BootsnAll Travel Community

How judgmental are the Spanish about clothing?

I don't wear baseball caps or shorts, but I don't wear fitted designer clothes either. Would I be looked down upon by natives or treated worse by them if I wore sneakers (though I've heard their popular there right now) and comfortable but generally decent-looking (by American standards) khakis / jeans and button-up shirts?

Thanks.

DDress code is an american obsession. You can wear whatever you like.

they are generally nude in spain.

And, really? You're going to stand out no matter what (it's the shoes). Who cares. "Natives" may take to you more because of it.

the spanish are not that smart, to stand out wear bright white trainers and knee length white sport socks and everyone will know your an american.

otherwise, wear cool clothes, khaki army shorts, flipflops havaiaanas or berkenstock

If your on a beach avoid the white speedo's unless your bulked up, hairy chest, brown and well oiled.. :O)

Wear an "Arsenal" or "Manchester United" jersey and they'll love you.

Where in Spain? In general, they're pretty chill about their dress, if not on the downright grimy side compared to other parts of Europe. Except in clubs/discos... they have a tendency to be more particular, especially in regards to wearing shorts and sneakers, and clubs are where the Spanish hang at night.

quote:

Originally posted by Jacob G. Norlund:
How judgmental are the Spanish about clothing?

I don't wear baseball caps or shorts, but I don't wear fitted designer clothes either. Would I be looked down upon by natives or treated worse by them if I wore sneakers (though I've heard their popular there right now) and comfortable but generally decent-looking (by American standards) khakis / jeans and button-up shirts?

Thanks.

Where are you getting your information from?

Don't go naked, and you'll be fine.

Unless you go deep into the country, no one cares what you wear. They are not indifferent to style, but very tolerant of loose or sloppy style.

Its the unshaven and dirty look they don't like so much.

quote:

Originally posted by my2thhurts:

quote:

Originally posted by Jacob G. Norlund:
How judgmental are the Spanish about clothing?

I don't wear baseball caps or shorts, but I don't wear fitted designer clothes either. Would I be looked down upon by natives or treated worse by them if I wore sneakers (though I've heard their popular there right now) and comfortable but generally decent-looking (by American standards) khakis / jeans and button-up shirts?

Thanks.

Where are you getting your information from?

Two people I know who have been there...

One who spent the summer doing an internship for Glamour in Madrid (OK, maybe a bit biased )

One who spent a year in the Canarias in 2002 - 2003 as a foreign exchange student.

Well, I'm a "native". Everything you write is very interesting for me. I couldn't expect some topics about us would still remain...
Please, could you tell me where people are "generally nude" here in Spain?

quote:

Originally posted by rafaellazo:
Well, I'm a "native". Everything you write is very interesting for me. I couldn't expect some topics about us would still remain...
Please, could you tell me where people are "generally nude" here in Spain?

She's being sarcastic.

I've never heard of a special dressing code in Spain. I live here now and don't have one designer piece of clothing. All I know is that you shouldn't go into the city center wearing your beach clothing. That would make you look like a tourist.
Many parts in Spain are crowded with tourists so that the clothing you will see in the streets ranges from designer shoes and handbacks, to worn out jeans and ripped shirts. So you can't make a mistake.

quote:

Originally posted by Jacob G. Norlund:

quote:

Originally posted by rafaellazo:
Well, I'm a "native". Everything you write is very interesting for me. I couldn't expect some topics about us would still remain...
Please, could you tell me where people are "generally nude" here in Spain?

She's being sarcastic.

I'm a man not a woman. I'm terribly sorry if I've offended anyone with my sarcasm.

O.K., it's true. We are generally nude, we smell like garlic (as Mrs Beckham says), we don't have washing machines in our houses, we all like corridas,we are lazy, cheaters and bad-manered. Spain is different !

He was talking about me. I was being sarcastic. And I like to spend my time in Spain nude.

I studied in Andalucia for 5 months and was blown away by the manners of dress I witnessed, especially concerning men. For any male Spaniards, I apologize in advacne if my impressions draw offense...

I stuck out like a sore thumb by wearing khaki shorts and golf shirts, for maintaining what by modern western standards i can only call a logical hair style and by allowing a few days of facial hair once in a while. I think most westerners would agree that this is a fairly neutral dress.

The women I encountered in So. Spain were gorgeous and very tastefully yet attractively dressed, while the (college age)men on the other hand, presented themselves in a tradition reminiscent of urban-american female punk rockers of the 1980's.

Their mullets, unbeatable; the tight white capri pants, worn proudly and without rival. I was astounded by the sheer amount of hair product, the blinding bright shoe colors, the man bags, and the sleeveless t-shirts.

This was the acceptable norm in the Fall of 2004, the standard. And if that isn't wrong, I dont want to be right.

I have been in Salamanca for more than a few months.

I generally walk around nude, even for classes, and my body is so ripped that people throw money at me. Two Guardia civil officers tried to seduce me.

VBG:

Seriously, whatever you wear, you'll be marked as a tourist. Do you want to be marked as a backpacker tourist, a businessman tourist, or a rich and showy tourist?

quote:

The women I encountered in So. Spain were gorgeous and very tastefully yet attractively dressed, while the (college age)men on the other hand, presented themselves in a tradition reminiscent of urban-american female punk rockers of the 1980's.

Haha! I'm here now and have noticed that.

And I agree...the women are dressed in a fashion that I find hard to describe with words other than "tasteful". Older women seem to prefer a "business casual" style like you'd see in New York City, while college / high-school aged girls also dress rather formally and tastefully.

Spanish locals (especially women) do tend to dress up a bit more than Americans do. I was surprised to see how many women wore dresses and heels while just out for a walk. But I certainly didn't dress like that while I was there, and never had anyone give me a second look. As long as you're neat and clean, you'll be fine.

"Seriously, whatever you wear, you'll be marked as a tourist"

I agree with this exactly. You won't fool anyone no matter how well dressed you are - just enjoy the fact that you're in the land of the most beautiful women alive who want nothing to do with you.

quote:

Originally posted by Leighton:
"Seriously, whatever you wear, you'll be marked as a tourist"

I agree with this exactly. You won't fool anyone no matter how well dressed you are - just enjoy the fact that you're in the land of the most beautiful women alive who want nothing to do with you.

Well, I´ve been here for a week now.

I´ve noticed people dress up more in Barcelona than here in San Sebastian. Lots of sweatshirts here. Also the people seem to be bigger in this part of the country.

And personally I think the German, British, and American tourist girls are more beautiful than the local girls