The Fashion Police “Bad clothes, bad clothes, what’ch ya gonna do? What’ch ya gonna do when…” Okay, so no one is going to arrest you for wearing the wrong attire abroad. But it might be helpful to have a few tips on how to dress while overseas. • • • • •
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Everyone will know you’re an American anyway, so you might as well dress comfortably. Dressing comfortably doesn’t mean you have to look like a slob. You’re representing your home nation whether you want to or not. Investigate the apparel of your host country before heading there. Do they generally dress up? Wear skirts? Does any one ever wear shorts? You can bring some cozy clothes too, but try to be as much a part of the culture as possible. Purchase some national clothing while you’re there to really enculturate yourself and show the folks back home. Pack light. You’re going to want to bring items home with you and won’t want your suitcase full of clothes. Pack for dressing in layers. This way you’re set regardless of how the temperature bobs. Mix ‘n match. Don’t pack a shirt and pants that only go with each other. Pack a few items that you can wear in different combinations to get the most number of outfits out of just a few items of clothing. White tennis shoes aren’t the European taboo they used to be, but they do still sing “foreigner”. Black shoes are nice because they don’t get dirty as quickly (the streets abroad are sometimes rather dirty). Regardless of color, you’ll want shoes that are comfortable, but that can go with most of your clothes too. Pack at least one dressy outfit that goes beyond the everyday chic. This way, you can look extra good for that special occasion that is bound to arise. Having said this, don’t pack a million special accessories that only go with this one dressy outfit, but take up tons of suitcase space. As an American you’ll already get lots of attention. Avoid dressing too provocatively; else you attract some extra unwanted attention.
Don’t miss the opportunity to widen your horizons through a bit of wardrobe tweaking. Enjoy your time abroad and dress like you belong. To find the city that best suits your style, request a catalog or search for a program online.