'Dress Code' Life  

Dress Code

ReeseW from USA -

My friend told me that I should not wear shorts and sandals because it will make me look like a tourist. I know when I have visit places in the states that what most people wear. I don't understand why wearing shorts in a place with a climate like Panama would label you as a tourist. Do Panama have a dress code? Also, what other clothing items are off limits?

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Reply #1 Copeland from USA -

There are different cultural norms of dress code that are acceptable or unacceptable. The dress code varies depending on the part of world. For example, unless at the beach or at a resort, the only people that you will see wearing shorts are probably teenagers and tourists.

Jeans are fine but women tend to typically wear them with dressier shirts. Sandals are perfectly fine but be aware that people there don't use Birkenstock's or those beachy sandals with Velcros. White socks with sandals is a definitely NO for both men and women.

Because of the humidity, wearing light weight fabrics is key. Personally, unless I know that I will be in air conditioning like for 90% of the time, I also avoid clothes that have lining. If you go to a restaurant or a club in the evening, people tend to dress more casual.

Personally, it's really your choice to make on how to dress for the trip.

Reply #2 DaConciousChick (1) from USA -

The dress code not very strict in Panama. It's just that some clothes or actions may label you as a tourists. You will not be single out or ridicule for wearing certain clothes. Panama city is a large cosmopolitan city, where people are used to seeing all kinds of people and clothing

Reply #3 Stephanie from Arizona -

Personally I wouldn't care what I wear when I'm on vacation. If people think that I'm a tourist just by what I'm wearing, then so be it. It doesn't bother me in the least.

Reply #4 MsBeth2U from Deep South, Ga -

No, it really don't matter to me neither. I really don't like flashing my camera.

Reply #5 Copeland from USA -

Well, I wear alot of t-shirts and jeans during the warm months. I will dress a little more dressy for dinner. So when I'm on vacation I usually wear shorts and t-shirts.

Reply #6 Lee from Montevideo, Uruguay -

"it doesn't bother me in the least". Unfortunately tourists are easy targets for crime and "overcharging" in many places. The more you blend in the better [if your still having fun].

Reply #7 rowena105 from Hogstown, The Universe -

May I ask why you would be worried to be labelled as a tourist if that's what you are going to be? I mean if you are a tourist why do you feel you need to look different.

I live in a large cosmopolitan city and I see tourists downtown all the time. I don't look down on them I like to see them enjoying my city and I will quite often talk to them to find out where they are from and point out some of the places that they should see while they are visiting.

Reply #8 Jules from Vegas, baby -

When I travel, all that matters to me is comfort. If people see me as a tourist, well, that's what I am! Obviously I would like to blend in as much as possible because I wouldn't want to be an easy target for crime but personally I just want to be able to wear whatever I wanted.

Reply #9 Karen from Texas -

I'll be honest, I do try to find out how the locals dress wherever I'm traveling and try to pack accordingly. Even here in the U.S., there are states that you can be very casual and wear a T-shirt and jeans no problem to a restaurant, other places you do need to dress it up a little. So, if I can find out what the "dress code" is beforehand I'll try to adhere to it.

Reply #10 Tracy from Canada -

I'm with Karen. In the United States East Coasters dress very differently from West Coasters. Californians dress very differently from Washingtonians. It really all does depend on region how conservative or casual the dress is and then climate from there.

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