Will wearing a bright colored jacket signal that I am a tourist?
Rick Steve's recommends wearing neutral colors. As such, I've opted to bring a lot of blacks and greys on my trip this winter. However, my rain jacket is a BRIGHT green -- it's brighter than the circle of the Travel Answers logo, except a bit more yellow. But it's a quality rain jacket and I don't want to spend a few hundred dollars just to get one that's black. However, I really don't want to stand out as traveling in a foreign country makes me feel self conscious already.
So my question is, do Europeans wear bright colors? If they do, is it only during warmer seasons?
Update: Some of the countries I will be traveling to during November/December include France, Italy, and Germany. I will mostly be in cities. (As a side note, I also don't want to stand out so as to avoid drawing attention of pick pocketers.)
Best Answer
Whenever I go to Europe I am struck by how differently the European men dress than North American ones. First and foremost, their feet. They almost never wear running shoes. Their shoes are small and fit close to the foot. They are never white, and if you see the same man on several different days he may very well wear a different pair of shoes each day, to go with his pants for example. The socks are also never white and typically go with the pants. My first few days in Europe I think every man I meet is gay until I recalibrate :-)
Tourists, especially American ones, sport tourist accessories (backpacks, camera on strap, phone in hand being used as camera or map, paper map, guidebook) but also:
- wear a baseball cap
- wear a Tshirt, especially a Tshirt with a logo of a sports or clothing company or of a place they have been
- wear shorts
- talk really loudly to each other as though no-one else is there
To avoid being thought of as a tourist, worry about what you are wearing from the ground up. Most important is your shoes, then your socks, your pants (jeans are ok though not a first choice, sweats are not ok) and finally your shirt. Don't worry much about your coat.
For more see this 2001 article on the Ugly American and this fashion advice from SavvyBackpacker.
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Is it OK to wear bright colors?
It isn't a yes or no answer - it comes down to how you style it. Your creative freedom in terms of fashion might have its limitations when dressing for the corporate environment, but that doesn't mean you can't wear the bright, vivid hues and patterns that you love and make you feel good.Can you wear bright colors to work?
We seriously suggest avoiding bright colors from the warm side of the color wheel if you work in an office. There are exceptions to this rule, though. If everyone else in the office wears strong colors, then it's most likely encouraged to do the same.Harry Styles - Sign of the Times (Lyrics)
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Answer 2
My recommendation - dress like you normally would.
What matters most is being comfortable - if you want to avoid drawing attention to yourself as to avoid pickpocketers...don't scream at everyone in English and keep your head up! Always be aware of your surroundings - pay attention to a map and know where you are at all times.
Not "acting" like a tourist, in my experience, is more important than not looking like one :)
Answer 3
Don't worry too much about the bright jacket. I've traveled and lived in Europe and you see all kinds of clothes — everything from sleek and modern to huge puffy coats. And a lot of the countries you're going to visit will be pretty rainy during that time of year so a good rain jacket is a must.
I recommend that you just enjoy your time in Europe!
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Monstera, Ono Kosuki, Thegiansepillo, Brett Sayles