| Poland
Youth and young adults are enthralled with denim in Poland, so
jeans are perfectly acceptable as long as they are not ripped, torn,
or dirty looking. Women in their 20s and older generally wear nice
clothing when going to cities and towns, so take along a pair of
khaki or dressier pants/skirts and a few nice blouses (not see-through
or revealing, though). Leather shoes are quite popular, either sandals
in summer or clog-type shoes year round. Wearing clothing with English
words on it is not bad at all for foreigners, as the English language
is very "in" at the moment. In winter, bring WARM sweaters and heavy
socks - it gets mighty chilly. If you plan on staying with a Polish
family be sure to bring a pair of houseshoes or slippers, as it
is thought that without properly covered feet, you will become sick.
Lynnsey, Tallahassee, USA
Especially in towns other than Warsaw: the women wear cotton skirts
(like a dirndl) a few inches above the ankle, usually flowered,
easy flowing with flat shoes, either sandals or loafer types. They
wear short sleeve blouses, mostly white, or a plain tee shirt with
these skirts. In Warsaw, more women wear long pants however the
skirt is always most appropriate. I found myself wearing my same
longer mid calf swirl skirt all the time, especially when touring
churches, etc... For gifts, the women in the surrounding country
and villages love any material that is white. They also love to
receive white blouses because they wear them so much to church,
shopping, etc.
Wanda, Salt Lake City, USA
I've spent a lot of time in Poland as a teacher and therefore have
interacted quite a lot with teenagers. Polish teens wear jeans,
T-shirts and fun colored shirts. For teenagers and young adults,
leggings are in (2010). Wear them under a shirt, skirt or pair of
shorts. Sandals are huge there, too but make sure they have traction.
In the summer there is a big chance of rain and cobblestones are
slippery. In a smaller city or village be more modest than you would
in a larger city like Warsaw or Krakow. The teens in smaller cities
dress the same as they do in Krakow or Warsaw, but the adults wear
darker colors, usually a black top with matching bottom. Skirts
are a safe bet, but so are jeans at any age. The women in Poland
appear aloof but are actually really sweet people.
Emily, Dallas, USA
Portugal
In Portugal don't wear jeans, and sneakers. Nothing screams AMERICAN
louder. The women are very well dressed, pants suits in the city,
skirts and long sleeves in the countyside. Any woman over the age
of 30 should stick to dark colors. We saw black everywhere-even
in summer. My best advice: a black light weight cotton skirt, and
a 3/4 sleeve knit tee, or a cotton camp shirt. Nothing to tight.
Simple, stylish jewelry and hair.
Terri, Des Plaines, USA
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican women have a completly different idea of chic than
American women do. Partly because of the climate and partly because
of the culture women here dress very revealingly and sexy. Women
of all sizes and ages wear short skirts, skimpy tops, huge dangly
earrings, and super high heels all at the same time. As with most
Latin countries, be prepared to be stared at/honked at by men if
you are wearing short shorts or skirts. On the other hand, Puerto
Ricans are very used to foreigners with a more laid back style.
You won't blend in as much, but wearing just a normal pair of shorts
or a skirt with a fitted t-shirt and flipflops is perfectly acceptable.
Ashley, Chicago, USA
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