Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Paris, we saw a lot of 90s style sweatshirts with "New York" on them. I was surprised to see this there, but there you go.

I spent two weeks in Paris and some smaller towns and didn't notice teen boys wearing the big basketball shorts and hoodies that boys wear here. I'd definitely go with jeans and a shirt that doesn't have words on it. My teens wore black stretchy pants (they hate jeans) and tee-shirts without words.

I also told my family they HAD to use knives. Americans tend to use their forks to cut instead of a knife. To be polite, I felt we should use utensils the French way.

I’ve never use a fork to cut food. I don’t see people doing that. Maybe a different region in the US does that? What do you cut with a fork?

Cake! And other soft foods like meatloaf or something

Anonymous wrote:In Paris, we saw a lot of 90s style sweatshirts with "New York" on them. I was surprised to see this there, but there you go.

I spent two weeks in Paris and some smaller towns and didn't notice teen boys wearing the big basketball shorts and hoodies that boys wear here. I'd definitely go with jeans and a shirt that doesn't have words on it. My teens wore black stretchy pants (they hate jeans) and tee-shirts without words.

I also told my family they HAD to use knives. Americans tend to use their forks to cut instead of a knife. To be polite, I felt we should use utensils the French way.

I’ve never use a fork to cut food. I don’t see people doing that. Maybe a different region in the US does that? What do you cut with a fork?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No advertising that you are an American. Keep your sports hoodies and hats at home.

It's not the sports hoodies and hats. Europeans can spot an American man from a mile away. They walk differently, carry themselves differently, etc., and one is highly unlikely to nail European fashion unless they've been living there for a while.

And really, trying to fit in in Europe is sort of cringey. Respect is what you need to aim for, not fitting in.

That’s it. Respect their culture. If there are restaurants there where they wear collar shirts then wear one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:please don't wear crocs anywhere- the French hate us enough as it is

I don’t wear crocs, but why do we care if the French hate us?

Modern Family had a skit with the character Mitch and he’s walking down the street eating something and shabby clothes. He asks questions and they keep answering him in English. He says “ Excusez moi” and they answer “McDonalds and the Eiffel Tower are that way.” He asks the next guy how does everyone know I’m American? The guy points to him eating while walking around in shabby clothes. It was funny, you had to see it.

It’s stereotypes. Wearing crocs would identify him as American tourist. Shorts and tshirts will too. Even in Manhattan wearing crocs will identify you as a slow walking tourist.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should wear whatever they want. We go all the time and my teen boys have a basic wardrobe of plain vuori joggers, shorts, t shirts. They wear khakis, golf shorts, quarter zips to dinner and suits for really nice dinners. The people recommending “stepping it up” by wearing jeans are dingdongs. Jeans aren’t worn a lot and they are uncomfortable for a day of sightseeing, of course, your kids can wear them if they like them.

FWIW Europeans always think my kids are German or British.

Suits to dinner? I’m sure your kids enjoy those meal 🙄

Congrats

They pick the restaurants, so yes, they do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[img]

Anonymous wrote:Suits, murses and designer sunglasses, as mentioned, are required for any trip to Europe. If it’s your boys first trip overseas, it’s best to travel with an empty suitcase and buy all of your clothes after landing at your destination.

A quick immersion at a knife and fork school would also help. In addition to learning about table settings and dining etiquette, your boys can do cheese tastings and lean how to pronounce snooty wines.

This is funny except for the fact that kids need to learn how to use a fork and knife. DCPS should go over it each year. Would make America great again, truly.

It’s called parenting.

Oh I agree 100% but am obviously in the minority…

Anonymous wrote:My teen boys dress really casually (think athletic shorts and tshirt/hoodie + crocs in any weather >20 gegrees). We have a trip to France and Germany coming up. Do I need to force them to step up their wardrobes? We’ll be doing the typical museum tourist thing plus visiting some distant relatives. What should they wear?

I was just in Paris this spring and they were dressing just as casual as here. Yes, even crocs and shorts. But colors tended to be more black, brown, gray. Not a lot of color.

It's been awhile since I've been to Germany but my recollection (last 10 years) is it was much the same.

They should proudly flaunt their armpit hair, sans deodorant.

Jeans and slacks are more fitted on men in Europe. It's great for showing off their asses.

And no awful baseball caps.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to admit when I watch the kids walking to school I'm always struck by how casual kids look today compared to when I was a teen in the 1990s. And we thought we were casual back then! Today's kids really do look like they just rolled out of bed and are going to school in whatever they slept in. At least in my day the boys would throw on a polo and khaki or jeans.

Anyway, from what I've seen/picked up from friends living in Europe, wearing athletic clothes as everyday clothes is very "working class" while the middle class kids wear jeans. Beyond that I wouldn't worry too much about it as long as you are well behaved and put in a bit of effort if going out to dinner.

I just got back from a week in London.
I was surprised how much everyone dresses alike, no matter where they are from.
I saw someone in Levis and cowboy boots, assumed he was American, and heard him speaking French.

I don't think it matters any more how you dress in Europe. Globalization has made everyone wear the same coats, hats, sneakers, carry the same bags, wear hoodies, baseball caps, etc. no matter where you are from.

Bring some nice pants and a dress shirt for going out to a nice restaurant, but for sightseeing, hoodies and sneakers/shorts are just fine.

Exactly this. And I can always tell who the try-hard tourists are because they cos-play the sterotypical "European sophisticate" and it's painfully obvious.

Exactly what does the stereotypical European sophisticate look like? I’m European and I have no idea what you are talking about.

Quite honestly, I have no idea. I'm going by what some fawning DCUM posters claim. IMO, Europeans dress exactly as Americans do.

The fawning is funny. Been to UK recently? They might give us a run for most casual.

I haven’t been to a lot of Europe, in my limited travels, France and Germany are about the same as us. Italians might be a step above fashion wise. One country that stood out to me for always looking put together was S. Korea. Very stylish and well accessorized.

I was in London last summer and I really don’t remember seeing teen boys dressed as casually as what I see here.

Anonymous wrote:no one thinks you’re European no matter how hard you try
one xpat US couple I know even insisted in cutting their daughter’s hair “like a French girl” lol

So they liked French girl haircuts? Is that a problem?

no one thinks you’re European no matter how hard you try
one xpat US couple I know even insisted in cutting their daughter’s hair “like a French girl” lol

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to admit when I watch the kids walking to school I'm always struck by how casual kids look today compared to when I was a teen in the 1990s. And we thought we were casual back then! Today's kids really do look like they just rolled out of bed and are going to school in whatever they slept in. At least in my day the boys would throw on a polo and khaki or jeans.

Anyway, from what I've seen/picked up from friends living in Europe, wearing athletic clothes as everyday clothes is very "working class" while the middle class kids wear jeans. Beyond that I wouldn't worry too much about it as long as you are well behaved and put in a bit of effort if going out to dinner.

I just got back from a week in London.
I was surprised how much everyone dresses alike, no matter where they are from.
I saw someone in Levis and cowboy boots, assumed he was American, and heard him speaking French.

I don't think it matters any more how you dress in Europe. Globalization has made everyone wear the same coats, hats, sneakers, carry the same bags, wear hoodies, baseball caps, etc. no matter where you are from.

Bring some nice pants and a dress shirt for going out to a nice restaurant, but for sightseeing, hoodies and sneakers/shorts are just fine.

Exactly this. And I can always tell who the try-hard tourists are because they cos-play the sterotypical "European sophisticate" and it's painfully obvious.

Exactly what does the stereotypical European sophisticate look like? I’m European and I have no idea what you are talking about.

Quite honestly, I have no idea. I'm going by what some fawning DCUM posters claim. IMO, Europeans dress exactly as Americans do.

The fawning is funny. Been to UK recently? They might give us a run for most casual.

I haven’t been to a lot of Europe, in my limited travels, France and Germany are about the same as us. Italians might be a step above fashion wise. One country that stood out to me for always looking put together was S. Korea. Very stylish and well accessorized.

I'm a different poster but I actually have seen a lot of British dress even MORE casually than some Americans. Obviously, these are all stereotypes but from my travel experience, this seems pretty common! Most of the time, it's very easy for people to spot tourists, no matter the attire or where you are. I can spot European tourists in the US. I've had a few moments in my life where I did in fact blend in and I was shocked lol. I've been mistaken as German, British (londoner), French, and often Canadian....tbh sometimes I just let people think that last one for a moment.

You certainly can dress how you would like but for me I also think that for a special trip that I've worked hard to plan and spent a lot of money on, I intend on taking nice photos that I will frame and look back on and I'd like to look nice and have my family look put together; just some of our nicer outfits. I don't mean you need to go out and buy super expensive clothes or an entirely new wardrobe; I often find nice pieces used or get some simple shirts that go with lots of things. I don't know who insists that children must wear khaki's to sightsee....no. I sometimes do bring a pair of khaki's for each of my boys (and DH) for a nice dinner out. For teens, I think you can find some great stuff at plato's closet. It's just personal preference honestly though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to admit when I watch the kids walking to school I'm always struck by how casual kids look today compared to when I was a teen in the 1990s. And we thought we were casual back then! Today's kids really do look like they just rolled out of bed and are going to school in whatever they slept in. At least in my day the boys would throw on a polo and khaki or jeans.

Anyway, from what I've seen/picked up from friends living in Europe, wearing athletic clothes as everyday clothes is very "working class" while the middle class kids wear jeans. Beyond that I wouldn't worry too much about it as long as you are well behaved and put in a bit of effort if going out to dinner.

I just got back from a week in London.
I was surprised how much everyone dresses alike, no matter where they are from.
I saw someone in Levis and cowboy boots, assumed he was American, and heard him speaking French.

I don't think it matters any more how you dress in Europe. Globalization has made everyone wear the same coats, hats, sneakers, carry the same bags, wear hoodies, baseball caps, etc. no matter where you are from.

Bring some nice pants and a dress shirt for going out to a nice restaurant, but for sightseeing, hoodies and sneakers/shorts are just fine.

Exactly this. And I can always tell who the try-hard tourists are because they cos-play the sterotypical "European sophisticate" and it's painfully obvious.

Exactly what does the stereotypical European sophisticate look like? I’m European and I have no idea what you are talking about.

Quite honestly, I have no idea. I'm going by what some fawning DCUM posters claim. IMO, Europeans dress exactly as Americans do.

The fawning is funny. Been to UK recently? They might give us a run for most casual.

I haven’t been to a lot of Europe, in my limited travels, France and Germany are about the same as us. Italians might be a step above fashion wise. One country that stood out to me for always looking put together was S. Korea. Very stylish and well accessorized.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No advertising that you are an American. Keep your sports hoodies and hats at home.

It's not the sports hoodies and hats. Europeans can spot an American man from a mile away. They walk differently, carry themselves differently, etc., and one is highly unlikely to nail European fashion unless they've been living there for a while.

And really, trying to fit in in Europe is sort of cringey. Respect is what you need to aim for, not fitting in.

There is no distinct European fashion anymore. In the last 20 years, fashion has become homogeneous.

Hmm, disagree. I think there are pockets of fashion norms everywhere, even within the US. But the main thing that gives it away is the walk and the body shape.

Not anymore. Europe is rather rotund now.

36% of American adults are obese compared with 21% of French adults. 71% more adults are obese in the US.

Math isn't your strong suit?
DP

The math there is correct,dummy. 36-21=15.15/21=.71.