As an American in Europe I had felt like an outsider, by Raquel Collins

By the time I had been in Spain for two weeks I could feel myself conforming to the ways of Spanish society. I was beginning to dress like them, have tapas for dinner and drink little coffees. By a month in I had my own tabaco—I even rolled like the Spanish, and my wardrobe began to consist mainly of Zara. I wore a shoulder bag to school instead of a backpack, and my clothes were more fitted and posh. I even started watching Elite… but all of this was and is expected of me, given that we as westerners have a tendency to conform to the ways of society so we don’t appear as a foreigner. As an American in Europe I had felt like an outsider and wanted to be enculturated into the Spanish norms, so I changed the way I was perceived in order to do so. Societally in Europe, everyone dresses more posh and professional always, even to just grab a coffee or walk their dog, where as in the states people wear more casual clothing, such as asthelsuire. As stated in the Valley Magazine by Alyssa Opris; “one stark difference between America and Europe — style is more valued by Europeans as a whole, but people in America don’t mind as long as it’s comfortable.” Perhaps this plays into the whole sterotype of american’s being lazy and at times “unhealthy”, while the europeans have a more sophisticated and clean asthetic. Moreover, as a way of managing anxiety and preserving self effacement, we confrom to society by blending in. Maybe we just want a sense of belonging, or cope with anxiety, or want to be enculturated, but regardless, it’s fun to be inspired to dress differently, dress up and maybe even appear european. However, self preservation and expression can still be maintained while trying to achieve a kind of european look, which may just be the beauty of fashion and style. While I conform to the ways of this society, I still maintain my sense of self as I wear pieces that I actually like and will continue to wear even when I'm home, so perhaps this is just the beginning of the European me. http://www.valleymagazinepsu.com/the-casual-american-vs-the-formal-european/

My sister and myself wearing more european clothing (Zara) such as leather jackets and Sambas

Gym Etiquette in Spain, by Sergio Castro

I was lucky enough to live in an apartment building with many other students in the building. As part of the amenities there is a pool, a gym, an elevator, among other things. When I got to Spain I was really surprised at how people interact in the building, more specifically at the gym. In the U.S people mostly ignore each other at the gym. If you need a spotter, you ask somebody you know or you don’t ask. I see the same people at the gym every day in the U.S and to be honest we’ve never said hi to each other. In the building it's very different, I’ve been asked plenty of times for a spot. People I only saw one day, say hi to me the next time they see me. They also don’t shy away for asking to take turns on the machine or asking if you are done. The elevator experience is also really different. I get in and people say good night, hi, or any other kind of cordial meeting. At my school, people just get in and start using their phone. So it’s a really friendly and neighborly type of living. I really enjoyed living at my building this past semester. People were really kind and open to talk. There was also a lot activities at the building to get to know one another.

There wereIMG_3203 1.PNG people at the gym so I could not take a photo of it but that is the view.

Who doesn't love a trendy piece of clothing?

Until coming to Spain, I found it very difficult to find a store that catered to my specific fashion needs.
Most recently, in the US, I went back to school shopping and I could not believe my eyes at some of the clothing that they were selling in the stores. What was considered culturally trendy in the US was honestly very unflattering to me at the time. However others in my culture, like my younger brother, loved the clothing.
When I first came to Sevilla, I immediately noticed two brands: Massimo Dutti and Mango Man. These two shops sell what I consider to be my ideal clothing style: casual but refined clothing. Within my first month here, I spent about 500 euros on clothing because I knew I could not get the same type of fashion in the US.
The difference in fashion preference between the US and Spain -- or more generally Europe -- is one that is widely talked about in international circles. In Sevilla specifically, as an American, it is very easy for me to tell who is an American and who is not. Fashion choices can indicate a lot about an individual including their profession, cultural interests, hygiene level and etc.
I believe fashion choices are a direct correspondence of a society's overarching culture. For example, in America, you will frequently see people running errands and even going to work in extremely casual clothing (sweatpants, etc.). This is because in our culture we are extremely individualistic, do not care for others' opinions and we are typically rushing around doing errands all day. In Spain, however, as an American, it seems that everyone is always well dressed. I can attribute this to a more collectivistic, slower-paced society that is focused on enjoyment.

At this link, you can read more on this topic!"

Dressed to Impress, by Victoria Leguizamo

When first coming to Seville I noticed a difference in food, pace of life, people´s mannerisms, and above all the fashion. Arriving to the airport in leggings and a t-shirt after a long day of travel from the US, I was surprised to see people around me wearing dresses and collared shirts. This was always such a bizarre concept to me as in America, airport fashion and fashion, in general, is focused on convenience and comfort. From the airport to school, people in the US are typically seen wearing sweatpants, sweatshirts, or athleisure clothing. In Seville, there is a drastic difference in everyday clothing style. Business casual is much more popular here and can be seen in almost all the main clothing stores in the city. It was interesting to see how many Zara´s were located just in the city center in my first couple of weeks here and learning in my Spanish History class that the brand actually originated in Spain, which might have influenced fashion. Spanish people, specifically in Seville, appear to dress fancier and have a very put together style that could relate to their different cultural norms. For example, in Spain it is common for social gatherings to occur outside of the home at restaurants or cafes. This creates more of a separation between at home life vs. outside life that could bleed into the fashion choices people make. Because going out to meet up with friends is more of an event, it might be more of an implicit norm for Spaniards to dress up more and look their best. Whereas in America, socializing often happens within the home, where people invite their friends over for sleepovers, to watch movies, and for other activities. Thus, leaving the house might be less special for an American, where they can wear the same comfy clothes inside as outside. I think the general emphasis on convenience and the on-the-go mentality in America heavily contributes to the relaxed style so prominent in our culture.

Outside source: https://oriettapolo.com/2021/01/19/how-is-european-fashion-different-from-american-fashion/

How Is European Fashion Different from American Fashion? While there are a few distinct differences in American vs. European fashion, there are certainly a lot of similarities as well. It’s hard to avoid these similarities or even completely ignore them considering that most of the world’s fashion trends are created by the same large conglomerate companies. oriettapolo.com