Looking like a local in Greece?

Question

I was wondering if there is any difference between Locals and tourists that are obvious give aways you're a tourist such as apparel. How do you blend in , is there is a difference between fashion in US/Canada vs. Greece?

Answer 1

Generally talking fashion (at least street fashion) is not that different.

Usually tourists go in big groups and also do not look lile Greeks sometimes and it's not because of what they're wearing.

Answer 2

Some things that make tourists stand out as tourists are sunburn, backpacks, hats, holding maps & bottles of water and for US tourists in particular, teva sandals!

Answer 3

It's not so much the fashion, as it is everything else.

A tourist will walk in the sun.

A Greek will walk in the shade.

A tourist will drink beer while walking down the street.

A Greek wont.

When ordering, a tourist will point to the price on the menu, and be very cautious about money.

A Greek will order 5 different things, buy people at other tables drinks, if they know them even just a bit, and leave a hefty tip.

Tourists get absolutely wasted by drinking.

Greeks very rarely do this.

Mature tourists are quiet.

The older Greeks are very loud, and talk over each other.(and the young too)

When a tourist fights with their friends, the friendship is gone.

When a Greek fight with their friends, they are still friends. They just had a fight, that's all.

The list goes on and on...

Answer 4

Older US tourists can be spotted a mile away!

Too old to be dressed so casually - impeccably clean - not a black dress in sight! 70 yr olds in sports shoes - track suits and sun visors. OAP men with shorts - socks and sandals

They all look so cute!!! Saw loads in Arachavo once (coach trips) One old woman saw the fruit display in a taverna and helped herself to the fruit - the taverna owner was left open mouthed as they all left with free fruit! hehe You go girls!

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I was in Nafplion on Saturday night and watched the tourists - most were under dressed (in the evenings) compared to the Greeks (especially the Greeks who were there for weddings!) The also sat with their feet on chairs! The backpack gave things away. Basically the 'look' - hair styles/ jewellery/ clothes / mannerisms labeled the person foreign (by a mile away). Stopped at Delphi on the way back - again cute old women in their sun visors and sports shoes - didn't see anyone steal fruit this time!

Answer 5

If you didnt know, with the exception of many American fashion companies,  most fashion in US/Canada comes from Europe. European fashion and clothing style usually tends to be ahead of American one. I remember one time i was watching this Greek show last year about fashion and there was this fashion stylist who was helping this lady get rid of un-needed items in her closet, and she is like "dont wear boots that are sharp in the front that style was gone long time ago", meanwhile that was the style of what most girls here in the US wore at the time.

But yeah other than that i would say American and European fashion have far more similarities than differences:)

lol its usually not hard to tell the difference between a tourist and a local. A tourist would most likely walk speaking a different language, would probably have one of those tourist handbags and photo or video cameras. If you dont want people to see you as a tourist, then just dont have all the things i just wrote, it has nothing to do with clothes as long as you are not dressed as something completely foreign & unsual. But if you dont speak Greek or at least proper Greek, i think anyone that you get in contact with will think that you are not a local.

Answer 6

Obvious differences between locals and tourists...as those above mentioned,

You'll stand out more in the villages rather than the cities.  If you're going to be in a single place for a while, blending in comes down to doing what the locals do.  Speaking Greek without an abominable accent helps too!

If you're going for a holiday, you're going there to have fun so you shouldn't worry about this stuff.

Answer 7

don't wear shorts w/sneakers!! also when you go out, everyone gets dressed up.  make-up is almost a necessity when you even go to the supermarket!! lol  also, Greece has changed over the years w/alot of foreigners now living there, so blending in won't really be a problem.

Answer 8

All of the above answers are right. Is also important to keep in mind greek women do not wear shorts unless near water, on vacation.

Long tight jeans and a shoulder handbag is fine for younger women in a casual morning outing.

For 30+ women or evening outing, make up is a must.

More formal wear, such as skirts (no more than 1 inch above the knee) and high heels (or modern sandals) are also along the "norm".Also long tight jeans is fine.Somehow local women never wear shorts even in the hottest days, (but deep V neck shirts  are fine and acceptable)

A stylish bag along with well done hair and nails  completes the picture (as long as you keep your mouth shut, LOL)