In the USA, 8 out of 10 women wear leggings or yoga pants. The men often wear shorts and t-shirts, even in winter. If not shorts it usually is jeans or cargo pants. A lot of clothes are bought in cheap stores or even the grocery store. Very few spent money on hairdressers or barber shops.
I think we aren't really aware of our sense of fashion because we don't really think about it. But apart from the U.S. I can see it even compared to countries like Germany and England. You can see that some people there really throw on some jeans and a T-shirt without thought. While here even the young people that wear jeans and t-shirts all the time think about colours and accessories. They add nice sneakers, jewelry and a nice coat. Even a casual look can be put together well. Also women tend to wear dresses more often here. My mom who lives in Germany gets compliments all the time just because she puts on a normal dress with some jewelry that goes with it. In England I often saw little girls but also grown women sometimes just wear leggings and a t-shirt, I've never seen that here. Even little girls wear a dress or skirt with their leggings. As for men, like she said in the video, even their casual clothing often looks very tailored compared to other countries. You can only see the differences if you look at other countries too. I do think that compared to France or Italy we are a bit more casual and practical though. It depends on which country you would compare it to. But I think we are really great at balancing the practical with the fashionable.
Crazy theory but it might have to do with North America's car dependence. In the US you only are in public for small moments of time. Only in the destination itself. while in Europe you will be walking everywhere or taking public transportation.
Often not even at the destination. Besides the globally known drive through take outs like McDonald's, Burger King etc. I've heard about drive through banks, drive through pharmacies. And there might be more. So often they don't have to leave their car.
Sounds very likely. And US poverty might also be to blame. So many people living paycheck to paycheck. What can they afford? So better wear worn out stuff, when you don't have appointments.
I'm Dutch. I don't think baggy clothes are comfortable, I much prefer the feeling of a snug fit. I don't really care about what others wear and I don't care what others think about what I wear, just do you. That said, I do see dressing choices as a reflection of a person as it's a choice they've made, and it is in a way a visual way to get a sense of a person.
I am a Dutch man, and I agree, baggy clothes are not comfortable at al. Clothes that are too big are annoying - not just to look at, but also to wear. I need more reasons to wear a suit 😆
I think a lot of this has to do with climate. If you live in let's say Florida, light, baggy cloths are comfortable because sweat can get out. If you live in a wet, windy and cold climate, tight and isolating cloths are more comfortable, so the fashion is more based on multiple layers with sweaters and coats.
@@Frahamen Maybe people think that is true, but it is not my experience. First, air is a good insulator against cold, so, one would expect baggy clothes to be popular in cold climates as well. Also, the shirt on your skin helps to get rid of excess sweat when it is hot (sport jerseys usually are tight for a reason). If it is hot, I still prefer a nice t-shirt on my skin.
An American coworker of mine once told me: Americans are usually either dressed up or casual, the Dutch are usually in the middle. Kings of utility/dressy casual.
Yes I agree with this 100%! Americans will either wear sweatpants and a t-shirt or dress up for an evening out and go all out with make-up, hair etc. While Dutch people will wear casual clothing but add nice jewelery or shoes and a bag. Or the other way around, they put on a nice dress but leave the hair and make-up very natural.
Also Dutch. I blame the weather 😂. You’ll need layers to be snug and comfy. And with layers it’s easier to look like you matched an outfit in the morning (tree pieces rule). Furthermore: no space for a big closet in most houses so you need to be picky about what you actually want to keep/store. And the old one: never buy an expensive piece (like an Italian wool wintercoat, leather boots with heels, etc) in the trendy colour or in a contrast attention getting colour. Because then you’ll be ‘the woman who wears the evergreen red/green coat’. You buy those pieces in tan, camel, black, grey, navy, white or army green (because timeless) in a classic model (again, timeless) and add colour with inexpensive things like a scarf, sneakers, tote bag or statement earrings. Your vlog reminds me of my one year high school in the US. Being young, we stayed with a guestfamily. The mother just looking at me every morning: ‘Oh sweetheart….just no… don’t wear that cardigan. It’s a beautiful day you don’t need it’ 😂. And then my mom came over for a visit and she thought it was one big sporty family, everyone in leggings, t-shirts and sweatpants 😂😂
Never seen Dutch friends "dress up" except for weddings. Never seen Dutch friends wear makeup or high heels, which I prefer, the relaxed easy going natural look.
It's interesting that most Dutch people aren't really aware of their own sense of fashion. I think it's definitely so ingrained in our culture that we aren't very conscious that we're doing it. But compared to other countries in Europe even I can definitely see it. My parents live in Germany and my mother often looks 'overdressed' just because she puts a nice dress on and puts on some jewelry that fits with it. She gets a lot of compliments on her clothing all the time. I had the same when I lived in England for a while. Just the fact that we tend to look at colour combinations and have our jewelry, shoes or bag fit our clothing is often enough. Also we seem to be a lot braver when it comes to colour choices and certain styles that are more 'out there' for people of these countries. When I was in England, one time, I was asked if I bought my trousers in Camden (which is an area where they sell more alternative clothing) just because they were a hot pink colour. But I bought them in H&M in the Netherlands. I think Dutch people really pay attention to the accessories. When it comes to Americans, I feel they would either wear very comfortable and casual clothing, like jeans or sweatpants and a t-shirt and wear no jewelry or add anything to it. Or they would dress up for a night out and they suddenly go all out with make-up and hair, not very subtle. Dutch people might wear jeans and a t-shirt aswell but tend to put a little attention to their shoes, bag or jewelry that goes with it. When they go out in the evening or go to an event they make sure there is a balance between casual and formal. They might put on a nice dress (which fits well and isn't too short perse) but keep their hair and make-up more simple and natural. Or they might still wear jeans but put a bit more effort in make-up, hair, jewelry, put on some heels to elevate the casual look. It's seldom that someone does it all... the dress, the heels, the hair, the make-up... unless it's for a special or more formal occasion like a wedding. So I think to us Americans often either look underdressed or overdressed.
As an American who moved to NL last year, this has been tough for me. I'm starting to feel some pressure to wear different clothes, even though nobody has said anything about it to me. I think part of it is since I'm new here, I want to fit in. I'm learning Dutch, I partake in cultural and social events, and by extension, I want to fit in visually as well. In the US, I dressed very utilitarian; whatever was comfortable and clean. In the Texas summer, I wore shorts and flip flops 7 days a week for 4-5 months! Heck, sometimes even in winter because it was comfortable. I have a feeling if I went to AH in flip flops in February on a rare winter-sunny day I would be stared at constantly. Maybe not ideal when you're trying to blend in.
we think you are the Dutch equivalent of 'trailer trash' if you go to the Albert Heijn in such clothes.. (unless it's August and it's a supermarket on the Scheveningen Beach obviously)
You would be stared at yes, but more by ppl thinking you are a tourist and took the wrong clothes for the season. Thinks a lot of expats experience are only true in Amsterdam of right next to it. The Netherlands as a country is completely different and its sad expats talk about Amsterdam as it was the compleet country witch isn't even close to the truth. The rest of our country is in most thing 100% different purly bc there are not as much foreners. It is like calling New York United States
@@DaronSpence thats why they would look at you, they would definitely think you are one. Especially in small towns/cities it would not be normal to war summer cloths in the winter
Just be yourself and let them stare! People don't always stare with bad intention. As a Dutch person I like to dress more alternatively or go bare foot. I definitely get stares and comments too! People will ask me if I'm not cold or won't hurt my feet. Somehow they think they can comment even when I don't ask them for it. But I'm not going to change myself because of what other people think. Once in a while I see someone stare (especially children) and smile, they actually like it. This gives me courage to just continue to be myself.
I'm almost 50 so no, I don't have any clothing from high school but I do wear everything as long as possible. And even when it's too worn out to wear in public I still wear old T-shirts at home and I keep a few older pants for when I have to do some painting or gardening.
I also keep older worn-out or damaged clothes to wear at home for cleaning, crafting, diy-projects, gardening, etc. Any activity that might make my clothes really dirty or might damage them. When I wear old clothes like that it isn't an issue if I get bleach, paint or glue on them, or if I damage them in any way.
I went through this in Tokyo. My wardrobe had to change very dramatically while working there. And I have family in the Netherlands who want me to visit... Thanks for the heads up!
I recall an American in Amsterdam asking me for directions - It was snowing at the time and he was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. He explained to me that he hailed from the north of Alaska and used to a far worse climate 😉
I have some friends from there, I can guarantee you he wasn't joking. We Dutch pride ourselves inn the fact we can handle all types of weather but even we have to bow to the Alaskans in that regard.
I’m a Dutch woman and I noticed that the sweatpants some women used to wear all the time is replaced by the sports legging. Usually I saw that happening with teens and and people in their early 20’s but now I see it more often that people wear a sports legging as normal pants. I even saw an older lady of like her mid 40’s-50 wearing a multicolour sports legging with mesh as pants. To be honest I still find it a bit odd but at the same time I’m all for comfy clothes. Now those “pyjama” pants with wide legs is a thing, also for upcoming summer. Honestly I’m looking for one of those too which still look kind of stylish and look nice on me. But that’s because I like more loose fitted clothes in the summer. But yeah every time I see some footage of the US a see a lot of capri leggings, with crocs or similar and a basic wide shirt for women or longer wide shorts with slippers and a shirt for men. Sometimes I think such a pitty but if that makes them happy who am I to judge? The most weird thing though was when I saw a guy on slippers and boxershort in the AH. And I thought going to the AH in your house slippers and bath rope was the most extreme. My mom once told me that she sometimes sees a woman walking her dog early in the morning in orange crocs and pink bath rope 😂
The other day, my neighbor came to me in the evening and asked if I could help her with something at her house. Even though she lives just a few houses away, I felt the need to change my outfit from a big t-shirt with leggings to a casual summer dress. I never thought about that being a cultural thing.
Dutchie living now in Luxembourg. I must admit that after the Covid I have now the tendency to always buy shirts that make me jump out of my PC screen. I think of it as my silent protest against the drab, boring shirts men always wear in the office. either white, blue or ...gasp... pink! . Now, it should be a bold print, a shirt from Eden Valley (Culture) or Ledub does it for me.
It's so true about most Americans. One time I went out for dinner with two mates and I felt extremely overdressed and I wasn't even posh!! But they went in a sweatshirt I couldn't believe it. I was wearing a peacoat...
I'm..... not sure it's a dutch thing, that being looked at because you are under dressed. City slickers tend to be a bit more uptight about looks. Specially in an "On the town" setting I guess you may get some weird looks. But usually the looks are about the cultural group you seem to be associate with.
My impression is that in the Netherlands, as well as, say, Northern Germany, it is quite common to see both women and men wearing white or light-blue blouses / dress shirts in combination with a pair of slim blue jeans, an olive-green or dark blue down jacket or vest, and some brown leather shoes. There could also be a tweed jacket instead. It's a style reminiscent of country gentry that makes them look like they could go on a horse ride any minute or just stepped out of their rover vehicle they drove into town coming from their estate, when really all they were riding was their bike.
I hate that too. That said, I actually own three pair of them, one white, one off-white and one pair running shoes. And off course various pairs of 'normal shoes'. Too many of them, in fact. 😉
Hey Ava, I noticed that if American women go for the extra mile in appearance it usually means extra make up and high heels and a dress while women in the Netherlands will overthink if they are going to stand straight or need to walk a lot ..and decide to go for flat more expensive sneakers. And for the new more fit pants. The American way of dressing up is only for the weddings and ceremonial moments.
@@jbird4478 I know someone who worked as a secretary and always had high heels, a nice dress, cycled to work in the inner city with an abundance of cobblestones... Training, training and suffering, to look nice. And it was expected by management. Up to twenty years ago...
Over here as a man, when you wear the baggy sportswear with for instance a baseball cap, people will say that you are wearing "Camping Smoking" and that is not a positive statement. Basically they mean that you look like someone who is not very well off and possibly a bit on the less educated side of average. So most people try to avoid looking like this.
Well, when I'm going out the door, to work or the shop or anywhere, I do want to look somewhat respectable. But if you want style, go to Italy. They have this whole "bella figura" thing going on.
Congratulations on the new house, Ava... Enjoy! For myself? I'm not too much into fashion, cause I suffer from color-deafness.. So I've got no idea how colors will combine nor how they will suit me. I've got my wife for that. BTW I love your jacket. Thanks for the video!
I might be a bit different to most dutchies but i will wear what i wanna wear. im really into sweatpants with a jacket and a tanktop underneath. so thats what ill wear most days. and for my work i wear different clothes and i wont bother changing before going to the store if i have to unless they are really dirty xD. but going on the street in my pjs makes me feel a bit uncomfortable ye. even going to the mailbox in my pjs feels a bit odd which i still do sometimes.
Having lived both in the US and the Netherlands, i also think a lot of it is utilitarian. - Dutchies (and Europeans in general) will layer because of the ever changing weather. It also needs to work on a bike. The loose fit style of US "straights" doesn't. - In the Netherlands, most bars and clubs will offer a coat check; and you don't dine without coat or jacket if the temp may drop significantly. Those things are still influenced by fashion but more related to utility. And just like the USA, cities follow trends in a different way than the countryside, as well as they're being far more established sub cultures in the Netherlands in my experience. Ymmv, but going to a food court in sportswear is really a no no, and i don't get it when they do that over in the USA.
I don't get people that buy a shirt or a sweater just to wear it once because if they wear it more often "what would people think". I think like with so many things, clothing in the Netherlands is a matter of "Doe maar normaal". Sure, it needs to look a bit nice and fitting for the occasion but there are two types I see among Americans very often (well, at least in the portrayals on internet and tv) that I don't see in the Netherlands (often) which are the "Change 5 times a day" on one and the "People of Walmart" types on the other hand (For those not knowing what "People of Walmart" are, just type it in TH-cam seaarech and be ready for a laugh). Heck, I have been homeless for year and working with them for many more and even among them, the walmart types are sparse.
As a Belgian I find, when I go abroad, it’s so easy to pick out fellow Belgians just by their clothes. People in this country are so boring. They all wear the same stuff. Not like everyone wears the exact same shirt. But it’s the style and brands. As a European I find the Italians are some of the most stylish. Scandinavian too, but in a very understated way, the very opposite of Italians. The British are dressed the closest to the Americans. Leggings and yoga pants are very common. Brits are then also very easy to pick out on mainland Europe. I grew up in Bruges. American tourists are the best, they need to walk around a small medieval town. Yet by the looks of them they are prepared for a hike in the mountains. Makes me laugh every time 😃
I'd say good fitting clothes are often more comfortable though. It feels uncomfortable to dress "slonsig" as we call it here. Its probably due to a difference in culture where in the US people like to stand out and do their own thing while people in the Netherlands may take more comfort in fitting in to not stand out. There is a difference in social "control" so to say which is not suprising considering the size difference between the US and the netherlands. What is normal in NYC may be absurd in LA and thus people don't notice when others don't fit in so much because there is way less of a general middleground due to the differences of people in the US. In the netherlands there is this difference when it comes to the randstad and the rest of the country but that's pretty much it. Just my 2 cents, i have no clue about fashion anyway.
I looked at H&M US and H&M NL for men.... their essential collection is the same .... and I am like most Dutch, thinking we are not really stylish... but yes we do not walk around in baggy clothes or sportswear.... that being said, I don't think my clothes do not feel comfortable...
Ava, when you mentioned the Blue Cafe of Amsterdam I immediately thought of the Chris Rea song "The Blue Cafe". Have you heard it ? The lyrics go "The cost is great, the price is high, take all you know and say goodbye. Your innocence, experience mean nothing now."
When I first went to the Netherlands, I would notice that the people I interacted with everyday, especially the women, would wear one set of clothes on Monday, the same clothes on Tuesday, perhaps with a different belt or scarf. Then a different set of clothes Wednesday and those same clothes Thursday. Then maybe sometimes a third set of clothes for Friday. Americans would wear different clothes everyday of the week.
@@erikkleinlangenhorst Also in America, clothes aren't washed every time they are worn, but Americans typically don't wear the same clothes two days in a row and maybe not in the same week.
I do really believe that it is a personal choice and this tends to evolve and adjust according to the living environment and culture. If you always from childhood on are used to wear neat esthetic clothes, you will do so in any enviroment unconsciously. If you are a highly educated person, you may tend to wear chic outfits and silhouettes that reflect the school and the education you attend (unconsciously). Also at shopping, picking pieces that are sustainable, high quality and reflecting the personal background and education (most of it goes unconsciously).
When it comes to fashion, I think it's mostly sprezzatura that the Dutch took from the Italians. I don't think the nonchalance is fake, it's just there is awareness how good some understated clothes can look, pretending you don't know how good you look is fake. A long time ago, it was fake, it was cool to act like you didn't give a shit about your looks. That has changed, especially in Amsterdam. Wearing the same quality clothes is all right, but what is not done is wear it the same day of the week. You really have to randomize you're washing schedual. You cannot show up every tuesday in the same place with the same shirt. Then you become the one with that shirt and people chuckle about that.
Wearing the same thing more than once. The mindset has two layers: (a) if you buy quality in cloth, and making, and design, then it will be more expensive but give more pride and it will wear less over time, (b) you do not foolishly spend money
That is typical for Amsterdam. In the eastern part of the Netherlands we are more reluctant to leg-ins and t-shirts in a grocery store although it depends on who it wears. 😁
I'm an American who's currently biking all over the Netherlands and have noticed this too. Also, women in their 20s-30s seem to often be wearing blazers-- at least in Rotterdam.
I guess it depends on where you are. I have seen people in their sleepwear with bathrobe or 'huispak' in the grocery store XD And tbh, no one cares, as long as you are wearing clothes. I've had American colleagues upset that I would only bring two pairs of trousers with me on a business trip (one extra because otherwise I would of course spill a cup of coffee over it within five minutes and have nothing else to wear). Why? The trip is less than a week and will be airport-hotel-conference centre rinse and repeat anyway? Why would I bring my whole wardrobe? The suitcase is heavy enough as it is :') 'but you can't wear the same clothes for more than one day!' I agree for underwear/socks and shirts/hoodies. Not so much for vests and trousers... I am not going to change my wardrobe multiple times a day unless I really had a wardrobe malfunction (there goes the cup of coffee again) or I have been very sweaty/soaked due to rain/etc... too much effort :')
Suits - including the pants - should be able to be worn more than a day before being laundered - whether that is dry cleaning or otherwise - for sure. But it might be a good idea to alternate wearing the two, that way the worn pair has a chance to air out for a day before being pressed back into service.
Most other European countries think the Dutch are very underdressed. 🙈😅 I don't mind people wearing leisure clothes. It might just be friends upon at work.
Some time ago I wrote that the Dutch do not need to die, because you show us that we already live in heaven. I want to add to this two comments. 1. The Dutch usually complain about everything from the weather to the government, and you always show us that we have nothing to complain about by your enthousiasm and happy face. 2. You point out some smal things we never think about that make that we love life more; I think about your mentioning cookies with the coffee and the question: "Is it a gift?" and wrapping it up nicely.
I remember when I was in university, here in the Netherlands I was part of a international student workgroup. And one time we had American students comming over. We had to entertain them took them around the city, stayed with them in the hotels, attending and orginizing masterclasses etc. Very fun to do (I got extra course credit to this obviously). And one day these Anerican Students told us tgat everybody at uni looked so stylish and every one did their hair nice snd even put on make up I was like okay that is normal. But they told me tgat in the US most students go in sweatpants and a hoodie to school and don't wear any make up and just put tgeir hair up because most of them lived on campus so it was easier. I was amazed because when I watched movies of series the students always look like they are going to a party instead of college 🤣🤣
A day in autumn, some 40 years ago, I was going to visit my mother, 125 KM drive on my light motorbike. I didn't feel like getting suited up and was just going to take my time getting there. The weather forecast was dry and sunny. I arrived in Lelystad wet, not just a little moist.. completely soaked. $@!@$#$! .. shit.. Drove over to a fashion shop, stood at the door and waved over one of the personnel, a girl. I handed her 300 Guilders (150 Euro, today it probably wouldn't be enough, back then it was) and ordered 'Dark blue Tripper jeans 32/36, any shirt/sweater that you think goes well with the jeans and size 42 sneakers. If you will like it, then it is fine with me, finish the payment and please hand it to me here'. Done, I had dry cloths 🙂
. I read something from the sixtees in where a Dutch group exclaimesd how backwards in fashion they were in the USA and they did a tour, it is not like they saw one city in one state. So it is not a new observation.
It's really funny that Americans think it's normal to wear gym clothes and pajamas everywhere. 😁 Nothing wrong with that, of course, people should be free to choose, but the effort required to put normal clothes is the same.
@@Freya778 I live with ME/CFS for more than three decades and a half and it's easier to button a shirt than to put on a T-Shirt or sweaters, most of my clothes are button downs and jackets that can be opened at the front, I only wear T Shirts to sleep and sometimes I will even use older button downs when I don't feel too well. No difference with pants either and wearing heels make it easier for me to walk (I am a man, so I wear boots or shoes with chunky heels, hate running shoes even for walking).
I experience it the exact opposite way... All my American friends are more likely to wear tight trousers, cut out tops, glitter, make up and nails done. Here, just like in the nordics, style seems more relaxed and casual, individualistic and vintage. Always ready to cycle, be exposed to the rain and I didn't see much chance or reason to dress up for anything. But then I live in Amsterdam, so that's not the same as a village somewhere else in the country where guys might more commonly wear the sleek /gel hair do 😅
I think it depends on where you are in the U.S. but also I see a lot of Americans either wear extremely casual or extremely formal (compared to the Netherlands). When they go out they often wear very tight and short dresses and go all out with their make-up and hair. Dutch people are definitely somewhere in the middle. When they dress for formal occasions they keep it more natural but when they dress casually, it's often a bit more put together with nice shoes and accessories.
All very true for me personally as a Dutch guy. I don't have a huge wardrobe but what I have is all high quality. I'll buy a 600 euro jacket and 200 euro jeans that fit perfectly, and wear them for like 7 years until they start to get ratty. I don't like going out in shorts even in summer because I don't want to look like a tourist.
In the US i see people in shorts and flip flops in a restaurant. That is a big no no here. But here they go in jeans and a T-shirt to the theater which is not done in a country like France.
After a change of clothes I'll always look exactly like before it. Because I always buy several of exactly the same pants, or t-shirts, or socks, or whatever. And it's always all black! And when I go outside, an all-black kaftan or djellaba is worn over everything else. Sweaters are the exception, though: whenever I wear a sweater or vest on top of it all, it could be any color on the darker side of the spectrum. No pastel colors, and no white, yellow or green. 'Fashion' means nothing to me. I do not care about what people think of my attire. Personal comfort is my only concern.
Well, this goes to show it’s all relative 🙃 From a Dutch perspective, we don’t tend to dress up, but we also don’t tend to dress down (from our perspective that’s sporting clothes). I have several central and Eastern European (Polish, Ukrainian, Russian) acquaintances and I know for a fact that at least the women would be horrified at the idea of going on a quick grocery trip without a full face of makeup and a nice dress on. The men, not so much though lol And I can offer you the reverse perspective as well. Most Americans I meet are in the line of work. And I work as developer so as a group we tend to dress quite casually, at least by business standards. Just jeans and a T-shirt or polo shirt or sweater or something. But our foreign visitors usually wear at the very least a nice pantalon and a buttoned shirt in the business casual or business professional range. Even the developers that come over are often dressed smart casual at least.
I'm an American working here in The Netherlands as a software developer, and can confirm. Our team is a mixture of t-shirts and jeans or perhaps a simple sweater and jeans. We all wear sneakers. Luckily, most of our colleagues in other departments are also quite casual, but if someone comes in from another company for a presentation, they are always "overdressed" in comparison. Now, when it comes to having a night out for a company event, everyone else got dressed up a lot more, even though it was basically just dinner right after work at a normal restaurant. I was the odd-ball out because I was still wearing the same clothes. I live in a small town in the south and I get weird looks when I wear shorts/sweat pants running errands, but I also present as much different from most Dutch men (long hair, piercings, etc) in our town. Are they looking at "me" or my clothes? Idk ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Dear Eva, living in a small village deep down in the south eastern Netherlands where the local dialect sounds like coming from a different planet not located in our galaxy, I can disagree with you a little bit, here people in general do often buy their cloth at the cheapest store within a 10 km range and dress accordingly , which represents itself in local supermarkets both here and across the border where we do most of our shopping , other than that a very nice interesting video , I hope you will make more video's
Talk about sizes. Women can be "anal" about the numbers and I know this 91 year old woman who cut the labels out of her clothes because of these numbers. Between countries in Europe there are significant differences. So if you are a woman with a petite frame then it is easier to buy clothes in France or Italy, but you have to be aware that confection numbers are different over there. Dress size 36 here in the NL may be called 40 there. There are other average national differences. If a Dutch man has a high instep (the height of the foot at the metatarsals) then he may not be able to buy fitting shoes with a so-called "Oxford lock" in the NL and always have to revert to the "Derby lock". A higher instep may be more common in Germany and the Dutch man might want to shop there, for shoes with an Oxford lock.
It's so crazy how different cultural perspectives can clash so much. I'm an American who is currently spending a lot of time in Amsterdam after living in London for the last few years. Compared to London, Dutchies never ever dress up and their style is just sort of casually European, even for nights out. (With that said, as a rule, Europeans have farrrr better style than people in the U.S., especially men.) I have to consciously make an effort to look less nice here than I would in London because it seems like no one dresses up for anything, ever. I end up feeling overdressed 99% of the time anyway, even on a Saturday night in the city on a date. I dress what I consider super casually in the U.S. whenever I go home to visit and my American friends still complain that they feel the need to dress up whenever I come home to visit. London has apparently permanently warped my idea of what "casual" means.
Quality over quantity and clothes are a way to express that attitude. "Goedkoop is duurkoop", is what my granny always said. If you want better quality, you'll always end up with more style in clothes. Good quality clothes are also fine as second hand or hand downs. A 100 year old granny bike is a prized item of quality. Old houses attest to quality of the building that withstood time. Wearing tonnes of make-up makes you less attractive as nobody wants a partner to waste hours of precious time and having a plastered face is considered to be a bit deceitful, like wearing a mask. Dutch women excel in making it look like they don't spend hours on their looks, whereas anyone who lives with them can attest that's not quite true. But as in any society, there are things you need to conform with as well. You can't build a house that sticks out too much from the others and getting permission to build some extension to an existing house is a process that involves a "beauty commission". Clothing is often an expression of culture of peer groups and every subculture has its own dress codes. In that regard not that much has changed compared to the regional outfits or "klederdracht" like you will still come across in some places where it is mainly worn for touristic events. And legging were in fashion a very short time as well, but somehow showing your booty and having a camel toe seldom was considered an asset. I guess that walking around more than the average American exposes one more to the public look of disapproval.
I think most Dutch people don't really care what other people are wearing. A guy could wear a pink tutu and walk at ease on the street without receiving comments. I often see people with really odd fashion choices with other people walking by like they don't care. I usually look the same. Same colors, same type of clothing. My clothing is old too. I barely buy new clothes. I have a jacket. It's over ten years old but I still wear it. I don't care how I look.
I think there's also an underlying difference in how different cultures approach bodies. In the US, bodies are a spectacle. If you're dressing up, you must be looking for attention. If you're showing skin, it seems to be some sort of implied invitation. In the Netherlands from what I've seen, bodies are just...bodies. Wearing clothes that fit and are tailored to be snug and look nice is just normal. I see lots of midrifs. I would never dare to show that much skin in the US but here it's no big deal. So if you take in the different approaches to how bodies are perceived, it then follows that different clothing would be purchased more often, and therefore push fashion in those directions. Example: when we moved to the Netherlands, I was short on comfy around-the-house clothes. I planned on getting sweat pants and sweat shirts, but they weren't as common as other options, so my casual wardrobe is now a lot snazzier than it used to be!
One thing that immediately stands out is the emphasis on comfort in American fashion. Americans are known for wearing casual clothing, such as athleisure, which is a blend of athletic wear and leisure wear. This type of clothing is not as common in the Netherlands, where people tend to opt for more stylish and put-together outfits. Americans tend to wear sneakers and sandals for everyday wear, while the Dutch prefer more structured shoes like loafers and ankle boots. And while both cultures appreciate quality clothing, the Dutch value sustainable and ethical fashion more than Americans. American and Dutch fashion have their unique styles and aesthetics. However, the Dutch emphasis on sophistication and sustainability adds a certain elegance to their everyday fashion that Americans can learn from.
Also, why bother drying the hair if it is raining outside? But I agree with the people saying Dutch aren't fashionable for European standards. But Amsterdam and Maastricht will be much more fashionable than some other places.
Sweetie, they looked at you because you are beautiful!! That was all. I live in one of the neighboring countries and am plus size. I wear what I want, even if it's a garbage bag!! I'm 64, so I've had quite a few years under my belt, and I've 'earned' it (haha) to wear what I want. And, I'm a rebel, I hate being put in a box. Because that's what society likes to do and I oppose it, in my own way! For example, my hair (despite the fact that I am so old) has been dyed bright pink for +- 25 years (I have ultra short hair, preferably straight) and I also like other people who like to color outside the lines, outcasts, lone wolves, etc., but only from people with a good heart. When I came to live in this little town people looked odd at me because of my hair and because I love to wear long dresses and skirts (not all hippie-style but also chic-style.) but now they do not mind anymore. I even would wear a long tutu if I could find one in my size (in a bright color or in purple of wine red). To go grocery shopping!!! Why not? When my husband still worked, his colleagues kept making comments to him when they had seen me on the street, when driving to work, and asked him if I had to go to a party that day because I looked so 'dressed up'!?!? And that bothered my husband every time and he let me know he did not understand why I did it. And made him understand very soon HAHA. Now more women do it in this town, why keep your fancy ('good') clothing tucked away in your closet when you are my age???? And we never go out or to feasts. I also love clothing, love fashion although I do not follow it exactly, only what I like and when it's out of fashion I still wear it!! And WhyTF not people???? Keep all those pretty things for when you are dead?? You can not take them with you so enjoy them now is my opinion. So, do that too, no matter what other people think of say: IT IS YOUR LIFE!!! Love from Pinkie
People from Belgium are WAY more stylish than the Dutch. I find Dutch fashion a little drab and plain. They seem to wear clothes more for practicality than for style in my experience of living here for so long.
That just counts for one particular class of society and the way they brag about it and look down on others who are less well dressed, is quite cringe.
I honestly love the mindset around clothing in the US. It recognizes the variability of a person's mood and respects that people put their effort in different things. Really appreciate that I can be wearing head to toe ann demeulemeester walking around with a friend wearing ripped fishnet tights, corset, and combat boots & we simply read as a group of eccentric and fashion-forward people. I totally see myself in the Netherlands one day, but I'm going to miss being able to walk to the library in a pair of ugg boots and sweatpants if I'm just not feeling it that day.
As a Dutchy I say wear whatever you want to! Most people I know , and myself included, do this. Athleasure wear/sports clothes and relaxed clothes lije sweatpants are also becoming more normal in the Netherlands. You want to still look groomes though and not like you just rolled out if bed and haven't showered in a week. So as long as you and your clothes look and smell clean, you are good to go 😁. And artsy and creative outfits are also cool. I wear a lot of athleasure wear, especially in the summer, because that is comfortable to me. Those clothes are stretchy which means I will have less pain than if I wear things like jeans, and a lot of sports clothes use moisture wicking fabric which means I get les sweaty and don't get as hot. Sports leggings are also ideal to wear in the summer under skirts and dresses. You can't see that you are wearing them if you pick the right length, but they keep you more dry and cool and prevent thigh-rub and chaving.
Ava, this is a great video subjects as American and Dutch/European people definitely have different approaches to clothing and fashion. I lived my teen and young adult years in The Netherlands and have lived my adult life in The US, so I feel that I can speak to the issue. Some Dutch people are not going to like my comments but I mean no harm. I will only comment on men's clothing, I am a man. When I moved to The US, actually the day of moving in 1984 at age 22, traveling from Schiphol to Atlanta airport and then my final destination of Columbia, South Carolina, I wore clothes that were in fashion at the time in Holland, too much to call casual, too little to call "dressed up", also my hair was, not just cut but, styled. Arriving in ultra conservative and religious SC, in the midst of the Ronald Reagan era, people starred me down. Later, when I made friends with whom I would have meaningful conversations I learned that my clothes caused them to think that I was homosexual, my attire evoked no such first impressions in Holland. American men dress more conservative, there's no doubt, less attention seeking. Proof of this is in traditional tailored suits. Suits, on the store racks before they are altered to a perfect fit have, what is called, a "drop". The drop of a suit is the difference between the shoulder size and the waste size and there's known and accepted terms being an "American drop" (6 inches/15cm) and a "European/Italian drop" (8 inches/20cm), meaning that an American drop suit, size 54 will have size 48 in waste, an Italian drop suit size 54 will have a waste size of 46. An American suit objects to shape in a straight line from the shoulder to the hem whereas an Italian suit objects to more closely follow (and show) the contour of the body. The more conservative approach is also true for much more casual life. Ava, while in collage in The US how many guys did you know who were "jeans and T-shirt" guys? You have 3 pairs of jeans (Levi's, Wranglers, brand loyal NOT fashion jeans), 20 or so T-shirts (and the print on the shirt says something about who you are), 2 pairs of Khaki's, a pair of loafer dress shoes and some colored and/or patterned dress shirts for nice cocktail and networking functions, one blue suit with a white shirt, a few striped ties and black laced dress shoes for high profile job interviews, funerals and weddings and "Voila", your wardrobe is all finished...FOR LIFE! I forgot, 3 belts and an assortment of athletic attire. Girls love these guys, during binge movie watching nights they wear their boyfriend's T-shirts and dress shirts. This conservative dress follows natural biological sexual attraction laws. What do women find attractive in men? Confidence, decisive, goal focused, intelligent and on. A man who is always in the latest, ever changing fashion is a man who follows societal woes, a conservative dressed man follows his own path and will, is unaffected by whatever others try to dictate to him. Wearing the latest fashion consistently is expensive and like cars is a bad investment, the value diminishes at a fast rate, conservative men invest in value growth. Conservative men aim to express their worth by their deeds and real accomplishments, not make an intangible impression with their clothes. Fashionable men change their outlook, their direction frequently, they are directionless, wobble insecurely all over the place, conservative men are resolved and steady and confident in who they are. I am not saying that this is all true but it is the sexual attraction image of a man and his meaning of fashionable clothing. Shopping for clothes is a real cultural family event in Holland, I learned there. Many whole families go on Saturday to the various shopping centers, make it a family outing and everyone gets some new clothes but in my opinion there's a "Bling" effect at work. The Netherlands is an economically thriving country and many things are very well run in Holland but there are many things that Dutch people can't afford compared to their neighbors Germany and The US, big cars, big houses and yards and certain freedoms that come with prosperity. In The Netherlands there;s quite a pressure to toe the line, conform, not stand out expressively (do dan maar normaal, ben niet A-sociaal). And buying fashionable clothing is something that many Dutch can afford and maintain and store, it is a means of showing off (bling) status, all be it in typical Dutch manners of understated elegance. A last comment about dressing neatly in defense of those who do, or the lack of neatness, pajamas at Walmart, dirty cloths, woefully ill-fitting cloths. When a person steps out of the door in the morning into a shared society, dressing well is not only for themself. Care and attention to how you look, how you are dressed tells how you care about your society, your civilization, you care not only about how you look but also how well civilization, in which you partake looks, you care enough to contribute to it.
Hi Windmillchef, thanks for your explanation. Would love to copy your reaction to inform other (Dutch) men. Unfortunately cannot copy/paste her. Thanks for your help, EefjeW
Sorry, but it's like you're talking about a completely different country because I don't recognize this at all. People here walk around in t-shirts all the time and even today you see people in shorts or jogging pants and t-shirts. So it's probably because you live in a city but that's not 'The Netherlands'.
This, like a lot of expats, is more "Amsterdam vs" Amsterdam is a city with a lot of tourists and expats. Therefore its in a lot of things not a good example of The Netherlands as a country. Even clothing in Amsterdam is different from the rest of our country
As for the athleisure here in the United States; there are a LOT of Americans who should NOT be wearing it because it merely highlights how UNathletic they are and/or look. When 35% of the population is obese and 74% are overweight, athleisure really REALLY shouldn't be a thing. Full disclosure, I'm 67, 6 foot tall and 165 lbs. Love your videos BTW.
huh? It depends on where you look. Walk around on Utrecht Central Station at 8:30 or 16:30 and you will see a lot of different outfits, not all fashionable. You can rate my outfit tomorrow at 8:30 🤣 Those that are fashionable are often not of native Dutch origine. Usually Turkish ladies are more fashionable dressed. Go to a Saturday market in a more rural area and you see people wearing relaxed ugly outfits. My wife does not allow me to go to the office in outdoor walking gear so nice pants and a shirt it is. Only need to find some new shoes that are comfortable and can stand a rainy bike ride. Fashion advice?
Funny, I think Dutch people are the most relaxed about fashion in all of Europe. The style usually is neat, but underwhelming and fit for cycling.
Hehe, my Japanese partner is always complaining how dressed down the Dutch are, always in jeans and other stuff that doesn’t require much thought.
On the other hand: compared to the people of Walmart.....
In the USA, 8 out of 10 women wear leggings or yoga pants. The men often wear shorts and t-shirts, even in winter. If not shorts it usually is jeans or cargo pants. A lot of clothes are bought in cheap stores or even the grocery store. Very few spent money on hairdressers or barber shops.
Ronald,
Despite what I wrote in my comment I do largely agree with you, it is all in a context.
I think we aren't really aware of our sense of fashion because we don't really think about it. But apart from the U.S. I can see it even compared to countries like Germany and England. You can see that some people there really throw on some jeans and a T-shirt without thought. While here even the young people that wear jeans and t-shirts all the time think about colours and accessories. They add nice sneakers, jewelry and a nice coat. Even a casual look can be put together well. Also women tend to wear dresses more often here. My mom who lives in Germany gets compliments all the time just because she puts on a normal dress with some jewelry that goes with it. In England I often saw little girls but also grown women sometimes just wear leggings and a t-shirt, I've never seen that here. Even little girls wear a dress or skirt with their leggings.
As for men, like she said in the video, even their casual clothing often looks very tailored compared to other countries. You can only see the differences if you look at other countries too.
I do think that compared to France or Italy we are a bit more casual and practical though. It depends on which country you would compare it to. But I think we are really great at balancing the practical with the fashionable.
Crazy theory but it might have to do with North America's car dependence.
In the US you only are in public for small moments of time. Only in the destination itself. while in Europe you will be walking everywhere or taking public transportation.
Often not even at the destination. Besides the globally known drive through take outs like McDonald's, Burger King etc. I've heard about drive through banks, drive through pharmacies. And there might be more. So often they don't have to leave their car.
I’m American. I co-sign this theory. Not crazy at all.
Ditto.
Sounds very likely. And US poverty might also be to blame. So many people living paycheck to paycheck. What can they afford? So better wear worn out stuff, when you don't have appointments.
Bicycle
Haha, I thought there was a fluffy pillow in the chair….. until it moved 😂
Hahaha, sometimes we've forgotten as well, and the kitty is not too fond of that 😅😂
It is such a big floof!
Had the same. I wondered if I missed the cat from coming in.
Same xD
I'm Dutch.
I don't think baggy clothes are comfortable, I much prefer the feeling of a snug fit.
I don't really care about what others wear and I don't care what others think about what I wear, just do you.
That said, I do see dressing choices as a reflection of a person as it's a choice they've made, and it is in a way a visual way to get a sense of a person.
I am a Dutch man, and I agree, baggy clothes are not comfortable at al. Clothes that are too big are annoying - not just to look at, but also to wear.
I need more reasons to wear a suit 😆
I think a lot of this has to do with climate. If you live in let's say Florida, light, baggy cloths are comfortable because sweat can get out. If you live in a wet, windy and cold climate, tight and isolating cloths are more comfortable, so the fashion is more based on multiple layers with sweaters and coats.
@@Frahamen Maybe people think that is true, but it is not my experience. First, air is a good insulator against cold, so, one would expect baggy clothes to be popular in cold climates as well. Also, the shirt on your skin helps to get rid of excess sweat when it is hot (sport jerseys usually are tight for a reason). If it is hot, I still prefer a nice t-shirt on my skin.
That's why I love europe ❤❤❤ you people are just amazing 🎉🎉🎉
An American coworker of mine once told me: Americans are usually either dressed up or casual, the Dutch are usually in the middle. Kings of utility/dressy casual.
Yes I agree with this 100%! Americans will either wear sweatpants and a t-shirt or dress up for an evening out and go all out with make-up, hair etc. While Dutch people will wear casual clothing but add nice jewelery or shoes and a bag. Or the other way around, they put on a nice dress but leave the hair and make-up very natural.
Also Dutch. I blame the weather 😂. You’ll need layers to be snug and comfy. And with layers it’s easier to look like you matched an outfit in the morning (tree pieces rule). Furthermore: no space for a big closet in most houses so you need to be picky about what you actually want to keep/store. And the old one: never buy an expensive piece (like an Italian wool wintercoat, leather boots with heels, etc) in the trendy colour or in a contrast attention getting colour. Because then you’ll be ‘the woman who wears the evergreen red/green coat’. You buy those pieces in tan, camel, black, grey, navy, white or army green (because timeless) in a classic model (again, timeless) and add colour with inexpensive things like a scarf, sneakers, tote bag or statement earrings.
Your vlog reminds me of my one year high school in the US. Being young, we stayed with a guestfamily. The mother just looking at me every morning: ‘Oh sweetheart….just no… don’t wear that cardigan. It’s a beautiful day you don’t need it’ 😂. And then my mom came over for a visit and she thought it was one big sporty family, everyone in leggings, t-shirts and sweatpants 😂😂
Never seen Dutch friends "dress up" except for weddings. Never seen Dutch friends wear makeup or high heels, which I prefer, the relaxed easy going natural look.
It's interesting that most Dutch people aren't really aware of their own sense of fashion. I think it's definitely so ingrained in our culture that we aren't very conscious that we're doing it.
But compared to other countries in Europe even I can definitely see it. My parents live in Germany and my mother often looks 'overdressed' just because she puts a nice dress on and puts on some jewelry that fits with it. She gets a lot of compliments on her clothing all the time. I had the same when I lived in England for a while. Just the fact that we tend to look at colour combinations and have our jewelry, shoes or bag fit our clothing is often enough. Also we seem to be a lot braver when it comes to colour choices and certain styles that are more 'out there' for people of these countries. When I was in England, one time, I was asked if I bought my trousers in Camden (which is an area where they sell more alternative clothing) just because they were a hot pink colour. But I bought them in H&M in the Netherlands.
I think Dutch people really pay attention to the accessories. When it comes to Americans, I feel they would either wear very comfortable and casual clothing, like jeans or sweatpants and a t-shirt and wear no jewelry or add anything to it. Or they would dress up for a night out and they suddenly go all out with make-up and hair, not very subtle.
Dutch people might wear jeans and a t-shirt aswell but tend to put a little attention to their shoes, bag or jewelry that goes with it. When they go out in the evening or go to an event they make sure there is a balance between casual and formal. They might put on a nice dress (which fits well and isn't too short perse) but keep their hair and make-up more simple and natural. Or they might still wear jeans but put a bit more effort in make-up, hair, jewelry, put on some heels to elevate the casual look. It's seldom that someone does it all... the dress, the heels, the hair, the make-up... unless it's for a special or more formal occasion like a wedding. So I think to us Americans often either look underdressed or overdressed.
As an American who moved to NL last year, this has been tough for me. I'm starting to feel some pressure to wear different clothes, even though nobody has said anything about it to me. I think part of it is since I'm new here, I want to fit in. I'm learning Dutch, I partake in cultural and social events, and by extension, I want to fit in visually as well.
In the US, I dressed very utilitarian; whatever was comfortable and clean. In the Texas summer, I wore shorts and flip flops 7 days a week for 4-5 months! Heck, sometimes even in winter because it was comfortable. I have a feeling if I went to AH in flip flops in February on a rare winter-sunny day I would be stared at constantly. Maybe not ideal when you're trying to blend in.
we think you are the Dutch equivalent of 'trailer trash' if you go to the Albert Heijn in such clothes.. (unless it's August and it's a supermarket on the Scheveningen Beach obviously)
You would be stared at yes, but more by ppl thinking you are a tourist and took the wrong clothes for the season. Thinks a lot of expats experience are only true in Amsterdam of right next to it. The Netherlands as a country is completely different and its sad expats talk about Amsterdam as it was the compleet country witch isn't even close to the truth. The rest of our country is in most thing 100% different purly bc there are not as much foreners. It is like calling New York United States
@@larsmeijerink5471 I live in a small village in Brabant (10k population). We don’t get many tourists.
@@DaronSpence thats why they would look at you, they would definitely think you are one. Especially in small towns/cities it would not be normal to war summer cloths in the winter
Just be yourself and let them stare! People don't always stare with bad intention. As a Dutch person I like to dress more alternatively or go bare foot. I definitely get stares and comments too! People will ask me if I'm not cold or won't hurt my feet. Somehow they think they can comment even when I don't ask them for it. But I'm not going to change myself because of what other people think. Once in a while I see someone stare (especially children) and smile, they actually like it. This gives me courage to just continue to be myself.
I'm almost 50 so no, I don't have any clothing from high school but I do wear everything as long as possible. And even when it's too worn out to wear in public I still wear old T-shirts at home and I keep a few older pants for when I have to do some painting or gardening.
I also keep older worn-out or damaged clothes to wear at home for cleaning, crafting, diy-projects, gardening, etc. Any activity that might make my clothes really dirty or might damage them. When I wear old clothes like that it isn't an issue if I get bleach, paint or glue on them, or if I damage them in any way.
Another dead giveaway that someone is American in Europe: college hoodies. They'll wear that with anything!
I went through this in Tokyo. My wardrobe had to change very dramatically while working there.
And I have family in the Netherlands who want me to visit...
Thanks for the heads up!
100% off-topic, but what an absolutely adorable luxury floof you have draped across the chair behind you.
Indeed 😍!!!
I recall an American in Amsterdam asking me for directions - It was snowing at the time and he was wearing shorts and a T-shirt.
He explained to me that he hailed from the north of Alaska and used to a far worse climate 😉
Hahaha, oh gosh. That's incredible.
I have some friends from there, I can guarantee you he wasn't joking. We Dutch pride ourselves inn the fact we can handle all types of weather but even we have to bow to the Alaskans in that regard.
@@mavadelo Canadians also know a thing or two about harsh weather, but indeed, Alaska... brrrrr...
I’m a Dutch woman and I noticed that the sweatpants some women used to wear all the time is replaced by the sports legging. Usually I saw that happening with teens and and people in their early 20’s but now I see it more often that people wear a sports legging as normal pants. I even saw an older lady of like her mid 40’s-50 wearing a multicolour sports legging with mesh as pants. To be honest I still find it a bit odd but at the same time I’m all for comfy clothes. Now those “pyjama” pants with wide legs is a thing, also for upcoming summer. Honestly I’m looking for one of those too which still look kind of stylish and look nice on me. But that’s because I like more loose fitted clothes in the summer.
But yeah every time I see some footage of the US a see a lot of capri leggings, with crocs or similar and a basic wide shirt for women or longer wide shorts with slippers and a shirt for men. Sometimes I think such a pitty but if that makes them happy who am I to judge?
The most weird thing though was when I saw a guy on slippers and boxershort in the AH. And I thought going to the AH in your house slippers and bath rope was the most extreme. My mom once told me that she sometimes sees a woman walking her dog early in the morning in orange crocs and pink bath rope 😂
In cities you see more and more of that, I think the more casual sports wear is definitely a trend from the U.S.
The other day, my neighbor came to me in the evening and asked if I could help her with something at her house. Even though she lives just a few houses away, I felt the need to change my outfit from a big t-shirt with leggings to a casual summer dress. I never thought about that being a cultural thing.
Dutchie living now in Luxembourg. I must admit that after the Covid I have now the tendency to always buy shirts that make me jump out of my PC screen. I think of it as my silent protest against the drab, boring shirts men always wear in the office. either white, blue or ...gasp... pink! . Now, it should be a bold print, a shirt from Eden Valley (Culture) or Ledub does it for me.
I thought you had a nice fluffy cushion on your chair until it started moving 😹
It's so true about most Americans. One time I went out for dinner with two mates and I felt extremely overdressed and I wasn't even posh!! But they went in a sweatshirt I couldn't believe it. I was wearing a peacoat...
I wish you had inserted pictures to see or a side by side.
I'm..... not sure it's a dutch thing, that being looked at because you are under dressed. City slickers tend to be a bit more uptight about looks. Specially in an "On the town" setting I guess you may get some weird looks. But usually the looks are about the cultural group you seem to be associate with.
My impression is that in the Netherlands, as well as, say, Northern Germany, it is quite common to see both women and men wearing white or light-blue blouses / dress shirts in combination with a pair of slim blue jeans, an olive-green or dark blue down jacket or vest, and some brown leather shoes. There could also be a tweed jacket instead. It's a style reminiscent of country gentry that makes them look like they could go on a horse ride any minute or just stepped out of their rover vehicle they drove into town coming from their estate, when really all they were riding was their bike.
Kind of old school, but I immediately notice if someone is wearing a cap indoors, and I really don't get the sneaker culture.
I hate that too. That said, I actually own three pair of them, one white, one off-white and one pair running shoes. And off course various pairs of 'normal shoes'. Too many of them, in fact. 😉
@@Paul_C Oh, I don't hate it. People should do what makes them happy.
Hey Ava, I noticed that if American women go for the extra mile in appearance it usually means extra make up and high heels and a dress while women in the Netherlands will overthink if they are going to stand straight or need to walk a lot ..and decide to go for flat more expensive sneakers. And for the new more fit pants. The American way of dressing up is only for the weddings and ceremonial moments.
Try walking on cobblestones in high heels. It's not overthinking. It just doesn't really work on many of our streets.
@@jbird4478 I know someone who worked as a secretary and always had high heels, a nice dress, cycled to work in the inner city with an abundance of cobblestones...
Training, training and suffering, to look nice. And it was expected by management.
Up to twenty years ago...
I usually buy two or three trousers when i buy new, 3 the same... same with T-shirts.. So Maybe it looks like I wear the same cloth...but I don't.
Over here as a man, when you wear the baggy sportswear with for instance a baseball cap, people will say that you are wearing "Camping Smoking" and that is not a positive statement. Basically they mean that you look like someone who is not very well off and possibly a bit on the less educated side of average. So most people try to avoid looking like this.
Well, when I'm going out the door, to work or the shop or anywhere, I do want to look somewhat respectable. But if you want style, go to Italy. They have this whole "bella figura" thing going on.
I was walking around on Kingsday in Amsterdam and I swear I saw you. Was probably your doppelganger as she did look like a massive fashionista.
Congratulations on the new house, Ava... Enjoy!
For myself? I'm not too much into fashion, cause I suffer from color-deafness.. So I've got no idea how colors will combine nor how they will suit me. I've got my wife for that. BTW I love your jacket.
Thanks for the video!
colorblind fashionista here-that's why I stick to the edgy black/white/neutral tailoring stuff haha.
I might be a bit different to most dutchies but i will wear what i wanna wear. im really into sweatpants with a jacket and a tanktop underneath. so thats what ill wear most days. and for my work i wear different clothes and i wont bother changing before going to the store if i have to unless they are really dirty xD. but going on the street in my pjs makes me feel a bit uncomfortable ye. even going to the mailbox in my pjs feels a bit odd which i still do sometimes.
Congrats on the house! Great video again.
Thanks so much!
Having lived both in the US and the Netherlands, i also think a lot of it is utilitarian.
- Dutchies (and Europeans in general) will layer because of the ever changing weather. It also needs to work on a bike. The loose fit style of US "straights" doesn't.
- In the Netherlands, most bars and clubs will offer a coat check; and you don't dine without coat or jacket if the temp may drop significantly.
Those things are still influenced by fashion but more related to utility. And just like the USA, cities follow trends in a different way than the countryside, as well as they're being far more established sub cultures in the Netherlands in my experience.
Ymmv, but going to a food court in sportswear is really a no no, and i don't get it when they do that over in the USA.
100% the utilitarian one. My mom always says "it's better to have one layer too much, than one layer too little of clothing.
I don't get people that buy a shirt or a sweater just to wear it once because if they wear it more often "what would people think". I think like with so many things, clothing in the Netherlands is a matter of "Doe maar normaal". Sure, it needs to look a bit nice and fitting for the occasion but there are two types I see among Americans very often (well, at least in the portrayals on internet and tv) that I don't see in the Netherlands (often) which are the "Change 5 times a day" on one and the "People of Walmart" types on the other hand (For those not knowing what "People of Walmart" are, just type it in TH-cam seaarech and be ready for a laugh). Heck, I have been homeless for year and working with them for many more and even among them, the walmart types are sparse.
I love the color of your wall. I just got a new appartment, and chose a similar color. A little darker, more like ochre.❤
5:30 then all of a sudden the fucking cushion started moving😂
As a Belgian I find, when I go abroad, it’s so easy to pick out fellow Belgians just by their clothes. People in this country are so boring. They all wear the same stuff. Not like everyone wears the exact same shirt. But it’s the style and brands. As a European I find the Italians are some of the most stylish. Scandinavian too, but in a very understated way, the very opposite of Italians. The British are dressed the closest to the Americans. Leggings and yoga pants are very common. Brits are then also very easy to pick out on mainland Europe.
I grew up in Bruges. American tourists are the best, they need to walk around a small medieval town. Yet by the looks of them they are prepared for a hike in the mountains. Makes me laugh every time 😃
I'd say good fitting clothes are often more comfortable though. It feels uncomfortable to dress "slonsig" as we call it here. Its probably due to a difference in culture where in the US people like to stand out and do their own thing while people in the Netherlands may take more comfort in fitting in to not stand out. There is a difference in social "control" so to say which is not suprising considering the size difference between the US and the netherlands. What is normal in NYC may be absurd in LA and thus people don't notice when others don't fit in so much because there is way less of a general middleground due to the differences of people in the US. In the netherlands there is this difference when it comes to the randstad and the rest of the country but that's pretty much it. Just my 2 cents, i have no clue about fashion anyway.
I looked at H&M US and H&M NL for men.... their essential collection is the same .... and I am like most Dutch, thinking we are not really stylish... but yes we do not walk around in baggy clothes or sportswear.... that being said, I don't think my clothes do not feel comfortable...
Ava, when you mentioned the Blue Cafe of Amsterdam I immediately thought of the Chris Rea song "The Blue Cafe". Have you heard it ? The lyrics go "The cost is great, the price is high, take all you know and say goodbye. Your innocence, experience mean nothing now."
When I first went to the Netherlands, I would notice that the people I interacted with everyday, especially the women, would wear one set of clothes on Monday, the same clothes on Tuesday, perhaps with a different belt or scarf. Then a different set of clothes Wednesday and those same clothes Thursday. Then maybe sometimes a third set of clothes for Friday. Americans would wear different clothes everyday of the week.
Yes because else you’re doing laundry 3 times a week! Not too great environmentally and it costs money and it is work 😜
@@erikkleinlangenhorst Also in America, clothes aren't washed every time they are worn, but Americans typically don't wear the same clothes two days in a row and maybe not in the same week.
I do really believe that it is a personal choice and this tends to evolve and adjust according to the living environment and culture. If you always from childhood on are used to wear neat esthetic clothes, you will do so in any enviroment unconsciously. If you are a highly educated person, you may tend to wear chic outfits and silhouettes that reflect the school and the education you attend (unconsciously). Also at shopping, picking pieces that are sustainable, high quality and reflecting the personal background and education (most of it goes unconsciously).
When it comes to fashion, I think it's mostly sprezzatura that the Dutch took from the Italians. I don't think the nonchalance is fake, it's just there is awareness how good some understated clothes can look, pretending you don't know how good you look is fake. A long time ago, it was fake, it was cool to act like you didn't give a shit about your looks. That has changed, especially in Amsterdam.
Wearing the same quality clothes is all right, but what is not done is wear it the same day of the week. You really have to randomize you're washing schedual. You cannot show up every tuesday in the same place with the same shirt. Then you become the one with that shirt and people chuckle about that.
You know that great jeans can be comfortable and you look nice. Dont have to be expensive to look nice
Wearing the same thing more than once. The mindset has two layers: (a) if you buy quality in cloth, and making, and design, then it will be more expensive but give more pride and it will wear less over time, (b) you do not foolishly spend money
That is typical for Amsterdam. In the eastern part of the Netherlands we are more reluctant to leg-ins and t-shirts in a grocery store although it depends on who it wears. 😁
Finally a new video..
Dank je wel lieverd !!!❤
Do you have a new cat, Ava? I was surprised to see that your rug in the chair came to life.
It's the same kitty in all his fluffy gloriousness!
OMG look at the cat behind her!! Fluffy and cute!
I'm an American who's currently biking all over the Netherlands and have noticed this too. Also, women in their 20s-30s seem to often be wearing blazers-- at least in Rotterdam.
Blazers mean you want to show professionalism, or that it might be a bit chilly in the ACed office!
I guess it depends on where you are. I have seen people in their sleepwear with bathrobe or 'huispak' in the grocery store XD And tbh, no one cares, as long as you are wearing clothes.
I've had American colleagues upset that I would only bring two pairs of trousers with me on a business trip (one extra because otherwise I would of course spill a cup of coffee over it within five minutes and have nothing else to wear). Why? The trip is less than a week and will be airport-hotel-conference centre rinse and repeat anyway? Why would I bring my whole wardrobe? The suitcase is heavy enough as it is :') 'but you can't wear the same clothes for more than one day!' I agree for underwear/socks and shirts/hoodies. Not so much for vests and trousers... I am not going to change my wardrobe multiple times a day unless I really had a wardrobe malfunction (there goes the cup of coffee again) or I have been very sweaty/soaked due to rain/etc... too much effort :')
Suits - including the pants - should be able to be worn more than a day before being laundered - whether that is dry cleaning or otherwise - for sure. But it might be a good idea to alternate wearing the two, that way the worn pair has a chance to air out for a day before being pressed back into service.
Most other European countries think the Dutch are very underdressed. 🙈😅 I don't mind people wearing leisure clothes. It might just be friends upon at work.
Some time ago I wrote that the Dutch do not need to die, because you show us that we already live in heaven. I want to add to this two comments. 1. The Dutch usually complain about everything from the weather to the government, and you always show us that we have nothing to complain about by your enthousiasm and happy face. 2. You point out some smal things we never think about that make that we love life more; I think about your mentioning cookies with the coffee and the question: "Is it a gift?" and wrapping it up nicely.
I thought it was a pillow or blanket... and then the CAT moved.... 😂
'Oh no, we are not stylish, etc etc' Damn, that was exactly what I was going to comment on the video lol
Hey, where've you been? You've been missed. I love your videos. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
I remember when I was in university, here in the Netherlands I was part of a international student workgroup. And one time we had American students comming over. We had to entertain them took them around the city, stayed with them in the hotels, attending and orginizing masterclasses etc. Very fun to do (I got extra course credit to this obviously). And one day these Anerican Students told us tgat everybody at uni looked so stylish and every one did their hair nice snd even put on make up I was like okay that is normal. But they told me tgat in the US most students go in sweatpants and a hoodie to school and don't wear any make up and just put tgeir hair up because most of them lived on campus so it was easier. I was amazed because when I watched movies of series the students always look like they are going to a party instead of college 🤣🤣
Good information for me
Thank you
Dutch wear a lot of dark blue and black. It kinda goes with the rain. We could use more colour imo.
A day in autumn, some 40 years ago, I was going to visit my mother, 125 KM drive on my light motorbike. I didn't feel like getting suited up and was just going to take my time getting there.
The weather forecast was dry and sunny.
I arrived in Lelystad wet, not just a little moist.. completely soaked.
$@!@$#$! .. shit..
Drove over to a fashion shop, stood at the door and waved over one of the personnel, a girl.
I handed her 300 Guilders (150 Euro, today it probably wouldn't be enough, back then it was) and ordered 'Dark blue Tripper jeans 32/36, any shirt/sweater that you think goes well with the jeans and size 42 sneakers. If you will like it, then it is fine with me, finish the payment and please hand it to me here'.
Done, I had dry cloths 🙂
. I read something from the sixtees in where a Dutch group exclaimesd how backwards in fashion they were in the USA and they did a tour, it is not like they saw one city in one state. So it is not a new observation.
Up until the very last few seconds of the video, I hadn't noticed your cat having been in the picture the whole time!
It's really funny that Americans think it's normal to wear gym clothes and pajamas everywhere. 😁
Nothing wrong with that, of course, people should be free to choose, but the effort required to put normal clothes is the same.
Gym clothes can be a very good choice though for disabled people and other people with pain.
@@Freya778 I live with ME/CFS for more than three decades and a half and it's easier to button a shirt than to put on a T-Shirt or sweaters, most of my clothes are button downs and jackets that can be opened at the front, I only wear T Shirts to sleep and sometimes I will even use older button downs when I don't feel too well. No difference with pants either and wearing heels make it easier for me to walk (I am a man, so I wear boots or shoes with chunky heels, hate running shoes even for walking).
I experience it the exact opposite way... All my American friends are more likely to wear tight trousers, cut out tops, glitter, make up and nails done. Here, just like in the nordics, style seems more relaxed and casual, individualistic and vintage. Always ready to cycle, be exposed to the rain and I didn't see much chance or reason to dress up for anything. But then I live in Amsterdam, so that's not the same as a village somewhere else in the country where guys might more commonly wear the sleek /gel hair do 😅
I think it depends on where you are in the U.S. but also I see a lot of Americans either wear extremely casual or extremely formal (compared to the Netherlands). When they go out they often wear very tight and short dresses and go all out with their make-up and hair. Dutch people are definitely somewhere in the middle. When they dress for formal occasions they keep it more natural but when they dress casually, it's often a bit more put together with nice shoes and accessories.
All very true for me personally as a Dutch guy. I don't have a huge wardrobe but what I have is all high quality. I'll buy a 600 euro jacket and 200 euro jeans that fit perfectly, and wear them for like 7 years until they start to get ratty. I don't like going out in shorts even in summer because I don't want to look like a tourist.
In the US i see people in shorts and flip flops in a restaurant. That is a big no no here. But here they go in jeans and a T-shirt to the theater which is not done in a country like France.
BOUGHT a house?? In Amsterdam???? 😳
No, Utrecht! Still quite a feat 😅
After a change of clothes I'll always look exactly like before it. Because I always buy several of exactly the same pants, or t-shirts, or socks, or whatever. And it's always all black! And when I go outside, an all-black kaftan or djellaba is worn over everything else. Sweaters are the exception, though: whenever I wear a sweater or vest on top of it all, it could be any color on the darker side of the spectrum. No pastel colors, and no white, yellow or green.
'Fashion' means nothing to me. I do not care about what people think of my attire. Personal comfort is my only concern.
Hmm my mothers was oh no you don’t go outside in that clothes we must change before going to the shop
True, hard to find "people of Wallmart" in Dutch supermarkets
Well, this goes to show it’s all relative 🙃
From a Dutch perspective, we don’t tend to dress up, but we also don’t tend to dress down (from our perspective that’s sporting clothes).
I have several central and Eastern European (Polish, Ukrainian, Russian) acquaintances and I know for a fact that at least the women would be horrified at the idea of going on a quick grocery trip without a full face of makeup and a nice dress on. The men, not so much though lol
And I can offer you the reverse perspective as well. Most Americans I meet are in the line of work. And I work as developer so as a group we tend to dress quite casually, at least by business standards. Just jeans and a T-shirt or polo shirt or sweater or something.
But our foreign visitors usually wear at the very least a nice pantalon and a buttoned shirt in the business casual or business professional range. Even the developers that come over are often dressed smart casual at least.
I'm an American working here in The Netherlands as a software developer, and can confirm. Our team is a mixture of t-shirts and jeans or perhaps a simple sweater and jeans. We all wear sneakers. Luckily, most of our colleagues in other departments are also quite casual, but if someone comes in from another company for a presentation, they are always "overdressed" in comparison.
Now, when it comes to having a night out for a company event, everyone else got dressed up a lot more, even though it was basically just dinner right after work at a normal restaurant. I was the odd-ball out because I was still wearing the same clothes.
I live in a small town in the south and I get weird looks when I wear shorts/sweat pants running errands, but I also present as much different from most Dutch men (long hair, piercings, etc) in our town. Are they looking at "me" or my clothes? Idk ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Dear Eva, living in a small village deep down in the south eastern Netherlands where the local dialect sounds like coming from a different planet not located in our galaxy, I can disagree with you a little bit, here people in general do often buy their cloth at the cheapest store within a 10 km range and dress accordingly , which represents itself in local supermarkets both here and across the border where we do most of our shopping , other than that a very nice interesting video , I hope you will make more video's
Talk about sizes. Women can be "anal" about the numbers and I know this 91 year old woman who cut the labels out of her clothes because of these numbers. Between countries in Europe there are significant differences. So if you are a woman with a petite frame then it is easier to buy clothes in France or Italy, but you have to be aware that confection numbers are different over there. Dress size 36 here in the NL may be called 40 there.
There are other average national differences. If a Dutch man has a high instep (the height of the foot at the metatarsals) then he may not be able to buy fitting shoes with a so-called "Oxford lock" in the NL and always have to revert to the "Derby lock". A higher instep may be more common in Germany and the Dutch man might want to shop there, for shoes with an Oxford lock.
It's so crazy how different cultural perspectives can clash so much. I'm an American who is currently spending a lot of time in Amsterdam after living in London for the last few years. Compared to London, Dutchies never ever dress up and their style is just sort of casually European, even for nights out. (With that said, as a rule, Europeans have farrrr better style than people in the U.S., especially men.) I have to consciously make an effort to look less nice here than I would in London because it seems like no one dresses up for anything, ever. I end up feeling overdressed 99% of the time anyway, even on a Saturday night in the city on a date. I dress what I consider super casually in the U.S. whenever I go home to visit and my American friends still complain that they feel the need to dress up whenever I come home to visit. London has apparently permanently warped my idea of what "casual" means.
Hot take: Men don't dress up. Everything concerning fashion / learning how to dress nicely etc should stay a "woman" concern.
Quality over quantity and clothes are a way to express that attitude. "Goedkoop is duurkoop", is what my granny always said. If you want better quality, you'll always end up with more style in clothes. Good quality clothes are also fine as second hand or hand downs. A 100 year old granny bike is a prized item of quality. Old houses attest to quality of the building that withstood time.
Wearing tonnes of make-up makes you less attractive as nobody wants a partner to waste hours of precious time and having a plastered face is considered to be a bit deceitful, like wearing a mask. Dutch women excel in making it look like they don't spend hours on their looks, whereas anyone who lives with them can attest that's not quite true.
But as in any society, there are things you need to conform with as well. You can't build a house that sticks out too much from the others and getting permission to build some extension to an existing house is a process that involves a "beauty commission". Clothing is often an expression of culture of peer groups and every subculture has its own dress codes. In that regard not that much has changed compared to the regional outfits or "klederdracht" like you will still come across in some places where it is mainly worn for touristic events.
And legging were in fashion a very short time as well, but somehow showing your booty and having a camel toe seldom was considered an asset. I guess that walking around more than the average American exposes one more to the public look of disapproval.
I think most Dutch people don't really care what other people are wearing. A guy could wear a pink tutu and walk at ease on the street without receiving comments. I often see people with really odd fashion choices with other people walking by like they don't care. I usually look the same. Same colors, same type of clothing. My clothing is old too. I barely buy new clothes. I have a jacket. It's over ten years old but I still wear it. I don't care how I look.
I think there's also an underlying difference in how different cultures approach bodies. In the US, bodies are a spectacle. If you're dressing up, you must be looking for attention. If you're showing skin, it seems to be some sort of implied invitation. In the Netherlands from what I've seen, bodies are just...bodies. Wearing clothes that fit and are tailored to be snug and look nice is just normal. I see lots of midrifs. I would never dare to show that much skin in the US but here it's no big deal. So if you take in the different approaches to how bodies are perceived, it then follows that different clothing would be purchased more often, and therefore push fashion in those directions. Example: when we moved to the Netherlands, I was short on comfy around-the-house clothes. I planned on getting sweat pants and sweat shirts, but they weren't as common as other options, so my casual wardrobe is now a lot snazzier than it used to be!
One thing that immediately stands out is the emphasis on comfort in American fashion. Americans are known for wearing casual clothing, such as athleisure, which is a blend of athletic wear and leisure wear. This type of clothing is not as common in the Netherlands, where people tend to opt for more stylish and put-together outfits.
Americans tend to wear sneakers and sandals for everyday wear, while the Dutch prefer more structured shoes like loafers and ankle boots. And while both cultures appreciate quality clothing, the Dutch value sustainable and ethical fashion more than Americans.
American and Dutch fashion have their unique styles and aesthetics. However, the Dutch emphasis on sophistication and sustainability adds a certain elegance to their everyday fashion that Americans can learn from.
Great content
Hm, Amsterdam. And a specific part of Amsterdam, actually. Your next supermarket visit should be in Zuid-Oost
Which videos are about buying a house??
dutch fashion style = 'casual look'
Also, why bother drying the hair if it is raining outside? But I agree with the people saying Dutch aren't fashionable for European standards. But Amsterdam and Maastricht will be much more fashionable than some other places.
Sweetie, they looked at you because you are beautiful!! That was all.
I live in one of the neighboring countries and am plus size. I wear what I want, even if it's a garbage bag!! I'm 64, so I've had quite a few years under my belt, and I've 'earned' it (haha) to wear what I want. And, I'm a rebel, I hate being put in a box. Because that's what society likes to do and I oppose it, in my own way! For example, my hair (despite the fact that I am so old) has been dyed bright pink for +- 25 years (I have ultra short hair, preferably straight) and I also like other people who like to color outside the lines, outcasts, lone wolves, etc., but only from people with a good heart. When I came to live in this little town people looked odd at me because of my hair and because I love to wear long dresses and skirts (not all hippie-style but also chic-style.) but now they do not mind anymore. I even would wear a long tutu if I could find one in my size (in a bright color or in purple of wine red). To go grocery shopping!!!
Why not? When my husband still worked, his colleagues kept making comments to him when they had seen me on the street, when driving to work, and asked him if I had to go to a party that day because I looked so 'dressed up'!?!? And that bothered my husband every time and he let me know he did not understand why I did it. And made him understand very soon HAHA.
Now more women do it in this town, why keep your fancy ('good') clothing tucked away in your closet when you are my age???? And we never go out or to feasts. I also love clothing, love fashion although I do not follow it exactly, only what I like and when it's out of fashion I still wear it!! And WhyTF not people???? Keep all those pretty things for when you are dead?? You can not take them with you so enjoy them now is my opinion.
So, do that too, no matter what other people think of say: IT IS YOUR LIFE!!!
Love from Pinkie
People from Belgium are WAY more stylish than the Dutch. I find Dutch fashion a little drab and plain. They seem to wear clothes more for practicality than for style in my experience of living here for so long.
That just counts for one particular class of society and the way they brag about it and look down on others who are less well dressed, is quite cringe.
Dont you shower after a workout? Before going into the city?
Kan je ook een keer een vlog maken in het Nederlands????
As a European I never thought about the Dutch as being stylish but I guess comparing them to slobby dressed Americans it's true 😂
Especially during carnival or world cups
In different you tube video's i saw policeman in a bermuda trousers. I have never seen that in The Netherlands fortunately.
I honestly love the mindset around clothing in the US. It recognizes the variability of a person's mood and respects that people put their effort in different things. Really appreciate that I can be wearing head to toe ann demeulemeester walking around with a friend wearing ripped fishnet tights, corset, and combat boots & we simply read as a group of eccentric and fashion-forward people. I totally see myself in the Netherlands one day, but I'm going to miss being able to walk to the library in a pair of ugg boots and sweatpants if I'm just not feeling it that day.
As a Dutchy I say wear whatever you want to! Most people I know , and myself included, do this. Athleasure wear/sports clothes and relaxed clothes lije sweatpants are also becoming more normal in the Netherlands. You want to still look groomes though and not like you just rolled out if bed and haven't showered in a week. So as long as you and your clothes look and smell clean, you are good to go 😁. And artsy and creative outfits are also cool.
I wear a lot of athleasure wear, especially in the summer, because that is comfortable to me. Those clothes are stretchy which means I will have less pain than if I wear things like jeans, and a lot of sports clothes use moisture wicking fabric which means I get les sweaty and don't get as hot. Sports leggings are also ideal to wear in the summer under skirts and dresses. You can't see that you are wearing them if you pick the right length, but they keep you more dry and cool and prevent thigh-rub and chaving.
Waar is vosje. Heeft hij de verhuizing overleefd? 😢
Ava,
this is a great video subjects as American and Dutch/European people definitely have different approaches to clothing and fashion. I lived my teen and young adult years in The Netherlands and have lived my adult life in The US, so I feel that I can speak to the issue. Some Dutch people are not going to like my comments but I mean no harm. I will only comment on men's clothing, I am a man. When I moved to The US, actually the day of moving in 1984 at age 22, traveling from Schiphol to Atlanta airport and then my final destination of Columbia, South Carolina, I wore clothes that were in fashion at the time in Holland, too much to call casual, too little to call "dressed up", also my hair was, not just cut but, styled. Arriving in ultra conservative and religious SC, in the midst of the Ronald Reagan era, people starred me down. Later, when I made friends with whom I would have meaningful conversations I learned that my clothes caused them to think that I was homosexual, my attire evoked no such first impressions in Holland.
American men dress more conservative, there's no doubt, less attention seeking. Proof of this is in traditional tailored suits. Suits, on the store racks before they are altered to a perfect fit have, what is called, a "drop". The drop of a suit is the difference between the shoulder size and the waste size and there's known and accepted terms being an "American drop" (6 inches/15cm) and a "European/Italian drop" (8 inches/20cm), meaning that an American drop suit, size 54 will have size 48 in waste, an Italian drop suit size 54 will have a waste size of 46. An American suit objects to shape in a straight line from the shoulder to the hem whereas an Italian suit objects to more closely follow (and show) the contour of the body. The more conservative approach is also true for much more casual life. Ava, while in collage in The US how many guys did you know who were "jeans and T-shirt" guys? You have 3 pairs of jeans (Levi's, Wranglers, brand loyal NOT fashion jeans), 20 or so T-shirts (and the print on the shirt says something about who you are), 2 pairs of Khaki's, a pair of loafer dress shoes and some colored and/or patterned dress shirts for nice cocktail and networking functions, one blue suit with a white shirt, a few striped ties and black laced dress shoes for high profile job interviews, funerals and weddings and "Voila", your wardrobe is all finished...FOR LIFE! I forgot, 3 belts and an assortment of athletic attire.
Girls love these guys, during binge movie watching nights they wear their boyfriend's T-shirts and dress shirts. This conservative dress follows natural biological sexual attraction laws. What do women find attractive in men? Confidence, decisive, goal focused, intelligent and on.
A man who is always in the latest, ever changing fashion is a man who follows societal woes, a conservative dressed man follows his own path and will, is unaffected by whatever others try to dictate to him. Wearing the latest fashion consistently is expensive and like cars is a bad investment, the value diminishes at a fast rate, conservative men invest in value growth. Conservative men aim to express their worth by their deeds and real accomplishments, not make an intangible impression with their clothes. Fashionable men change their outlook, their direction frequently, they are directionless, wobble insecurely all over the place, conservative men are resolved and steady and confident in who they are.
I am not saying that this is all true but it is the sexual attraction image of a man and his meaning of fashionable clothing.
Shopping for clothes is a real cultural family event in Holland, I learned there. Many whole families go on Saturday to the various shopping centers, make it a family outing and everyone gets some new clothes but in my opinion there's a "Bling" effect at work. The Netherlands is an economically thriving country and many things are very well run in Holland but there are many things that Dutch people can't afford compared to their neighbors Germany and The US, big cars, big houses and yards and certain freedoms that come with prosperity. In The Netherlands there;s quite a pressure to toe the line, conform, not stand out expressively (do dan maar normaal, ben niet A-sociaal). And buying fashionable clothing is something that many Dutch can afford and maintain and store, it is a means of showing off (bling) status, all be it in typical Dutch manners of understated elegance.
A last comment about dressing neatly in defense of those who do, or the lack of neatness, pajamas at Walmart, dirty cloths, woefully ill-fitting cloths. When a person steps out of the door in the morning into a shared society, dressing well is not only for themself. Care and attention to how you look, how you are dressed tells how you care about your society, your civilization, you care not only about how you look but also how well civilization, in which you partake looks, you care enough to contribute to it.
Hi Windmillchef, thanks for your explanation. Would love to copy your reaction to inform other (Dutch) men. Unfortunately cannot copy/paste her. Thanks for your help, EefjeW
Sorry, but it's like you're talking about a completely different country because I don't recognize this at all. People here walk around in t-shirts all the time and even today you see people in shorts or jogging pants and t-shirts. So it's probably because you live in a city but that's not 'The Netherlands'.
Fashion is a thing that does not apply to me. Basically I wear the same kind of things as I did in the eighties. They have to be black, though.
I wear Mountain tshirts only👕🪶
This, like a lot of expats, is more "Amsterdam vs" Amsterdam is a city with a lot of tourists and expats. Therefore its in a lot of things not a good example of The Netherlands as a country. Even clothing in Amsterdam is different from the rest of our country
Dutch Amerikano lives in Utrecht.
As for the athleisure here in the United States; there are a LOT of Americans who should NOT be wearing it because it merely highlights how UNathletic they are and/or look. When 35% of the population is obese and 74% are overweight, athleisure really REALLY shouldn't be a thing. Full disclosure, I'm 67, 6 foot tall and 165 lbs. Love your videos BTW.
Why do some Dutch men wear red trousers? Is it a particular Dutch thing? I ask from ignorance....
I agree, the Dutch are generally stylish.
huh? It depends on where you look. Walk around on Utrecht Central Station at 8:30 or 16:30 and you will see a lot of different outfits, not all fashionable. You can rate my outfit tomorrow at 8:30 🤣
Those that are fashionable are often not of native Dutch origine. Usually Turkish ladies are more fashionable dressed.
Go to a Saturday market in a more rural area and you see people wearing relaxed ugly outfits.
My wife does not allow me to go to the office in outdoor walking gear so nice pants and a shirt it is. Only need to find some new shoes that are comfortable and can stand a rainy bike ride. Fashion advice?
I'd check out ECCO for shoes like that!