Clothing in Cali?

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: Beards, posted by Pete E on May 5, 2003

Pete if there's talk about shaving your head and getting it tatooed you better draw the line.

[Pete E]

... in response to Also, posted by Pete E on May 4, 2003

nt

[Seeker]

... in response to Clothing in Cali?, posted by Seeker on May 3, 2003

Amazing! You guys did it again: turned my confusion around -thank you. Now I have a much better idea of what type of attire I'll be bringing to Cali. I appreciate your help.

[Hiker]

... in response to Clothing in Cali?, posted by Seeker on May 3, 2003

I was born wearing cowboy boots and wrangler jeans.  Cowboy boots are not a hit in Cali as a casual shoe.  You would only wear them going riding or to a stable or something.  Golf or polo shirts are ok but button up is much better.  Sundays seem to be the only day of the week that shorts and a logo T-shirt would be considered ok, and that would depend on what you are doing.  Even something like going to the zoo does not justify shorts, although on Sunday afternoons you might see people wearing them.  Polish your shoes, wear socks!  The "bum" look that might be cool here is not cool there.  It is more an issue of respect.  The average person there is much cleaner than the average person here.  Another very big thing is manners.  In our fast paced, instant everything, life we have forgotten manners.  What you might consider a small table manner is very important there.  Little things like cutting food with your fork instead of the knife would certainly be noticed by any of the girls I have met in Cali.

[Pete E]

... in response to Clothing in Cali?, posted by Seeker on May 3, 2003

I would wear cotton pants,like dockers,rather than jeans.Short sleeve shirt with collar,long sleeve OK at night.No logo shirts.Holes in your jeans at the knee,not cool at all there,makes you look like a bum,not a cool dude.
Shorts are worn some places,some times,but better to be a little overdressed than under,but leave the suit and the tie home unless you are going to formal events.I guess one tie is ok as a back up.
I think neatness of appearance counts.Hair ,fingenails(Cali women are finger nail toe nail obsessed).Shoes polished or attractive.
I think we have gotten to where we really dress down in this country.In Cali someone would think you were a low class person.
I guess clean neat sporty casual would be the preffered look.
But also,if ever you could say don't worry,just bring money,it is in Cali.Go to the malls,see what people are wearing,and buy it for a good price there.Clothes are a good buy in Cali.Leather shoes an excellent buy.
And remember,its warm.80-90 F during the day,maybe 65-75 at night.
I had to laugh watching the old Hawaii 5 OH series on TV.All the guys were in suits.Totally stupid in that climate. It would be soaked with sweat in 5 miniutes. I never saw a suit there.The plain clothes cops that showed up when my car was broken in to wore Hawaian
shirts.

Pete

[Nico]

... in response to Clothing in Cali?, posted by Seeker on May 3, 2003

Seeker have made 2 trips down there and here is my suggestion.

1) No shorts, I read Brazilophile post but the bottom line is they do not wear shorts.You will stand out like a sore thumb. I wore them the 1st day or so and that was enough for me.

2) Solid color short and long sleeve shirts are good(preferably collared).Button up is the best, but Polo style is Ok. Blacks, gray,and whites are popular. If you like colors thats ok but nothing too loud.

3)No t shirts especially with ads or sayings on them. After a few dates though may be ok

4) No beat up tennis shoes.

5)Slacks or clean jeans are good

6)Nice shoes,black or brown leather lace ups  are the best. No sandals when you 1st meet them after a few dates may be ok depending.

[Cali vet]

... in response to Clothing in Cali?, posted by Seeker on May 3, 2003

No matter what you wear Colombians will spot you as a gringo from five blocks. Do NOT bring a suit, you'll roast. My wife says for sure leave the Hawaiian shirts at home. Cali women do seem to be very atuned to male haberdashery.

[elcolombiano]

... in response to Re: Clothing in Cali?, posted by Cali vet on May 3, 2003

They really dislike the Hawaii shirts. I do not know why.

[Brazilophile]

... in response to Clothing in Cali?, posted by Seeker on May 3, 2003

I have heard conflicting advice on what to wear in Colombia/Cali.  My personal experiences and the clothing decisions I have witnessed lead me to conclude that you should take any and all advice with many grains of salt.  

I have been told never to wear shorts because Latin men don't wear them.  Well, slews of men in Cali and Cartagena wear shorts, especially on week-ends.  It is perectly acceptable casual wear, though a serious no-no for anything remotely semi-formal like business, polictics, or meeting a lady for the first time.  

My experience with the ladies is that most are impressed by a clean, neat appearance.  This type of lady will appreciate your meeting her in slacks (Dockers style), dress shoes, and a shirt with a tie, the first time.  Many of them will dress to impress as well.  After that it is how you both feel.

What I think is paramount is that you dress in a way that reflects who you are and how you are on a day to day basis.  If you are formal until the ice is broken, dress conservatively for the first few meetings.  If you are a warm, friendly, sensitive, touchy-feely type with everyone immediately, dress casually all the time.  

Many ladies look for signs of deception.  Dressing to give one impression when you will later turn out to be something else is getting off on the very wrong foot.

Just my $0.02.  YMMV

[Celt]

... in response to Re: Clothing in Cali?, posted by Brazilophile on May 3, 2003

Very good two cents. I remember one guy who wore
shorts to his citas, the kind favored by NBA stars
in the 1970s, a sort of male hot pants. He wondered
why in five trips he had not met anyone special.

I spoke in Spanish to some of the women who are
agency members. They all told me that they judge
the men on their appearance. A few told me that in
particular the American men do not show enough
respect to them due to their overly-casual appearance.

How would you dress for a beautiful woman in the
United States? That's how you should dress for the
beautiful CaleNas.

[HeyNow]

... in response to Re: Re: Clothing in Cali?, posted by Celt on May 3, 2003

That depends, I was on a tour recently and remember a guy who dressed well for the citas but, wore shorts at the breakfast meetings.  He was a youthful 43 and worked as an MD.  I don't recall the women getting turned off with him or the rest of us well dressed gringos.  

[Celt]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Clothing in Cali?, posted by HeyNow on May 5, 2003

I was talking about a guy who wore "gymnastics" shorts
on his initial meetings with high-top black tennis shoes.
"Look at what I got, ladies!" seems to have been the message.