Entry #18: Out of Africa: Travel Clothing 101

If everything goes as planned, I will be traveling to good old Tanzania (airport code DAR) for a bit. The perils of travel clothing doesn't really exist unless you are in love with designer handbags that scream DESIGNER. Otherwise, travel clothing is about... wearing what's in tune with the weather forecast and avoiding highly American things like T-shirts with the names of American companies or other logo-oriented wear. Side note: Not handling your liquor is an American thing to do, as is being snooty. So Don't!

For the most part, I’ve discovered that it’s best to dress how locals dress without calling attention to yourself and paying careful attention to comfort over fashion. O, yes, none of that crazy American tourist in Disneyland or National Park thing is allowed. A few years back in Morocco I was mortified to find out that a bible thumping travel mate of mine was wearing a t-shirt with an American Flag. (Don't) This was during the 2004 Presidential election, where everyone outside of America was on edge about our cowboy’s War on Terror. I survived, so people are actually very forgiving. I like to blend in as much as possible though, so a quick google on x country will get you to the right site, right quick!

But here is my Travel Clothing 101 List:
Spain:
Pretend that you are visiting your hippie parents for a semi-formal dinner when you’re in Spain. They dress by the season with dark clothing in the winter and super bright in the Spring. Mother Nature rules. They dress up more than we do in Los Angeles (I think the rest of the world dresses up more than we do) and they can smell an American quite easily, so avoid the flip-flips and Rainbows that we so love out here in California... Also, the Spanish ladies are tall and skinny! So maybe they dress the same, but just look better doing it?



France:
These suckaz can’t decide on politics, but they sure as hell know their fashion. Black and black, and perhaps a dark stone gray is what you’ll find here. Imagine a bunch of New Yorkers going to a funeral and you get the picture. But they look so good mourning maybe 2 years of mourning should come back? I'll post a blog about some research I did regarding The Little Black Dress... but back to France...their fashion is high street beauty. (pssst! They aren’t so big on jeans, it seems).


Amsterdam:
Bikers, bikers, and more bikers of the Critical Mass variety populate this o-so-friendly city. I suggest super comfortable shoes and looking both ways before you cross. Everything else is pretty much up to you.

Taiwan:
The clothing here is more American than America. They wear things slightly looser than Americans (ode to heroin chic?) and they seem to be much neater than other parts of the world. Additionally, there are tons of odes to various name brands…and yes, they are real. The older women are especially guilty of this phenomenon.

Thailand:
The beaches of Thailand consist of very well dressed travelers in comfortable clothing. I don’t know how they do it, but they just LOOK rich and REALLY relaxed and they bring sexay back. So travel clothing here is about updated, chic, but ultra comfortable in amazing patterns… a lot of the clothes you can actually find in Thailand and it may be interesting to pick out their various sarongs during your stay here. After a while, you’ll adopt the carefree nature of travelers here and this will somehow show its way into your clothing.