Fashion in Europe - YouLookFab Forum

Here are some of the observations I made about clothes, and what I packed, while I was traveling in Europe, not particularly organized but at least corrected in spelling Would love to hear what people think.

Ladies in London wear a lot of black. Except when they wear short summer frocks… with black tights. Skinny jeans are the dominant silhouette, by far, for all age groups. Lots of color in Germany, including a lot of bright colored trousers and jeans on men. Salzburgers are very well-dressed - lots of great jackets and high boots, almost equestrian. Munich seems to have a vibe that I’d call classic American sportswear (Muenchen-wear?). Japanese tourists wear the strangest combinations of things. No super-high heels anywhere, on tourists or locals (unlike southern Europe - Italians and Spaniards love their heels from what I recall). Lots of cute flats.

I really need some non-sneaker 12-hour shoes. Everywhere I stayed had a hairdryer, so bringing my own was pointless (may be different in hostels/rural B&Bs). The Travex pants from EB are quite comfortable, incredibly versatile, and trulyl do wash easily in the sink and dry overnight. I am, however, completely sick of them and don’t plan to wear them again for a month or four. Ponte blazers are super-handy but I wore my pink one a lot more than my black one *shrug* Two coats was probably too many for a two-week early summer trip but I was glad I had the raincoat the two days it rained. A primarily black and cream capsule is versatile but boring as all heck. I always seem to buy tops while on vacation, but rarely bottoms. I should start out with less of the former and more of the latter in my suitcase. I never wear jewelry while traveling, unless I’m going to a special occasion thing, even when I remember to pack some. Too much fuss, I guess?

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Fascinating! Boots in Salzburg... hmm. I keep hearing London is a PIB town - and I find that so strange. I feel it should be a city of colour. It's a sweet place to me, for a city.

Jewelry is a tough thing to bring traveling. Loss and theft are always issues.

Suz

(website)

I wore my pink jacket constantly when I travelled last fall. It gave me a boost of colour in an otherwise neutral set of clothing.

Did you buy some great tops?

Thistle

Interesting observations!! I would have never picked Germany as having such bright colors. Shows what I know!

Did you bring home any loot

Sara L.

Love your observations! I went to London in the fall and everyone seemed to be wearing black too. I would have thought it would be different in the summer though.

Anonymous

Thank you for sharing your observations. I'd noticed in the past that London shops had windows full of bright dresses but I never saw anyone wearing one. As you said, it was a sea of black with sturdy footwear for those wet pavements.

Jaime

Interesting thanks! I also did not expect London to be wearing so much black. When I was in Italy I did not see so many heels on Italian women actually. I do think the summer might be different - maybe someone will let us know!

nancylee

Interesting observations. I've always been struck by how neutral most Euro wardrobes are...it appeals to me very much, but it is so different from how many Americans dress. Interesting, too, that no one seems to be wearing slouchy trousers yet.

Thanks for sharing your packing experience, too. It is hard to find the exact right mix of items to pack, but it sounds like you did well.

bj1111

yep...slouchy trousers are not quite filtering down on either side of the atlantic. i did see an article in the guardian (last week?) about the "new" jean shape. i've been so inundated by the slouchy fabulosity in these parts, that i feel slouch fatigue.

rae

Ah, thank you for the window to the other side! So interesting to think how locality still plays a part in fashion despite our largely globalized society. I am itching to wear some equestrian outfits for fall now!

Archer

Love equestrian- con temporised that is.

Lantana

I identify with your being sick of your travel pants. My entire travel capsule was sent to coventry for 6 months after my trip last year.

Astrid

Interesting observations! I agree about people in London wearing lots of black, I had the same impression.

I think travel capsules can be tricky, really. On the on side I love having a small capsule to get dressed from, it takes the stress out of it for me. On the other hand the capsule has to contain just the right items, so that I don't have to stress about it. Sometimes I get it right, most of the time I'm packing too much.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

Rachylou, re the jewelry, I only bought cheap jewelry, nothing pricey, so I wouldn't have to worry about it (besides my wedding ring and watch but I wear them whenever I'm not sleeping so)... I think some of it has to do with my newly long hair, I feel like earrings get lost visually, I've never been a multiple rings or bracelet person, and so what's left, necklaces, and then they don't go with all outfits... Suz, that's what I found with my pink jacket too, all m tops were neutrals, well, including neutral prints, and so putting another black layer on felt too dreary. Several times I looked at myself and thought I looked like a nun.

The skirts and dresses were a lot shorter than I see around here, but maybe that was also due to the giddiness of the weather being so nice. Everything also felt a bit moire casual than the last time I was in Europe, like a decent pair of jeans and a nice top would have been appropriate for 99% of the places I would need to go. I brought a knit dres but wore it to dinner a couple times only because I was running out of clean laundry, not because I felt I had to for suitability purposes.

I bought three tops, two identical except for color, nothing too off base from what I might find at home, but - I didn't get to do a much shopping as I usually hope to, especially in London since my DH hadn't been there and we did all the touristy stuff primarily.

Speaking of which, sizes have definitely gotten bigger and plus sizes are a lot more available than the first few times I've traveled in Europe. The first time I went there as an adult I was about a size 14 and none of the clothes were big enough, but this time I'm about the same size and there was plenty to choose from, and in the regular misses stores too, not just specialty stores.

It fascinates me that people are so big in the U.S. It's not (just ;>) that we are fat. We are big. Bunch of milk-fed peeps. I remember thinking, rather foolishly, that I could shop in China because everything is made in China. So wrong. Unless I wanted to wear dresses as crop tops.

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