Standing out like a tourist...

[BAwithkids]

Other than the obvious (cameras, talking loudly in English, etc.), what makes one stand out as a tourist in BA?

Are there kinds of clothes that aren't generally worn by portenos (for example, my husband thinks he shouldn't bring shorts because they're rarely worn...)? Other things that are common that we wouldn't think of?

Also, how do women generally dress when working at a university? Is it pretty formal (suits), casual (jeans), or somewhere in between?

We'll be there for a full year, so need to pack for all seasons and want to pack what we'll actually want to wear! Thanks.

 

[Hellek]

People are generally dressed quite well, in the upper social clases at least.

Leaving aside short-lived trends of youth culture, the general dresscode is like in Europe or the US. If you are working at a generally more formal department like law or business administration, a formal dresscode will be expected.

Anyway, one really important thing for your personal safety (against pickpockets, etc.) is how you behave. If you stroll around apparently looking for orientation, that's bad. If you know where you are, where you are going and what is happening around you (or atleast behave as if you would know it) you will be a lot less likely to become a target.

 

[sesamosinsal]

Other than the obvious (cameras, talking loudly in English, etc.), what makes one stand out as a tourist in BA?

Are there kinds of clothes that aren't generally worn by portenos (for example, my husband thinks he shouldn't bring shorts because they're rarely worn...)? Other things that are common that we wouldn't think of?

Also, how do women generally dress when working at a university? Is it pretty formal (suits), casual (jeans), or somewhere in between?

We'll be there for a full year, so need to pack for all seasons and want to pack what we'll actually want to wear! Thanks.

I'm the worst at this. I'm wearing flip flops and short-sleeved shirt alongside the people in their winter coats. Really, anything goes here...

 

[PhilipDT]

Safari shirtst tucked in to cargo shorts w/sun hats = tourist.

 

[elhombresinnombre]

To be honest, I think it's as much about psychology and body-language as tailoring. Argentine-made clothing is cut differently and fits differently and suits the Argentine temperament - yet Argentines wearing imported designer labels etc still look distinctively Argentinean and usually gorgeously so (the men and the women!) Whatever you choose to wear, it's the way that you wear it that counts. Shorts and loud colours won't necessarily mark you out as North American (brash, young Argentines wear them too) but away from the beach and the park it's kinda disrespectful to the way other people are living their lives.

If you want to prepare yourselves, browse google images on buenos aires people or similar and thumb through the on-line newspapers like http://www.clarin.com/ and http://www.lanacion.com.ar/ and you'll see how everyone, from ordinary people through stars to politicians choose to dress.

Watch some on-line TV such as http://www.tvpublica.com.ar/tvpublica canal 7 and http://tn.com.ar/ too.

Hint: if you find yourself watching canal trece just remember that most people don't dress on the street the way they do on Showmatch or Bailando por un Sueño

 

[Cheng]

One thing that we heard so much about before we came was how formally the Argentinians dress. This might be so in a professional setting but out on the streets, anything goes. It seems like people are more informal than formal. Shorts are perfectly acceptable and everyone wears skinny jeans, from old ladies to young teenagers.

 

[PhilipDT]

If you really don't want to be seen as a foreigner, grow a mullet. You'll either be argentine or from a southern US trailerpark in the 80s

 

[MorganF]

What gives me away as an American:

Smiling.

 

[MizzMarr]

Don't read your maps in public (unless it's consulting your Guia-T) and definitely don't carry around an English guide book. Fanny packs, collapsable sun hats and shiny new backpacks are another typical giveaway. They also say that carrying around a bottle of water will signify you as a tourist/foreigner, but personally I can't stand being without my liquids so to hell with it.