How can I dress like a Spanish person?

[OptimismvsRealism]

Going there for a bit (Andalusia) and I'd like to not look like a big fat Brit even though that's what I am. I have a lot of stuff from Zara but fear I still wear it Britishly.

Are you Spanish or Spanish passing? Is there anything you'd recommend doing or avoiding?

Thank you. That's interesting. So basically quite dull. And, given some of the clothes I've noticed you giving the thumbs up for, not something you'd personally aim for?

That was definitely me. From the pavement cafe breakfast to tapas at midnight, I was in summer hiking gear (t shirt and cropped trousers and a waterproof that stayed in my rucksack) and slightly more dressier in the evening, but there were a lot of Spaniards in jeans and puffa jackets, huddled around the patio heaters, despite the daytime temperature being above 20 C and not much lower in the early morning or evenings.

I know a lot of Spaniard and think they dress pretty weird tbh, but we are in Scotland. They all look set for the Antarctic most of the time. Many moons ago I shared a flat with a girl from southern Spain, she wore a duffle coat at breakfast, probably not the look you’re going for. 😂

My opinion is that no continental woman aspires to looks “pretty”. (This is especially the case in Spain and Italy.) They aspire to look beautiful, handsome, gorgeous, alluring, sexy. But never pretty. Little girls are dressed to look pretty / ingenue. Women own their womanliness. This means they look at their bodies with honest eyes and dress accordingly with a view to achieving the above look.

British women aspire to look cool, pretty, unobjectionable, fashionable, practical, comfortable, decent.

The best dressed British women, imo, are those who just dgaf: those young, drunk women wearing awful heels and tiny dresses and too much make up have a British style that’s completely unique, totally punk. Just loving life with total lack of self consciousness. They’re laughing and crying, hobbling around, freezing but loving life and themselves and each other. You don’t find young women like that anywhere else. Last time I said this on MN I got slaughtered! But I maintain my position. It’s not about clothes. It’s about style.

😂 thanks for that now I have the mercadona theme tune stuck in my head for the rest of the day

🎶 merca 🎵 don a🎶

😂

I think everyone dresses quite dully outside of big cities—and probably most of the people in cities too, it's just you have a higher concentration of people who are interested in fashion in cities (most people aren't). I see lots of interesting outfits when I go to Lisbon.

I live in a rural area and work from home, so have few opportunities to wear all the outfits I would like to, but I do like my clothes to be good quality and interesting, even my yoga kit. I love floating around at home in a kaftan or duster jacket.

The young immigrants in Western Algarve are all surfers, and have two looks—wetsuits or rag bag. When I visit those friends for lunch I feel overdressed in jeans.

Eastern Algarve has wealthy immigrants, so you suddenly start seeing flash cars, fancy handbags and a lot of crisp white shirts and designer sunglasses. The look that people imagine all Southern Europeans dress like, except it's actually poncey Brits, Dutch, Germans and French.

Yes but you will not enjoy your holiday as far too warm!

Exactly! Where do all these rules come from? That’s what I like about the British style, anything and everything goes, as someone has said before - proper punk attitude. There’s plenty of time to resort to the ‘only wear soft neutral colours’ gang, or the ‘wash and set once a week’ gang - better still never surrender! I’d rather be a Zandra Rhodes than an identikit ‘crisp white shirt and cashmere jumper’ set.

I have been through phases of wanting to be a chic European woman (yes, before anyone says anything I know Britain is part of Europe but when I say European, I mean French, Italian or Spanish usually). The ones who are so fond of neutrals and seem to waft through life like a perfume advert, making us sturdy and pasty Anglo-Saxons feel less in every which way. I admit to still having such moments when wandering through the streets of Malaga, but as I age I feel that I want to reclaim my fashion heritage. I say bring on the clashing bold prints, the mismatched clothes and the 'frazzled English woman', as whenever I've tried the whole white shirt, trench coat, slip on shoes type affair, I've never really felt like me IYSWIM. Admittedly, the Brits abroad are often less put together than their European counterparts (and that's putting it kindly) but I kind of like that whole two fingers up to conservative conformism and season appropriate, age appropriate, understated style. The British have always been a more contrary bunch than their European neighbours, in every sense, and in some ways I quite like the fact that we express this in our attire.

I'm scruffy-lookin' no matter what I wear, probably because I'm always fiddling with my hair and jewellery, or rubbing my face, so I can never keep looking neat. I can't pull off immaculate in any way.

That fancy immaculate look is kind of a rich people thing anyway. The only place I've ever seen it in the wild among a broad demographic was Rome—I was there for work and even the waiters and security guards were wearing a perfectly crisp and clean white shirt. I was running around like a blue-arsed fly in the Summer heat, face caked in mineral sunscreen, carrying filming equipment, and looked like I'd been dragged behind a chariot in the Coliseum.

I've noticed that people who can pull off that look (and this includes Roman security guards) do it by not exerting themselves—rich people don't need to break a sweat unless they're in the gym. I have two speeds—zero and a thousand miles an hour, and my face ends up dripping. Not chic.

@TigathaChristie I say bring on the clashing bold prints, the mismatched clothes and the 'frazzled English woman', as whenever I've tried the whole white shirt, trench coat, slip on shoes type affair, I've never really felt like me IYSWIM agreed, I like elements of these clothes, but altogether, I feel dull and not myself. It doesn't look chic, it looks boring.

You should wear a beautiful black lacy flamenco dress, and use maracas as a frequent musical flourish. 💃 🪇

To be really authentic you need to add some castanets...

...and use them instead of speaking as your accent may give the game away.

I have been studying this since the thread yesterday (in Rome and it’s about 25 degrees). There are no Spaniards or Italians wearing voluminous flowery frocks, none not one.

also no three quarter length trousers (kind of walking ones) and no hair tied up unless very long and luxuriant hair. No straggly pony tails on middle aged women definitely not .

no middle aged footballers knees in shorts. And I say that as someone who owns two such knees.

I am not judging I am merely observing.

But they're so comfy :(

I dont think that’s true, Brits equate hot weather with reducing clothing coverage. But the hottest countries wear more clothes.

Don’t sell yourselves short.

I know quite a few Spanish women and I’d say my British friends have more style.

Spanish women often have good posture too , they don’t slouch. It’s similar in France. I find I make more of an effort to stand straight when I’m in Spain.

@TorroFerney those 3/4 length trousers are so unflattering, especially when paired with clumpy sandals and a jersey t shirt. Unless maybe you are tall and slim, and then you can get away with most things.

I came on to say just this! I took a school trip to Spain in February and our kids were lounging around on the beach in their shorts while the locals looked on in their puffs jackets!

I used to think that, but I met a woman recently who was wearing them (wide leg 3/4 trousers, looked like wool) with a beautiful high-neck wool jumper and some chunky silver jewellery. She had on flat boots and her hair was short. It was a very Toast look but her entire outfit looked great. This was in London btw.

I get what you’re asking. I always dress carefully when visiting Spanish cities and plan my outfit in advance. I avoid showing too much flesh and the type of clothing that is really beachwear. Given that I’m middle aged now, I prefer to look like the people who live and work in the city rather than an escapee from the beach.

I find the Spanish very stylish on the whole and clothes are often made from natural fabrics and better cut than on the British high street.

If it’s autumn I choose a nice dress with sleeves such as I might wear to work here perhaps with flat shoes (not trainers) or boots. ( the western boot trend in sand or tan suede is helpful for wearing with midi/ maxi dresses). If colder, I add a trench coat or knitted jacket. Or maybe well cut trousers or light jeans and a shirt or blouse. H and M have some gorgeous pure cotton blowsy type shirts ( like Darcy in pride and prejudice 😁) at the moment that are both cool and pretty.

Do you think there are threads in Italy/Spain/France with women saying I'm visiting Manchester how can I look less French/Italian/Spanish?

Perhaps they're given advice to go to Primark and buy a load of mismatched polyester clothing and wear too much make up.

I don't know why some Brits beat themselves up over looking British. When I was in Rome last Easter everyone was wearing a long trench, shapeless jeans and chunky trainers. I didn't see any smart chic Roman women.

They also have the same shops as us so gawd knows where they're supposedly buying all their neutral natural fibres -Zara, H&M?I don't think so.

Op go to Valencia, enjoy and own your Britishness. I didn't see any chic women when I was there but I did enjoy eating ridiculously cheap tomato toast in El Cortes Ingles

El Corte Inglés literally means ‘the English cut’, Brits should be proud!