How to Dress Like a European Woman 2018
Ready to spend a couple of weeks in Europe but still struggling with your packing list for Europe? Most of us care how we look and how others perceive us. But even if looking sharp is not your priority when you travel, blending in with the locals is always a good idea.
I hope that by the time you finish reading this post you'll have a pretty good idea how to dress like a European. But before I tell you what to pack for Europe, there are a few things you need to know about the European dress style.
Overview
- European Fashion
- European Dress Style is All About the Fit
- How to Dress Like a European
- Can You Be Fashionable on a Budget?
- Packing List for Europe
- European Attire for Women
- European Attire for Men
- What You Should NOT Wear in Europe
- Where to buy good quality clothes in Europe
European Fashion
If this is your first time in Europe, there may be a few things that will surprise you and one of them is how the Europeans dress. You will notice that Europeans always seem nicely dressed and well put-together. While in North America wetend to favor comfort over style, in Europe people are waymore concerned about the way they look.
While there isn't a dress code per se, the European dress style is first aboutchic and then about comfort.You don'tsee manyParisianswearing something ill-fitting or unflattering just because it's comfortable!
Traditionally, clothing is much more expensive in Europe than in other parts of the world. But it's also of very good quality. European women may not have many outfits, but what they have is of good quality and it fits nicely.
European Dress Style is All About the Fit
If you want to dress like a European woman, think chic and elegant. You don't need to wear a cocktail dress or high heel shoes in order to be elegant. All you need is pair up your clothes in such a way that you don't look like a hiker.
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There is a great variety of clothes and shoes which can be both comfy and chic. Keep it simple. You don't need a hole lot of cloths, but what you wear should make a statement.
How to Dress Like a European
What I need to make clear from the start is that this article discusses fashion in the major European cities like Paris, London, Venice, Rome, Amsterdam, etc. It's easier to blend in with the locals if you travel to smaller towns, resorts, or in the countryside.
Your packing list for Europe will vary, depending on your destination. Packing for 3 days in Paris will certainly differ from packing for a few days in Zermatt.This guide will give you some guidance about the dos and don'tsof dressing in Europe that will help you avoid being labeled a tourist.
Can You Be Fashionable on a Budget?
Not everybody can afford to wearPrada, or Valentino, or some other famous fashion designer. But that doesn't mean you can't be fashionable on a budget. It's actually a bigger demand for low-budget fashion than it is for high end designers. As a result, most of the department stores carry very stylish clothes at very affordable prices.
If you look up any fashion magazines or online websites, you will find plenty of fashion ideas that will help you stay fashionable within your budget. It's easy to create your own fashion style with with some simple and trendy ideas.
Packing List for Europe
Here is what you could consider for your packing list for Europe:
European Attire for Women
When traveling to Europe remember that people seeing you briefly for the first time will judge you completely by your appearance and will treat you accordingly. As atraveler, most of your personal contact will be with hotel clerks and restaurant waiters. To get agood table and good service you need to dress as if you deserve it.Finding the perfect balance between comfort and stylemay bedifficult, butit's not impossible.
So here is what you could wear in Europe as a woman:
• Comfortable, but nice shoes
European streets, subways and busses are very crowded, so open toe shoes orare not a good choice, even if it's hot. Since we started traveling in 1989 I have walked thousands of miles in Merrell Walking Shoes, Born, Ecco and Clarks.
•Dresses, skirts, dress pants, short-sleeve and long-sleeve tops
Depending on the season, you should bring some short-sleeve/long-sleeve tops, a sweater dress to wear with tights, a skirt and some dress pants. All these items are a must for your Europe packing list.
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Wearing jeans is not my first choice, but if you wear them with a pair of boots, a nice topand a blazer, you'll be just fine.
For fall or spring, a trench coat or ablazerthat you can wear over your dress, or withany pair of pants.
• Scarfs and accessories
Scarfs, belts, and some costume jewelry are great accessories for your outfits. They add color and style to any outfit and they are easy to carry around. You can wear the same dress three days in a row, yet make it look like a different outfit if you wear it with a scarf, a belt, or a piece of jewelry. I have a great collection of scarfs and belts which are always part of my packing list for Europe.
• A Nice Bag (preferably not cross-body)
Bags are fine for both men and women. The best would be a shoulder bag that lies somewhat flat to your body, so you can lay your hand over it as need.Also, backpack-style bags work great. Not the kind that you would wear on a hiking trip, of course, but the small leather ones that you can wear both on your shoulder or on your back.
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Don't bring a messenger/cross-body bag to Europe! No one carries them there, except the American tourists.
European Attire for Men
European males are equally preoccupied with their looks as women. But as a male, the packing guides out there are pretty vague. If you want to dress like a European man think basic luxury andneat and tight clothes.
When traveling to Europe you'll need to make a little investment into some good quality clothes. Also, make sure your clothes fit nicely and don't sag. Europeans love their clothes to fit a little slimmer, almost tight.Therefore, if you want to lookParisian, don't wear baggy clothes!
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Another trick to make you look European is to layer up: shirt, sweater andcoat on top. Men in Europe love to wear layers, especially during the colder seasons.
• Pick slacks over jeans and shirts over T-hirst
Leave the jeans and T-shirts for your travels to Las Vegas and pack a couple of pairs of slacks, a few casual shirts and a nice blazer when you travel to Europe. Most importantly, reconsider the synthetics, but keep leather, cashmere, denim, cotton and linen.
If you travel during the cold season, agood qualitycoat (which may be a bit pricier), a cashmere turtleneck and a scarf will really give you an edge.
• Choose comfortable, but dress shoes
It's much easier for men to find comfortable shoes, since they are not after high heels. Grab some leather pointed shoes in neutral colors, like blacks and browns. Make sure they are always polished and clean. It's important to choose comfortable shoes, with thicker rubber sole, that can absorb shock. In Europe you'll most likely do a lot of walking and thin soles will give you a lot of pain.
What You Should NOT Wear in Europe
I get asked pretty often if the Europeans wear shorts, or jeans, or tennis shoes. The answer is "yes," they do wear shorts and tennis shoes when they go hiking, or to the beach. Or when they play tennis. But not in the city. That doesn't mean that you won't see any person in Europe wearing sneakers or ripped jeans. There are many European youngsters who "slobber" over looking like a Gringo and dress sloppy, but that doesn't define Europe.
So, before I tell you what to pack for Europe, here is a list of clothes that you shouldn't wear in a big European city:
• Shorts and sweat pants
Shorts and sweat pants will be frowned upon in most European cities, therefore you shouldn't include them in your packing list. Unless you are planning to go hiking in the mountains, or go to the beach, short snd sweat pants are a no-no in most European cities. Aside from looking touristy, you are likely to be denied admission to many venues (concert halls, churches, museums) or fine restaurants.
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• Tennis Shoes, Converse and Flip-Flops
Flip-flops and sneakers may be popular among the youngsters in many countries. In fact, they are so popular in California that most young people wear them everywhere. But nothing screams'tourist' like bouncing down the streets of Europe in Flip-flops, converse, or tennis shoes!
• Flashycolors and clothing embellished withflags or chauvinistic slogans
Patriotic or flashy logos may work in the USA, but they areconsidered ostentatious and perceivedas a lack of class in Europe. Americans love to wear strongcolors and patterns, butEuropeans like subtle colors.Wearing bright, flashy colors will signal that you are a tourist from a mile away, therefore you should stay away from them.
• Cameras around your neck
We all love to take home digital memories from our travels, but wearing your camera around your neckwherever you go is bad taste.Besides, broadcasting to everyone that you are a tourist may increase your risk of attracting thieves.
It's best to keep your camera in a bag and take it out only when you are planning to use it.
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Where to buy good quality clothes in Europe
If you live in a small town where it's difficult to findfancy clothes, don't panic. You can always do some shopping while visiting Europe. Don't get set back by the huge prices you see displayed in the windows.
Get inside and look through the inventory. You'll be surprised how many great deals you can find, even in the most sophisticated stores. In fact, I strongly encourage you to buy some good quality clothingfrom Europe. You'll most likely turn some heads when you wear them back home.
I hope my post answered some of your questions about European fashion. So how does one dress like a European? By simply looking casual elegant
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