carlosdca

I am amazed that with the exception of one poster, nobody has brought up SHORTS.

Even the article fails to mention shorts.

In Europe and Southamerica, shorts belong at the beach or pool, same for flip flops.

See someone in Paris or Bs. Aires walking around the city streets with shorts -> American.

Another obvious is huge cameras.

A more important one and has NOTHING to do with clothes is body size.
IT does not matter what one wears. Weight/size will give one away.

So, ditch the shorts, flip flops and sandals, get the BMI in the "underweight" section, and then worry about the clothes.

Oh, and don't say ever "Thank you" "Excuse me" or similar (if not English speaking country, even if most locals speak English). Learn at least a few basic words. Danke, Gracias, Grazie Mille!

Giggleswick

Even the ones wearing shorts, socks, and sandals and speaking German?

YVR Cockroach

If you have the BMI right, and look swarthy enough (especially French but seemingly also Italian or Spanish), try dressing up with clothes from this place

carlosdca

When was the last time you saw this and where?

bitterproffit

Since I look like I just stepped out of a mosque in northern Africa, I find that I am treated better in Europe once they realize I am an American instead. The clothes actually help. I will wear jeans in Europe during the week. I wear black adidas runners which seem to not stick out. On the weekends in the summer in Berlin, I am going to wear shorts like everyone else (unless I am practicing FKK with the locals in the Tiergarten).

Giggleswick

Actually, last month in San Francisco. So of course I did the only appropriate thing under the circumstances. I pointed at them and laughed hysterically, then I tripped them. That'll teach 'em.

Cloudship

Maybe this is why Americans don't travel overseas much. Reading threads like this they get the idea that Europeans are hyper judgemental, retaliatory fashionistas just waiting to attack any perceived American they come across. Forget the religious terrorists - Americans are far more scared of what they think locals are going to do to them!

Let me ask you this - how much of this is really what happens and what you have perceived, and how much of this is just stereotypes and resentment trying to be codified into "customs"? Do people in Europe really never wear shorts or sandals? Are they really all skinny as a beanpole and all Americans three times their size? Don't let resentment towards being an American overwhelm your judgement.

YVR Cockroach

Well, not quite 3x larger but.... the statistics would almost make it seem that way. Though the average adult American and Canadian are pretty much the same height, there's a difference of 17-19 lbs in average weight.

FWIW, the average German would seem to have the same BMI as a lot of northern European-appearing Americans (for good reason).

manneca

Shorts. I was in Venice in August and saw lots of non Americans in shorts. Including one guy in shorts and a t shirt with his wife in a burka. How did I know they were not Americans? They didn't look like Americans.

i don't care how you dress, most Americans will look like Americans.

DeepUnderground

Time to throw away my American Flag swimming trunks?

Giggleswick

You know what really makes my European friends laugh about Americans' clothes? No, it's not the clothes we wear, but the fact that some Americans seem so obsessed and cowed by a bunch of often mythical European fashion "rules." For the most part, as long as you're not wearing shorts in an upscale restaurant or a tank top at a wedding, they simply don't get all hot and bothered about things like the color of our trousers or the style of our shoes. But then, many of those Europeans actually do wear shorts in the summer (though not to work, of course) or jeans in the city, so maybe they're unqualified to speak.

Furthermore, based on my last few trips to Britain, no they're definitely not all skinny as a beanpole!

YVR Cockroach

U.K. (and Australian) weights are fairly high. Average height in the U.K. is pretty much identical to the U.S. and Canada (less than an inch shorter for women). Average weight is between Canadians and Americans but only ~ 1/3rd of the way.

Kagehitokiri

http://www.indexmundi.com/blog/index...mi-by-country/

kind of interesting, but may show weakness of BMI

deniah

probably because its not true.

TObject

Just wear some [preferably fake] Adidas and you will look local prety much everywhere.

The article is funny: so Columbia is no-no, but ExOfficio is ok? And pretending to be Canadian? In addition to what has already been said, did they forget the 747 full of mostly Canadian citizens blown up at cruising altitude? That was second deadliest terrorist attack involving airplanes next to 9/11.

Plus Canada is an ally, and often sends troops in support of US operations.