Here’s some practical thoughts on preparing and adjusting to life in Europe
Clothes:
Dress for the weather: Vienna
-Summer will be warm, but can have cool days from time to time.
• Bring one sweatshirt and/or light jacket plus normal “summer” type clothes.
-Fall and Spring will be cool, but some days can be quite cold or even very warm.
• Be prepared for anything.
-Winter is usually cold and often wet.
The best idea here is to wear layers.
Most people use public transportation most of the time, so you will be walking quite a bit. This means that what ever you wear will be stress-tested by wear, tear, and weather. I suggest natural fibers (cotton, linen, washable silks, wool), especially close to the skin. Regardless of your fashion statement, natural fibers deal with heat, cold, sweat, and rain better and wash much better than man-made materials.
Also, bring something to keep you dry in rain if there is the slightest chance. You may feel foolish carrying an umbrella in the sun, but it's much worse to look like a drowned rat at your next appointment.
Fashion
The idea is to maintain your own identity while only communicating what you want to communicate about yourself. Pay attention to the way people dress who want to reach. Dress like they dress, keeping in mind your personal taste. There is a lot of diversity in dress here, but you’re saying more with your clothes than you do in the States. Right now, for example, tan kakis and what Americans call “regular” fitting pants are still considered a foreign fashion. And, while capri pants are seen as a women’s fashion in the states, they are normal men’s fashion. Also, until recently, Austrians didn’t wear flip-flops at all and they are still considered VERY casual beach or pool wear. You can find fashions that look like what you found in the States and there are people who like American fashion here, but challenge yourself to make small choices to assimilate into their fashion enough to say, “I’m American, but I’m staying.” If you want to make sure you’re hitting the right mark, ask someone who seems normal for your group what stands out to them as foreign.
There is also a difference in the way Americans approach what they wear. Most Europeans tend to conform to current fashion changes more than Americans, but they don't wear different clothes every single day. Most people wear the same few clothes over and over. This is how people stay in the latest fashions without breaking the bank. They also have a very few high quality classic pieces that they wear for years.
Think about buying only few very good pieces (especially the layers people see like jackets, pants, and shoes) rather than, say, 10 t-shirts of the same style you wore ten years ago. This may be different if you live in a more suburban area, but the inner districts of Vienna call for more attention to your dress to look like you are not a tourist passing through.
Vienna
Vienna is a more conservative, classic city than almost any city in the world. Therefore, even lower income citizens are perhaps dressed "up" more than their peers in another cultures. Many events and locations have dress codes and there is a sense of right and wrong dress here that doesn't really exist in America. If you're invited to an event, ask specifically what to wear as a way to honor their culture. Students are somewhat immune to the demands of dress, but there is not really such as things as business casual. Even business students frequently dress in suits for class.
In contrast, Levis and Converse are very popular (and expensive) casual wear, so when you are in a casual setting, don't think I've lied to you!
