Going abroad can be an amazing experience but you don’t want to stick out like a tourist for your entire stay. From my travels, I’ve learned some helpful tips on how to dress wherever you may be in the world
Tip 1 Know Your Terms
Whenever you’re in a different country its expected that there will be cultural differences from your own. Fashion is a part of this, apart from different types of dress there are also different terms you’ll want to know. Because a larger part of my time abroad was in the UK these terms listed are the UK specific.
- Pants- If you’re from the US the term pants can mean a completely different thing then when you are going abroad. To an American, pants can be anything you wear on your legs but to someone from the UK, the term pants is actually associated with Underwear. If you’re in a conversation with someone and this ever comes up be sure to say trousers! It’ll help you avoid an awkward conversation. It’s also helpful when you’re shopping and looking at clothes.
- Dress Smart- When I was interning abroad the phrase, ‘dress smart’ got thrown around for a lot of business events. It confused me at first and I asked my co-worker for an example. Dressing Smart in the UK is the equivalent of dressing business casual but a level above it. In the US there’s business and business casual wear and when going to an event you typically know on your own what level of dress is appropriate but in the UK there is a whole different term used as well.
- Vests- In the US vests are a type of sleeveless sweater but in the UK they are actually the term used for tank tops.
Tip 2 Know the Weather
Knowing the weather when studying abroad can be so important, you don’t want to pack shorts and realize it’s actually extremely cold. I know in Scotland specifically the weather can be ever changing so this was something I always had to stay on top of. T
hese are some items that are good to have on hand to be prepared.
- Hooded jacket- A hooded jacket is nice because you can wear it when it’s cold and pull the hood up when it’s raining outside. If it gets warmer you can also always tie it around your waste.
- Hiking shoes- Hiking shoes like Timberlands are great because they’re very versatile. They’re in style now for casual wear and if yours are waterproof they’re great in snow and rain too. I wore mine a lot because they were great for all types of terrain including cobblestone streets
Tip 3 Know what’s socially acceptable
When you’re a young woman studying at college in America, it’s a given that you own at least two pairs of leggings. I tried not to wear them as often as I did but they were so convenient and comfy that they became a default if I had a morning class. In the UK however, leggings aren’t as socially acceptable as they are in the States. When I was abroad one thing we were told about dress code before I left was that jeans are the staple for everyday wear when going to classes. In general, people are typically dressed better casually there.
- This can be for any clothing item though. It’s important to look into dress codes and styles for the country you are visiting so that you can do your best to avoid awkward situations.
Tip 4 Less is More
Like I mention in my how to pack efficiently post, less is more. It’s better to bring staple pieces you can mix and match rather than bring too many items. If you’re traveling for a long period of time bringing less can encourage you to find cool pieces abroad that you can keep forever.