Fashion Faux Pas committed overseas

One of the amazing things about travelling is that knowing that you don't have to see anyone you meet ever again, you are free to be a bit more daring, or even shameless. This can include anything from being a drunken idiot, ranting on about anything and everything or even looking like a total tool. Whatever you do whilst travelling has no consequences, and so it provides a unique opportunity to let your freak flag fly. While I am always one to seize the opportunity to freak it up, my travel fashion choices are certainly something that should NEVER be repeated in the real world, especially in a world where it is necessary to pretend to be normal. Also, being the exotic and exciting foreigner, my whiteness (or in the US, my accent) made such fashion disasters less of an issue. In Australia, attempting to enter a club or a nice bar in anything less than a fanny skimmer and some fancy shoes is simply unthinkable, however whilst overseas I went clubbing in crocs, thongs, t-shirts (with yellow pit stains even!) and hippie pants. While I don't regret any of my clothing decisions from the past year, traveller fashion does not have a place in the real world.

Hippie Pants

These fashion shockers are also known as MC Hammer pants, poo catchers or harem pants, all of which are synonymous for ugly and unflattering. That's right, no matter if you are Miranda Kerr or Susan Boyle, hippie pants are the most unflattering style in the world and they are essentially the antithesis of fashion. Favoured by hippies, wannabe hippies and unemployed people, these pants do not belong in civilised society amongst people who don't want to look like an idiot. In their defense however, hippie pants are oh so comfortable. So comfortable even, that I still stash a few pairs in the bottom of my closet for the next time I venture to a place where looking like an idiot is not an issue.

I guess there's a spectrum of hippie pants, with some being at least a bit presentable, and others looking absolutely awful. I think I still have a few pairs, although they are developing holes and I am just letting them die peacefully without feeling the need to replace them.

The bear jacket

On a freezing cold night out in the middle of the Nevada desert in Black Rock City, while I shivered away, a friendly and lovely man gave me a large, fake fur jacket and told me it was a gift. I was thrilled. For many more cold nights, both at Burning Man and back in Cholula and especially in Chihuahua, this enormous, bear-like jacket was the toastiest and most comfortable saviour from the cold that I ever could have dreamed of. It was, however, not the most fashionable garment in my closet. Far from it. While enormous fur jackets are supposedly all the rage amongst fashionistas in Europe right now (a few months ago), this is a classic case demonstrating that the big fashion houses don't always get it right. Of course, it was probably intended that such a jacket would be rocked by a 6 foot 4 model with a long neck and even longer, fleshless legs rather than a short, stumpy legged me with a rugby-player-like neck; however even at its best, the bear jacket is probably one fashion trend to forget.

I really miss that jacket. Granted it wasn't super flattering on me in particular, I just really like it. I hope I can find another one next time I am somewhere cold.

White trash, fur lined jacket

Desperation and the cold does funny things to people (see above). When I found myself in Antigua, Guatemala and the sun began to dip, a frantic search through the markets ensued and finally a jacket was found. Unfortunately, the markets of Guatemala are not reknowned for high fashion (unless it's high fashion from the ghetto of the 90s) and I wasn't exactly blown away by the selection. However, time was ticking and as the temperature dropped, that hood and fur lining started to look very tempting. Oh! and in how many ways did that jacket fail as a fashion item! Let's start with the fact that it was white. White anything is always a bad idea for anyone except and OCD clean freak; even more so as an outer garmet, doomed to be the first contact with the dirt from chicken buses, nightclubs and the real world. Combined with the cream coloured fur lining, the cropped length and quilted exterior, you have one real shocker of an outfit.

And finally... everyone's favourite. CROCS


These fabulous shoes are the world's most comfortable, practical and, err... UNFASHIONABLE footwear around. That doesn't stop me however, from rocking these babies when I slob around the house, travel, hike mountains, walk down the street, go to class and head out to the bar. And unlike the other fashion uh-ohs above, crocs were a fashion staple before Mexico and they still would be were it not for the fact that due to my walking style and complete overuse, both previous pairs of crocs have sprung holes (curiously in the exact same spot on only one foot) and are unwearable. So although these are truly the biggest fashion faux pas that can possibly be committed, I still hunt on ebay for my idea crocs and dream of the day when I can once again slip those puppies on my dirty, retarded feet.

Overall I would say that it's not all so bad. Generally though, I have found that looking like an unwashed hippie in Crocs probably isn't the best look when travelling. Sure, it's comfortable gear that dries quickly and is practical, but it really does make you stand out like a sore thumb. 

I think it's just good to pack normal clothes that you would wear day to day when travelling. That way there is likely to be something nice in the case that there's something special on to look good for, and it doesn't look stupid.