this influx of newbies with names like "Shopgirl123" aren't serious.

(my appologies if you are)

 

[shopgirl123]

not quite sure what you mean by that, if you mean not serious about clothes you are quite mistaken. as for the name, i had a severe lack of inspiration and didn't think it was my name that mattered, but rather what i said.

 

[spiralsnowman]

I'd love to look impossibly chic, period.

Any tips?

(I live in L.A., where for most people trends = chic)

 

[Alejandro]

no fannypacks, that's a sellout.

 

[Diorling]

no fannypacks, that's a sellout.

Ya, was about to say that.

I dont know if London has anything similar but in DC they sell hats and all kinds of crap with FBI or CIA written on it, it's soo cute, because you know that the FBI and CIA shop at the corner of Constitution and 19th street. In all seriousness, it's like saying "please rob me."

I think in London to stand out is to fit in. What kinds of clothes do you have so we can see what we can do.

 

[shopgirl123]

well, my strength stands in my shoe collection, all heels(pretty much), red, gold, silver, pink, purple, i've got it all. lots of jeans and simple tops. i'm a student, so mostly casual but i've got alot of gorgeous vintage pieces, like a patterned silk jacket. i guess i'd being going for the vintage chic vibe but i don't know, aside from magazines, how well that's received. a fanny pack, hawaiian shirt and NYPD t-shirt are no where near my wardrobe, don't worry. i was thinking mostly in terms of trends or unwritten dress code that is followed.

as for L.A. chic, i know this sounds bizzare, but turning a skirt into a shirt by cinching it with a belt is actually a really cute look, and casual enough for the land of juicy sweats.

 

[Fabulyss]

My appologies then. I still am not fond of the idea of someone telling someone else 'how to look chic'. You need to wear whatever you feel like wearing without regard for whether or not some might see you as a "tourist". That said, most tourist-esque attire is a fashion no-no anyway

Khakis, chunky athletic sneakers, baseball caps, and team jerseys all scream American (not sure if you're American or not but nonetheless)

Go for simple looks. I'm not quite sure how hot it gets in England in the summer but I'm travelling to London for Spring Break and will be sporting simple chic flats (will be doing a ton of walking) and a simple khaki trench, black skinny cropped pants, simple tees, etc. Stay away from trends!

 

[susie_bubble]

Well.....usually, we can spot American tourists miles off no matter what you're wearing so I'm afraid there's not getting away from that.

 

[susie_bubble]

FYI.....nobody is going to be giving you outfit once-overs unless you're going to some London fash-pack area, so it doesn't really matter what you wear.

Obvious Bermudas and terrible t-shirts are a bit of a no-no.

You sound like you're kind of into vintage which is a very BIG London thing so you'll probably achieve what you set out to do - not stand out terribly much.

 

[softgrey]

first thing i will say is that london is full of cobble stones...
so leave those heels at home..
a wedge, boot or flat is your best bet for walking the streets of london...
that is something that one wouldn't know unless one has spent some time there...

the london girls are a hearty bunch and seem to be able to walk for miles...

 

[verb]

I travel internationally eight to ten times per year and in my opinion, the trick is to balance your look. Too casual and you look like an annoying tourist, too dressy and you look like a businesswoman. I tend to mix and match parts of suits with the rest of my outfits or work in some really shabby vintage stuff with my businesswear and it creates a very carefree vibe. Aside from that, if you're gawking or looking around at everything you stick out, even in domestic places like NYC.

 

[sinople]

When I was in London, I wore casual skirts a lot of the time. I wound up getting asked for directions constantly by random strangers/tourists. So for what that's worth...

 

[mazzystar]

another tip would be to avoid wearing cheap flip flops and jeans - screams American student/tourist. ditto college hoodies (UCLA etc), although i'd imagine this will be less of an issue in summer. i think tailored shorts and loose tops are going to be quite big in London come summer, and given the heat and humidity i'd definitely recommend these over skinny jeans and the like.

 

[Benzo]

Anyway, your accent will betray p, pun) you.

 

[fashionpolice_]

Don't walk around with a map and don't look confused.