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Fashion Blog (Archive)
Sunday, August 03, 2003
posted by TheBroadroom.Net at
6:28 PM (Pacific)
Fashion while travelling does not work. You see all these articles about being stylish when you travel but none of it actually works. This year, I went to Peru. We had a 4-day hike planned and weren't spending much time in cities so I brought only hiking clothes. It was quite obvious I was a tourist. Those boots are a dead giveaway. You might tell me that this was a bad trip to try to fit in. I agree. But ya know, those articles would say to bring a wrinkle-proof black dress and some pretty black sandals for when you're off the trail. Like my sleeping bag, polar fleece and waterproof jacket left enough space for cute sandals!
So let's take another trip. Last year, I went to Hungary and Romania. The year before, I went to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. I still stuck out as a tourist. And this time, there was no hiking involved. On both trips, I took skirts and tops that I actually wear here in Montreal. And I do think I dress rather well. I took only stuff that coordinated well so as to multiply the number of outfits. Still obvious I was a tourist! Just not quite as stylish as the people there even though they weren't necessarily the best dressers.
I think at the end of the day, as a tourist, you just never completely fit in. Tourists have an air about them that gives them away even when they have neither camera nor travel guidebook. I think it may have to do with accomodations. When you travel, you don't have your shower, your bed, all of your products. Even the best hotels just aren't the same as home. You change hotels frequently as you move from city to city so you're always living out of your bags. And those gorgeous high heeled sandals? If you don't pack your entire wardrobe when you travel, you just don't have any space for them. Instead, you take some nice basic black sandals. Something with a bit of a heel so they look nice with a dress but also comfortable enough to walk in all day long. As a tourist, you just never look settled like the locals are. That's what sets tourists apart.
When we were in Peru, my boyfriend complained that some local teenagers were laughing at us. Probably because of how we were dressed (hiking pants and polar fleece). I just told him to never mind. These kids would probably never have enough money to travel far like we had. If being laughed at by a few stupid teenage kids is what we have to pay to see interesting places, so be it. I used to be a bit like them, thinking tourists with those awful sweatshirts were really style impaired. They may not be. Maybe they're just trying as best they can to mix utility with style. But like me, they just can't shake that tourist look. So there, I'll be more tolerant of the way tourists dress from now on. It's amazing how much one learns when travelling...
Raphaelle
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