American vs. European Fashion
- Adriana Daoust Mariette
- Feb 4, 2018
- 4 min read
My first month in Europe, many lovely new things entertained my eyes, but one of my favorite details was the fashion. I felt I was flipping the pages of a Vogue magazine. I was astounded that it looked like all of them cared about what they put on that morning! I had heard people say, "Europeans dress nicely," but I didn't fully understand what that looked like until I saw it for myself. I thought that I dressed well, but that definition would change. I also thought that the daily, irksome experience of witnessing another person in their pajamas at the grocery store was normal. But, no. There is a magical place where this doesn't happen called Europe.
Casual wear Everyone here dresses so well that even the homeless are hard to pick out if they aren’t sitting down with a cup in front of them. In the US, it is a regular occurrence to see people out in their casual attire. Americans will regularly go out in their sweats or gym clothes, which I completely understand when you need to buy bananas on the way home from the gym, but the pajamas *gag* are unforgivable. Here, in Europe, the only time I have seen people in sweatpants or pajamas was my family in the comfort of their home. The only gym clothes I have seen were at the gym (unless if someone was running outside.) I have gathered that it is an unwritten taboo to walk to the gym in your workout gear, so I have made adjustments to blend in. Even my gym bag is disguised as a cute, little, faux-leather backpack.
Cold & Rain Since it is cold here most of the year, stylish jackets are a must. I'm not talking about North Face, Columbia, or REI jackets. They don leather jackets, blazers, and trenchcoats. "But what about when it rains?", you ask. Because, yes, it is true. It rains here in Belgium just as much as it does in Oregon. If it is raining, Europeans wear their usual, trendy clothes and pop out an umbrella *cue gasp of shock from my Portlanders*. I admire their resilience. No amount of weather can make them sacrifice their look.
Men's fashion Another wonderful relief is that the male ego is not so fragile here, and their style reflects that. Why can’t a man wear a scarf, pink button-up shirt, fitted pants, with his favorite bracelet or two, and not have his masculinity questioned? They look fantastic! Let men wear pink. (My husband was not around to help model for me, so I put on my favorite outfit of his.)
My transformation As all these discoveries started sinking in; I took a good, honest look at my closet and realized my Pacific-Northwest style had to change. My flannel-t-shirt-jeans combo looked sloppy next to these fashionistas. My style gave me away as an American even before I spoke. Clothes shopping in Europe has expanded my idea of fashion. As I walk down the streets, I take mental notes of the fun and interesting styles I encounter. I challenge myself to envision how I would pull off the look in case I find a similar piece at an affordable price later.
To compare European fashion to American, let's consider what would typically be worn for a gathering with friends at a bar. I can't speak for all Americans because I have to come to realize the Pacific Northwest has its own, distinct style. We are as chill as chill gets.
American style To meet with my American friends, I would dress casually to fit the laid-back atmosphere. I shouldn't burden my friends with the impression I put a lot of time into my appearance just for them. We practice the art of trying to look like we didn't try. If for some reason I showed up at the bar in my office clothes, I would at some point apologize that I wasn’t able to “get more comfortable” for the gathering.
European style When going out to see my European friends, the standard dress-code is what us Americans would call “business casual.” Simple and classy: button-up shirts, sweaters, dresses, skirts, tights, clean, simple jeans. They dress nicely as a sign of respect for those they are seeing. To my surprise, I have started incorporating blazers into my everyday wear. It levels up a simple outfit. I have also discovered elegant ways to wear sparkle that doesn't scream "children's clothing."
After living in Europe for a year, my style has changed significantly. I almost wouldn't recognize my closet now if my favorite, cotton flannel wasn't still in it. I have bought clothes I would have laughed at before, and I have worn pieces I would have deemed too bold for my style. I am certainly not a fashion guru, but clothing has been a fun way to experiment with my image.
Has a place you've moved to or visited changed the way you dress, too? Tell me about it in the comments below.
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