What Foreigners Need To Know About America From A To Z: How to Understand Crazy American Culture, People, Government, Business, Language and More by Lance Johnson

Author:Lance Johnson [Johnson, Lance]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781623462352
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2012-11-10T05:00:00+00:00

DRESSING TIPS FOR FOREIGNERS

Because of our cultural diversity, Americans are generally accepting of foreigners who dress differently. However, foreign-born Americans who have assimilated our dressing styles can be the harshest critics of the clothing of newly arrived or uninformed members of their culture. Don’t be surprised if one of them offers you dressing advice without your asking for it.

Foreign Women Survey – When foreign-born women were asked in a survey to name the four most common dressing errors they see committed by their fellow women in the U.S., this was their response, starting with the most serious mistake. (They are common to American women in general.) If you are not sure about your outfit, a sales clerk will offer his or her opinion if you ask for it.

1. Wearing colors that are wrong for their coloring or features.

2. Wearing cuts that are wrong for their proportions and/or size.

3. Dressing inappropriately for the occasion.

4. Wearing clearly outdated styles. You can refer to fashion magazines (listed at end of this chapter) and go to various websites with current and forecasted trends, such as www.trendstop.com.

Common Dressing Errors – To add to these dressing problems, fashion consultants say the following are some of the most common “errors”—by American standards at least—that are made by uninformed foreigners in the U.S.

• Casual Footwear – Flip-flops (cheap thong-type sandals) and flimsy house-type shoes should be reserved only for the most casual situations. House slippers should never be worn outside of the home.

• Cheap Garments – Cheap, flimsy, and poorly cut clothing can cause a person to be perceived as lower class or unprofessional. Newly arrived immigrants tend to shop in immigrant-owned stores that might carry inexpensive clothing.

• Childlike Choices – Adults should not wear childish hair ornaments, ponytail holders, and barrettes with eye-catching ribbon, sequins, and beads. As for clothing, images of cartoon characters, teddy bears, puppies, kittens, and some floral prints may be fun but are best reserved for children under 15 years old.

• Copying Others – Not all Americans use proper English grammar, as you will learn in Chapter Y. The same is true with the way we dress. Ask questions, use your judgment, and do some research before you commit to something you are not comfortable with. When in doubt, choose conservative styles and colors.

• Furs – Some Americans are opposed to people wearing fur coats made from animal skins. They might give you a nasty look if you are wearing one.

• Hair Styles – Choosing a beauty parlor in an ethnic American community might lead to inappropriate styling advice. Find an established salon outside that area where stylists are up-to-date in American styles.

• Knock-offs – Watch for cheap imitations of famous designs. Their cheap construction signals you are trying to appear affluent with a fake item. Also, be aware it is illegal to copy or buy these copyrighted fake designs.

• Makeup – Makeup artists at cosmetic counters at major department stores will provide a “makeover” for you at no charge. It is important you communicate to them your own likes and dislikes in makeup.

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