Last summer, I had a wonderful time living in the beautiful city of Amsterdam, and of course, enjoying the European food. After three months, I still hadn’t picked up a lot of Dutch, but luckily I did pick up some European fashion tips to share!
1. Keep it classy
After I got to Amsterdam, it didn’t take long for me to realize the level of sophistication Europeans have when it comes to their clothing. Rarely would I see people wearing leggings and tennis shoes anywhere but the gym.
2. Avoid the labels and big logos
Something very common with American clothes is the placement of the logo in the center of the shirt. In Europe, people are subtler when it comes to their brand of clothing, so avoid huge labels and pick a shirt for the fit or color instead.
3. Stay away from distracting patterns
Simplicity goes a long way, so keep the crazy patterned shirt for lounging around. Instead, go for a classier feel when you get dressed in the morning.
4. You Only Live Once: buy the shoes
If you are going to splurge on anything, it should be a decent pair of shoes. Lots of Europeans, especially those in Amsterdam, love to walk or bike everywhere while still looking very fashionable. This takes investing the extra money in the pair of shoes that will look fabulous and feel amazing all day. As far as the type of shoe goes, ballet flats were popular, along with a nice sandal for the summertime.
5. Jeans etiquette
Jeans are quite popular in Europe, as in America, for their comfort. However, they are styled differently. Instead of tight and low rise jeans, the Europeans keep them fitted and higher than most of the waistlines here. Pairing jeans with a nice pair of shoes and top would be common during the weekends.
6. Hats, hats and more hats
The European women are very careful when it comes to taking care of their skin. Most of them will throw on a hat when walking outside, as they believe it’s important to protect their skin from the sun. Wide brimmed hats are very popular and keep a girl cool.
7. Have your own sense of style
It doesn’t take the most expensive brands to be unique. Wear what makes you happy, that’s all that counts.