Do You Dress Like An American Tourist Abroad? These Signs Are A Dead Giveaway.

HuffPost ^ | Dec 12, 2024 | Jillian Wilson

[where's_the_Outrage?]

If you’ve ever seen the iconic “Modern Family” clip where Mitchell is increasingly bothered that people in France know he’s American just by looking at him — that is, until he purchases an outfit from a local store and fits in with the locals — you’ll understand the plight of American tourists. Sometimes, even with the right language skills or a demure presence, our clothes alone give us away.

This is because Americans have a specific way of dressing, stylists say, whether they’re visiting Europe, Asia or another locale. And while fashion is different in every city and every country (and among different groups in said place), Americans still manage to stick out no matter where they are.

Below, stylists from around the world share the styles that make Americans stand out from locals and how to dress like an international traveler instead.

Wearing Athletic Wear

Being Too Dressy

Having Perfect Makeup And Hair

Wearing Too Many Logos

Dressing Too Beachy

Don’t be afraid to try out new styles and get inspiration from the world around you

[frank ballenger]

RE: I’m seeing people in cargo shorts, t-shirts, and sandals.

Which I heard Christian radio hosts say is what they see people wear in church.

[escapefromboston]

I dress like a normal American when I travel aboard : blue jeans , cowboy boots with spurs , coonskin cap and shirt with a big American flag on it (plus I carry a huge boom box blasting rap music everywhere I go)

[smokingfrog]

Parlez vous Francais?
Do I look like I’m from around here?

[BenLurkin]

Because civilization has collapsed.

We watched it happen in our lifetimes.

After the declines of the 60s and 70s, the 1980s briefly looked to be a rebirth of a culturally advanced dress and behavior.

But it was a false dawn.

[Night Hides Not]

I usually wore my fatigues after work, but my German was good enough to throw them off a bit. The military haircut and green license plates were a giveaway too.

Didn’t have much of a civilian wardrobe to speak of. I need to add a few more items now, my pants don’t fit, as my weight has dropped from 175 to 150 over the past few months…diabetes the likely culprit.

[frank ballenger]

You were practically living the little known but excellent Chuck Berry 1965 single:

It Wasn’t Me.

I met a German girl in England who was going to school in France
Said we danced in Mississippi at a Alpha Kappa dance
It wasn’t me, Officer
No, Officer, it wasn’t me
It must have been some other body
Uh, uh, Officer, it wasn’t me

Wailing down the freeway, testing out the cruising power
The state trooper trailing, clocked him 90 miles an hour
It wasn’t me, Sheriff
Uhm-uhm, Sheriff, it wasn’t me
Ah, it must have been some other body
Uh, uh, Sheriff, it wasn’t me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwkltb0qbsA

[dfwgator]

[dfwgator]

Every time I’ve worn a Gators shirt in Europe, at least one person I pass by says, “Go Gators!” to me.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Yes, I’ve heard that fanny is a vulgar slang term in the UK, with a different meaning than in the US.....

[dfwgator]

I once wore a “Gopnik” outfit to a Halloween party. A few people actually got it.

[Vendome]

[dfwgator]

[GaryCrow]

We Americans are more easily identifiable by our mannerisms than our dress. Plenty of Europeans today dress like slobs, it’s not unique to Americans.

[dfwgator]

Jonathan:
[Enters West Berlin coming from East Berlin, spotting a Burger King restaurant]
Now we’re talkin’. God bless America!
Jonathan:
[after entering]
How ‘bout a Whopper? No, make that a Double Whopper with American cheese. And large American french fries, and a great big American chocolate shake. Okay?
Jonathan:
No sauerkraut. No schnitzel.

(Gotcha! - One of the most underrated movies of the 80s) - And I too would have killed or died to make love to Sasha.

[Fiji Hill]

If I saw a guy in Rome wearing a Dodgers hat, I would assume he was a Roman despite his dress, and I would have said, “Almeno non indossi il cappello di quei dannati Yankees. Avanti, Dodgers!”

[FreedomPoster]

Was in a hip jeans shop in Koln about 8 years ago. Main level was all hip, selling Levi’s and Wrangler jeans. Upper level was vinyl tile and exposed fluorescent fixtures, selling working man’s pants - the cool Euro work pants with tons of tool pockets. I’d first seen them on pit crews for Euro brands at Road Atlanta, then really all the blue collar guys on the streets in Western Euro cities. Love that style of pants, wish they were more available here.

[sauropod]

.

[wintertime]

Each time I visit Europe, people mistake me for being British.

Even in Costa Rica, the people there thought I was British.

[Rinnwald]

The big bearded man in a Ruger ball cap, jeans and tee-shirt can’t be an American, right? That’s what I was wearing last time I was in Paris in 2010. I left my family in the hotel, and went out past 2:00 in the morning, walking off some jet lag.

First person I saw was a meticulously dressed rabbi, walking hurriedly across the canal bridge. I almost said “bonjour” but he gave me a pissed off look.

At a corner, a slammed Japanese car pulled up, full of sunglasses-and-spiked-hair French kids. The windows were down and they were blasting rap music. One turned to me and said “’sup?” I wanted to say, “jess keepin’ it real, dawg!” with a hook’em horns sign, but I kept quiet and they rolled off.

Finally, a wave of people rolled down the street, apparently returning from a night out drinking. The first one staggered up to me, and in very good, French-accented English said,”I am so drunk!”

Yep, mission accomplished. I had blended in perfectly.

[SaveFerris]

I never saw it!