Anonymous
Post 05/19/2021 11:19     Subject: Western Clothing in Europe.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm American, about to move to Europe with my European husband too.

I've travelled around Europe and it does depend on where you are. But as a rule of thumb, people tend to wear athletic wear only for exercise (so no leggings, shorts, etc for running errands).

I think the rest will depend on the social setting/country. Sneakers can actually be chic, I've noticed in Italy that a lot of women wear sneakers...


A fellow American with a Euro husband! Thanks for the advice on avoiding athletic wear. Seems like that and shorts are best avoided. Cowboy boots and turquoise jewelry are fine!!! Are you excited?

that's hysterical that people think cowboy boots and fringes are fine but not athletic shoes and shorts.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2021 10:54     Subject: Western Clothing in Europe.
If you want to stand out and be noticed right away as an American, wear a cowboy hat. It will be unusual to say the least.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2021 09:46     Subject: Western Clothing in Europe.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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


OP. Thank you for your response! Very helpful. I will not be living in France but Spain. I am a Spanish speaker and hoping I won’t be too ridiculed for my accent. I wouldn’t describe myself as extremely thin but am slender and very athletic. I hike or ride pretty much every single day. Very much hoping not to live in a big city because I want to have outdoor access. Not sure if I will be able to have my own horse. With remote working, we are hoping to be within a reasonable train ride to Madrid. I’m generally very friendly and informal. I smile a lot but had heard that would make me appear dim to many Europeans. I’ve visited quite a bit pre-pandemic with my husband but never for more than a month at a time.

This move is extremely difficult for me. I am close to my family, love my state and its weather, food and unique culture. Thanks for the responses. It helps with the anxiety.


Sounds like a dream life. As an European myself, I did notice while living there that sometimes American women would try to fit in by smiling a lot, being always agreeable and making themselves small - if that makes sense. This absolutely doesn't work over there. Europeans like share their opinion of everything and like to disagree for the sake of discussion. They will say stuff that can come across as inappropriate or rude. Don-t take it personally. They will love you if you show your authentic self and don't try to be perfect. I have to say though that Spain (the southerns part specifically) struck me as more racist than what I was used to in France, Switzerland or Germany. That probably won't affect you though.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2021 09:45     Subject: Western Clothing in Europe.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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


OP. Thank you for your response! Very helpful. I will not be living in France but Spain. I am a Spanish speaker and hoping I won’t be too ridiculed for my accent. I wouldn’t describe myself as extremely thin but am slender and very athletic. I hike or ride pretty much every single day. Very much hoping not to live in a big city because I want to have outdoor access. Not sure if I will be able to have my own horse. With remote working, we are hoping to be within a reasonable train ride to Madrid. I’m generally very friendly and informal. I smile a lot but had heard that would make me appear dim to many Europeans. I’ve visited quite a bit pre-pandemic with my husband but never for more than a month at a time.

This move is extremely difficult for me. I am close to my family, love my state and its weather, food and unique culture. Thanks for the responses. It helps with the anxiety.


PP you replied to. Ah, Spain!

OK. Brace yourself. They eat dinner at 10pm. Playdates can be scheduled at 9pm... for the elementary school set. Spaniards sleep the least of all Europeans. I would say that clothes are the least of your problems. Culture shock is.



We don’t have kids yet and I can’t imagine 9:00 pm play dates. When I’m with my in-laws in Spain, they are amused by how early I go to bed. I never eat dinner there. Pretty sure they just see me as a big hick from NM but my husband has always found it charming. Fortunately.


OP, I lived in Madrid for many years and think you will be fine. Thirty years ago, your style might have shocked the locals, but that's less likely now as Madrid has become more international and much more diverse since then. Walking down the Gran Via, you will see diverse people including diverse styles of dress. No one will point and laugh or anything close to that.

As an American living there years ago, I enjoyed my status as an "extranjera" when it suited me. I would e.g. ordered iced coffee with milk (no one does that in Spain) and it generated amusement and tolerance, because of my "americana" status. My advice to you is to make use of that status when it suits you, and not when it doesn't.

I'm envious of your upcoming move. Enjoy your time there!
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2021 09:03     Subject: Western Clothing in Europe.
I mean where in Europe are you moving to?
Will you be looked at if you wear cowboy boots and some cowboy get-up as your everyday attire?
Yeah, pretty much anywhere in Europe! Including parts that ducm pretends is not Europe! MEaning Eastern Europe!
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2021 08:56     Subject: Western Clothing in Europe.
No athletic wear...? unless you are a chav or a slav squatting in a doorway in a tracksuit
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2021 08:14     Subject: Re:Western Clothing in Europe.
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Yep. I did lots of casual skirts and dresses. Light pants.


Oh and we always changed out of athletic wear at the gym. Didn’t wear it running errands.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2021 08:14     Subject: Re:Western Clothing in Europe.
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.


Yep. I did lots of casual skirts and dresses. Light pants.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2021 00:07     Subject: Western Clothing in Europe.
Anonymous wrote:I'm American, about to move to Europe with my European husband too.

I've travelled around Europe and it does depend on where you are. But as a rule of thumb, people tend to wear athletic wear only for exercise (so no leggings, shorts, etc for running errands).

I think the rest will depend on the social setting/country. Sneakers can actually be chic, I've noticed in Italy that a lot of women wear sneakers...


A fellow American with a Euro husband! Thanks for the advice on avoiding athletic wear. Seems like that and shorts are best avoided. Cowboy boots and turquoise jewelry are fine!!! Are you excited?
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2021 00:05     Subject: Western Clothing in Europe.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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


OP. Thank you for your response! Very helpful. I will not be living in France but Spain. I am a Spanish speaker and hoping I won’t be too ridiculed for my accent. I wouldn’t describe myself as extremely thin but am slender and very athletic. I hike or ride pretty much every single day. Very much hoping not to live in a big city because I want to have outdoor access. Not sure if I will be able to have my own horse. With remote working, we are hoping to be within a reasonable train ride to Madrid. I’m generally very friendly and informal. I smile a lot but had heard that would make me appear dim to many Europeans. I’ve visited quite a bit pre-pandemic with my husband but never for more than a month at a time.

This move is extremely difficult for me. I am close to my family, love my state and its weather, food and unique culture. Thanks for the responses. It helps with the anxiety.


PP you replied to. Ah, Spain!

OK. Brace yourself. They eat dinner at 10pm. Playdates can be scheduled at 9pm... for the elementary school set. Spaniards sleep the least of all Europeans. I would say that clothes are the least of your problems. Culture shock is.



We don’t have kids yet and I can’t imagine 9:00 pm play dates. When I’m with my in-laws in Spain, they are amused by how early I go to bed. I never eat dinner there. Pretty sure they just see me as a big hick from NM but my husband has always found it charming. Fortunately.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2021 21:04     Subject: Western Clothing in Europe.
I'm American, about to move to Europe with my European husband too.

I've travelled around Europe and it does depend on where you are. But as a rule of thumb, people tend to wear athletic wear only for exercise (so no leggings, shorts, etc for running errands).

I think the rest will depend on the social setting/country. Sneakers can actually be chic, I've noticed in Italy that a lot of women wear sneakers...
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2021 20:58     Subject: Western Clothing in Europe.
You’ll love the shopping hours. Clothes stores are open late in the evenings. And I think your style will be ok in Spain. Just be yourself and don’t worry that you don’t dress like everyone else.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2021 20:18     Subject: Western Clothing in Europe.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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


OP. Thank you for your response! Very helpful. I will not be living in France but Spain. I am a Spanish speaker and hoping I won’t be too ridiculed for my accent. I wouldn’t describe myself as extremely thin but am slender and very athletic. I hike or ride pretty much every single day. Very much hoping not to live in a big city because I want to have outdoor access. Not sure if I will be able to have my own horse. With remote working, we are hoping to be within a reasonable train ride to Madrid. I’m generally very friendly and informal. I smile a lot but had heard that would make me appear dim to many Europeans. I’ve visited quite a bit pre-pandemic with my husband but never for more than a month at a time.

This move is extremely difficult for me. I am close to my family, love my state and its weather, food and unique culture. Thanks for the responses. It helps with the anxiety.


PP you replied to. Ah, Spain!

OK. Brace yourself. They eat dinner at 10pm. Playdates can be scheduled at 9pm... for the elementary school set. Spaniards sleep the least of all Europeans. I would say that clothes are the least of your problems. Culture shock is.

Anonymous
Post 05/18/2021 20:03     Subject: Re:Western Clothing in Europe.
You sound sweet. I'll bet you will be fine. We are all human after all. Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2021 19:56     Subject: Western Clothing in Europe.
Anonymous wrote: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


OP. Thank you for your response! Very helpful. I will not be living in France but Spain. I am a Spanish speaker and hoping I won’t be too ridiculed for my accent. I wouldn’t describe myself as extremely thin but am slender and very athletic. I hike or ride pretty much every single day. Very much hoping not to live in a big city because I want to have outdoor access. Not sure if I will be able to have my own horse. With remote working, we are hoping to be within a reasonable train ride to Madrid. I’m generally very friendly and informal. I smile a lot but had heard that would make me appear dim to many Europeans. I’ve visited quite a bit pre-pandemic with my husband but never for more than a month at a time.

This move is extremely difficult for me. I am close to my family, love my state and its weather, food and unique culture. Thanks for the responses. It helps with the anxiety.