Why I’ll Never Be A T-Shirt Tourist Again

T-shirts are almost the equivalent of the American flag. I grew up with a closet bursting with t-shirts and tennis shoes. When my family went on vacation, we had our matching t-shirts. Some days we wore tie-dye t-shirts and other days we wore our Veggie Tale t-shirts. (I wore Bob the Tomato.)

The matching t-shirt thing was a way to keep track of our family.

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While I traveling for a year, I noticed that for every nationality there was a corresponding tourist trend. Asians clung to their umbrellas and selfie sticks on the sunniest of days while Eastern Europeans teetered on sky high heels and masked their faces in perfect makeup. American spotting was easy, too. Just look for the t-shirts, sweatpants, or cargo pants.

Granted, these are all extreme tourists, but I saw them. They are alive and well.

Why I’ll Never Be A T-shirt Tourist Again

1. Beautiful Place = Beautiful Clothes

I’ll never be a t-shirt tourist again because I want my clothes to fit the beautiful location that I’m visiting.

Finally, the Eiffel Tower. One of the most iconic sights in the world. A photo is snapped. It’s not until a few months later that you see the picture and wish you’d been wearing something other than that beat-up, old t-shirt.

Dress nicely when you plan to see a world wonder. It’ll make your Instagram photos more glamorous and your own memories more sparkly. Beautiful you dressed beautifully in a beautiful place. What could be better?

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2. Feel/Look Good = Confidence

I’ll never be a t-shirt tourist again because I don’t feel beautiful/confident in a t-shirt.

Different language. New smells. A public transportation system that makes no sense. A foreign city crowds your senses with so much to take in and explore. So much.

If you look good, you feel good. Dress well so even if you become more tangled than a plate full of spaghetti in Italy, you will have no qualms approaching a handsome Italian for help. After all, you look nice. Even if you’re lost.

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3. Travel = Lots of Pictures

I’ll never be a t-shirt tourist again because when I’m traveling I want even accidental photo bombs to look nice.

The camera is always out and ready when you’re on vacation or wandering the streets of a new-to-you place. Photos are constantly being snapped of you, of the street sign and half of you, of the statue and your foot, of the meal and your mid-section. A mine field of awkward photography of you.

Choose a simple but classy and comfortable outfit for your city wandering. Half of those terrible photos will begin to seem like an artsy capture of you.

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4. T-shirts = American

I will never be a t-shirt tourist again because it stereotypes me as an American in seconds.

Americans fear standing out in a foreign country because they’re afraid of becoming targets for pick-pockets and thieves (a worthwhile fear). Americans dress down, wearing t-shirts and tennis shoes to, in their minds, blend in. Maybe you’ll argue that the t-shirts are for comfort and the cargo pants are secure for your important documents, but this clothing is like wearing a neon sign stating, “I’m American.”

To blend into foreign cities, especially in Europe, dress nicely but practically. A nice pair of jeans with a blouse for women, and for men, pants that fit appropriately (not too loose or too tight) and a shirt. Europeans are rarely sloppy and look as though they thought about their outfit.

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***To every rule, there is an exception. T-shirts are acceptable and appropriate for festivals, gyms, home, and schooling systems. If you don’t find yourself in these circumstances, please don’t wear a t-shirt.

 

Why would you be a t-shirt tourist?

What other reasons can you think of for not being a t-shirt tourist?