We were spending our first evening in Rome wandering the
streets and hunting for pasta. That’s when we saw her. A gorgeous woman in an
airy evening dress, a sparkling necklace, and curls. She walked straight to a Vespa
and hopped on, stilettos and all. We stood there in awe as she sped away. How
do European women do it??
I think my mouth was hanging open.
When studying abroad, it’s like every local glances at you
for a grand total of 2 seconds before labeling you as “American tourist”. They
speak to you in English before you even let a word out. I was always left
wondering HOW they could possibly identify my nationality at first sight. Come
on. I’m a pale, blue-eyed brunette - I could be French royalty or something!
I soon realized that it had to be how I was dressing. After
living in Europe for five weeks, I found that my own style was slowly changing
to blend in with the locals. No, I wasn’t anywhere near to being mistaken for
the kind of perfection that slips onto a Vespa in high heels. But at least I
could get away with ordering gelato in Italian with a “Grazie” without the shopkeeper laughing and responding “You’re
welcome” in English.
I eventually found
that even I had the superpower of spotting another American from a block away -
which inspired me to write this post!
How to spot an American:
1)
Any casual shoe.
Flip flops, Converse, Vans, you name it.
I’ve heard it said that a Roman woman can and will judge you solely (haha –
sole. Get it?) based on your shoes. Unfortunately, thousand-year-old
cobblestone, slippery marble, and long walks to the metro make strutting in heels
no easy task. If you tend to gravitate toward the casual side and aren’t ready
to bust out the stilettos, try exchanging your Rainbows for a pair of ballet
flats once in a while. You’ll instantly look more put together.
2)
Tanks and shorts.
I don’t care how hot it is outside -- You
will never see a Roman woman rocking a tank top. Similarly, if you are sporting
a pair of cutoffs around Paris, you will stand out. Not to mention you won’t be
let into any cathedrals. Try pairing your favorite tops with cropped pants or a
casual skirt for a more European look.
3)
Excess makeup.
Europeans love a more natural look. While
abroad, I found that you can wear minimal makeup with a bright lipstick and
look just as put together as if you had spend 45 minutes on your face. You will
save on time, product, and money – and your natural beauty can shine through!
4)
Floppy beach hats.
Embrace that you will look like a tourist
with one of these bad boys. However, I personally find them adorable and will
not stop you from putting one on. The tough part is pulling it off without
looking like you’re eternally headed to a tea party. Try it with a casual
sundress or high waisted pants. Or tuck a blouse into an A-line skirt and rock
your sun hat.
5)
Any form of sweats or exercise clothing in
public.
(e.g. walking around Athens in a pair of
leggings, sports bra, and bro tank = tourist).
I’m not going to lie – I’m guilty of this
one. I like to be comfortable. If that means wearing what I wore to bed in
public, so be it. Pair it with yesterday’s makeup for a complete ensemble.
However, as I get older, I’m learning that my perception of
my worth is often reflected in the way I dress. Sure, everyone has those days where
they just need to go to school in sweatpants, #thestruggle. But if it’s becoming a habit to
never dress for the day, it begs the question: Do I expect others to think that
I value myself? Do I value myself?
SDWP’s motto: “Revealing self worth through
personal style”
-Brenna.
