Western Clothing in Europe.

[Anonymous]

I was born and raised in New Mexico and am about to move to Europe with my European husband. We met in the US. I love how we have an anything goes approach to fashion here. Western, hipster, granola, even some true haute fashionistas. I can wear whatever I want and it’s usually fine. Moving to Europe, though, I’m worried about my fashion choices. I’m particularly worried about my cowboy boots, cowboy hats and turquoise jewelry. I also have vintage western jackets (like Mexican Saltillo print and Pendleton), often wear jean jackets, and have plenty of fringe on my various bags. I wear a lot of embroidered clothing too because part of my family is Mexican and I do a large part of my shopping on those trips. I love anything with a Day of the Dead theme.

For the DCUM crowd who are from Europe or have spent significant time there, what do you say? What would and wouldn’t be presentable? I don’t want to look silly but I like to incorporate my heritage. I’m very proud of the traditional styles of my region. I wouldn’t wear it all together but was thinking of mixing pieces. Like a dress with cowboy boots or a cashmere sweater and jeans in winter with a cowboy hat. Appreciate any ideas and advice.

[Anonymous]

Wear what makes you happy.

[Anonymous]

Try not to look American.

[Anonymous]

I think your clothes sound amazing and why not wear them in Europe? You’ll figure out soon if it feels right or not. Also stylish young Europeans love working class clothing brands from the US like carharrt. And double denim. My god, so many people in double denim.

In general people of the same age and social class tend to dress very samely in Europe. So you may feel a bit weird at first, but who wants to wear the same leather moto jacket with the same style jeans and the same style boots in the acceptable five shades of the season?

Please start a fashion blog when you move with your cool New Mexico clothing on the streets of Berlin.

[Anonymous]

The only thing I really felt judged about when I lived in Europe was shorts... Europeans hate shorts and think they look foolish. I love them so wore them anyway.

[Anonymous]

Western look and culture is very popular in Europe and particularly in Germany. Even country and western music has a following.

Just don't wear athletic shoes and don't wear shorts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try not to look American.

but what OP described is American, from the southwest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Western look and culture is very popular in Europe and particularly in Germany. Even country and western music has a following.

Just don't wear athletic shoes and don't wear shorts.

DP.. I wear shorts everywhere in Europe. I hate skirts, and I'm on vacation. Don't give a fig what people think about my clothing choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Western look and culture is very popular in Europe and particularly in Germany. Even country and western music has a following.

Just don't wear athletic shoes and don't wear shorts.

DP.. I wear shorts everywhere in Europe. I hate skirts, and I'm on vacation. Don't give a fig what people think about my clothing choices.

Athletic shoes can be very on trend. One year it was new balance—everyone had new balance sneakers. I associate new balance with nerds in ill fitting khakis, so I could not believe how many stylish people were wearing new balance. Next year it was vans. One year it was timberland construction boots.

Baseball hats are very American (people might wear them to pick fruit or at the beach, but not strolling around town.
But hey! Maybe that will change.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think your clothes sound amazing and why not wear them in Europe? You’ll figure out soon if it feels right or not. Also stylish young Europeans love working class clothing brands from the US like carharrt. And double denim. My god, so many people in double denim.

In general people of the same age and social class tend to dress very samely in Europe. So you may feel a bit weird at first, but who wants to wear the same leather moto jacket with the same style jeans and the same style boots in the acceptable five shades of the season?

Please start a fashion blog when you move with your cool New Mexico clothing on the streets of Berlin.

Thank you so much for this. I’m honestly not used to trends because we really do have an “anything goes” aesthetic here. It’s definitely quirky. Maybe I will start that blog...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only thing I really felt judged about when I lived in Europe was shorts... Europeans hate shorts and think they look foolish. I love them so wore them anyway.

OP again. Interesting about the shorts. I’ve never worn them much because they don’t look that great on me. I like dresses and skirts for being in town and need long pants when out hiking or riding a horse. I think shorts on some people look amazing. Like Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina. I say go for it, especially if you have great legs. Mine are much too short.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Western look and culture is very popular in Europe and particularly in Germany. Even country and western music has a following.

Just don't wear athletic shoes and don't wear shorts.

I am aware of the German interest in the West. During my summers in high school and college, I worked at an upscale ranch. Basically a dude ranch. A lot of our customers were European, especially German. They lost their minds for the fashion, food and music. I loved it but always wondered if they ever wore their fringe jackets or boots back at home.

[Anonymous]

Parisian here.

1. Which part of Europe? Urban or country? We’re not one country, you know. Some provincial areas are more conservative, the south of Europe may be more climate-friendly for your wardrobe, and big cities, particularly Paris, always love dark solid colors.

2. Wear what you want, within limits of climate and decency.

3. If you want a job, not in an artsy folksy community, you’ll have to tone it down a bit.

4. Sorry to mention it, but of course part of looking good in France, and especially Paris, means being slender. You could wear a trash bag and heels and walk down the rue de Rivoli in a jaunty fashion and be thought to look good... if you’re slim and carry yourself well. Overall weight perceptions in Europe are not as skewed as in the US.



4. Big smiles, friendliness and a dogged willingness to wait for the grumpy natives to accept you will go a very long way to making your stay more pleasant

[Anonymous]

^ Parisian here again.

Athleisure: not in France.

You’re either in sports gear because you’re actually exercising, or in casual (read dressy casual for Americans) or work clothes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only thing I really felt judged about when I lived in Europe was shorts... Europeans hate shorts and think they look foolish. I love them so wore them anyway.

This is so true. Shorts are for the beach not the city.