Wearing sneakers in Europe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Amsterdam now, following London. Remember a few recent threads on this topic.

Let me assure you everyone, resident and tourist, is wearing sneakers if not in professional dress. And sneakers look the same as in the US.

In short, no one cares. Be comfortable. That is why Europeans are wearing sneakers!

+100
I don't know who these people are on DCUM advising travelers that no one wears sneakers in Europe, but they couldn't be more mistaken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Yes, everyone wears sneakers in Europe but it is a very different style than you will see in most of the US. They are fashion sneakers- think adidas, Veja, and the likes. Not athletic sneakers that most of the US wears”

That is absolutely false. I speak several European languages, can tell who is from various countries, who is educated, etc. There are plenty of upper middle class Europeans who wear athletic sneakers, including American brands, while both traveling and during their day to day lives.

I suspect you are German. This is such a German thing to say.

I also speak several European languages and can tell you that once the sun is down, no self-respecting European is in sneakers.

DP. Good grief. We're not talking about "once the sun is down" - we're just talking about people going about their business, day to day. Sneakers are what the vast majority of people wear. Deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s silly how so many people romanticize and glamorize Europeans. I’ve taken many trips and have found the dynamic in Europe similar to the US- people in urban/affluent areas are more stylish and attractive, and folks from smaller towns dress poorly and are often overweight.

+1
The people who idealize what Europeans wear probably get their "information" from Emily and Paris and other movies/TV shows. They most definitely aren't seeing everyday people on the streets in Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s silly how so many people romanticize and glamorize Europeans. I’ve taken many trips and have found the dynamic in Europe similar to the US- people in urban/affluent areas are more stylish and attractive, and folks from smaller towns dress poorly and are often overweight.

+1
The people who idealize what Europeans wear probably get their "information" from Emily and Paris and other movies/TV shows. They most definitely aren't seeing everyday people on the streets in Europe.

+2
I don’t have “Europe” clothes. If I’m a tourist in the states, I wear the same clothes when I’m a tourist in Europe.

[Anonymous]

What? There is no fashion police. Wear what you want, locals will know you’re a tourist anyway. Americans have a look to them - I can always pick out fellow Americans when I’m abroad. no matter what you wear, you are a tourist. Embrace it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Yes, everyone wears sneakers in Europe but it is a very different style than you will see in most of the US. They are fashion sneakers- think adidas, Veja, and the likes. Not athletic sneakers that most of the US wears”

That is absolutely false. I speak several European languages, can tell who is from various countries, who is educated, etc. There are plenty of upper middle class Europeans who wear athletic sneakers, including American brands, while both traveling and during their day to day lives.

Good for you. I live in Europe and see people "in the wild" every single day. You can definitely tell who is American. That isn't a bad thing just a different way of dressing and sneakers/brand of sneakers are definitely a dead give away.

DP.

You are making a common mistake, which is that you are ignoring all the people whose opinions you don't care about. I guarantee you see people all the time wearing regular sneakers that aren't the fashionable kind you like. They are middle and working class people who are largely invisible to you. I guarantee you all the housecleaners and food workers and construction workers aren't wearing Vejas. It's just that you don't consider those people peers and don't care what they wear.

Classic confirmation bias

[Anonymous]

Whats the deal with Vejas anyway? Look like Adidas to me but for double or triple the price.

[Anonymous]

If I were American, I wouldn’t be so worried to appease the Europeans style-wise. No one cares what you wear, trust me. The thing that’s annoying is that there are way too many tourists in Europe in the summer and over Christmas. Doesn’t matter where they’re from and what they wear, it’s just too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Amsterdam now, following London. Remember a few recent threads on this topic.

Let me assure you everyone, resident and tourist, is wearing sneakers if not in professional dress. And sneakers look the same as in the US.

In short, no one cares. Be comfortable. That is why Europeans are wearing sneakers!

+100
I don't know who these people are on DCUM advising travelers that no one wears sneakers in Europe, but they couldn't be more mistaken.

faF

OP nailed it.

In Amsterdam as well.

[Anonymous]

I travel abroad for business and pleasure, so I find myself in business districts as well as more touristy spots. The reality is that both locals and tourists wear sneakers. You see locals commuting in sneakers both day and night. Just like in NYC or DC, anyone walking long distances wears comfy shoes. Nobody is schlepping for miles in heels or strappy sandals. If you’re heading to a fancy event, you don’t walk.

Tourists should wear comfy sneakers.

I follow tons of travel groups, and someone posted pics of streets in Italy along with pics of sneaker wearing people. It’s smart to be prepared.

[Anonymous]

Don't forget your Disney hoodie.

[Anonymous]

I wore black clogs in Europe, not sneakers. I actually didn't see a lot of locals in anything but business attire, mostly black leather shoes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't forget your Disney hoodie.

And American flag shorts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are no Europeans in Amsterdam anymore

Signed, a Dutch person

Oh, really? Tell that to all the Dutch in Amsterdam.

LOLLL thanks for outing yourself, classic xenophobic Dutch. You're just sad there are more brown people in Amsterdam now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What? There is no fashion police. Wear what you want, locals will know you’re a tourist anyway. Americans have a look to them - I can always pick out fellow Americans when I’m abroad. no matter what you wear, you are a tourist. Embrace it.

And I can always pick out Europeans when they travel here.