A very confident tourist recently attracted the ire of Mallorcans - and the attention of the international press - when he wandered the streets of Palma wearing only a pair of skimpy green Speedos. It wasn't necessarily the choice of swimwear that he got so wrong, but rather the local etiquette.
"Do research into what is acceptable," says creative fashion consultant Carlotta Constant, who designed Nike Swimming's SS24 campaign. 'Behave as people in the city would expect. In some Spanish cities you can go to the store in a bikini, in other places it is seen as absurdly rude."
Green Speedo Man isn't the first person to embrace inappropriate holiday attire - there's something about flying that seems to bring out the worst in people's wardrobes. T-shirts with vulgar slogans, bikinis in posh restaurants and - gasp - the dreaded 'mandal' with socks have been known to make an appearance. These vacation-only outfits are not only bad for the eyes, they're also bad for the environment. Britain is big on fast fashion - and suitcases full of new clothes are part of the problem.
However, if you're wearing an office suit (or a pajama outfit at home), going away means the chance to put on something more exciting and embrace who you really want to be. How do you find the perfect balance and avoid offending the local population? Below, experts give their advice on what to wear - and what to avoid - on holiday.
On the plane - how to increase your chance of an upgrade
If you do this a little wrong, your journey could end before it even begins. Airlines reserve the right to deny boarding to passengers whose attire is deemed inappropriate.
"What an airline deems revealing or offensive is often left to the airline's staff, meaning that dress code enforcement can be inconsistent," says former crew member Jay Robert, who now runs the social media community A Fly Guy's Cabin Airlines Crew Lounge leads. . "Clothes that fail to cover sensitive body parts and clothing with offensive words, insults or symbols are typically the main offenders."
Will going the other way and putting on a Panama hat and linen suit (or designer sunglasses and high heels) upgrade you? In the age of athleisure, even first-graders are more likely to wear tracksuits, but being well-dressed can also have benefits.
"When I worked as a gate agent, I would select older passengers first and those who looked good would be next on my list to get the First Class upgrade," says Robert. "I remember a woman who was dressed to impress - she really stood out. I got a call from operations to move one passenger to First Class, so I called her up to the podium, handed her a First Class boarding pass and said, 'I'm sorry, your outfit is too cute for economy,'" he reveals.
Some savvy flyers are embracing more practical airline clothing strategies, including one Phil Lisle who, according to Wales Online, wore his entire holiday wardrobe on a flight from Benidorm to Bristol to avoid paying extra baggage fees. Lloyd Griffiths (half of the travel blog duo Handluggage Only, alongside Yaya Onalaja-Aliu) also opts for a sensible approach. "I'm someone who dribbles myself on every flight, so I always have to wear black on a plane," he says.
As air travel becomes less and less luxurious, keeping it cozy should also be a top priority. "I would invest in really good loungewear," says second-hand fashion stylist Jen Graham. 'Try a brand called Pantee. I have had one of the tracksuits for six months now and there is not a bulge on it."
On a city trip - how not to look like a tourist
The Green Speedo Man may have been photographed in Mallorca, but he was strolling the streets of Palma, the city's capital. Do that in London and you would provoke a similar reaction. "We also have dress codes in Britain. You wouldn't show up to a club in shorts, a singlet and sneakers," says Onalaja-Aliu. "When some people travel, they don't realize they are guests. There is an expectation that what they feel comfortable with is what everyone else should feel comfortable with."
He sees the city as a place where you have to dress to impress. "I like the idea of walking by and telling people, 'Ooo, what's that person wearing?' Choose at least one thing (be it shoes, pants or shirts) that looks good and stands out."
The duo also recommend packing a signature scent ("not the one you get in Duty Free"). Onalaja-Aliu's secret weapon was Byredo's now-discontinued Open Sky, a spicy mix with notes of pomelo, cannabis and Palo Santo.
'I'm not joking. When we were in New York, several people ran up to our cabs and asked, "What are you wearing?" What smell is this?' over the course of one day," he adds.
Looking to up your tailoring game with extra special customization? Vintage is your friend, says Graham. "I wish I could make a TV show where I show people on the street a Windsor blazer (from the 1970s, I think), and then one from a fast fashion brand that copied it. The quality, the cut, the material, the finish - you would feel a million dollars for it in the 1970s. And that fast fashion went into the washing machine, then the shoulder pads started moving, there were threads everywhere, the buttons came loose.'
One final piece of advice: Be gentle if you don't want to look like a tourist, says Marissa Cox, author of Practicing Parisienne. In Paris, that means avoiding "an outfit that is very exaggerated with lots of accessories. All the stereotypical Parisian pieces at once: beret, striped top, trench coat and ballerinas. Also too much make-up and too much hair. High heels during the day, or heels that are difficult to walk in (choose block heels if you want to wear heels)."
Is there anything Parisians would never wear? "Slippers (especially the plastic kind) and Crocs are generally a non-non, as are leggings and sweatpants," Cox adds.
On the beach: how do you avoid a fine?
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has official travel advice for tourists traveling to Spain who prefer to wear minimal clothing: "In some parts of Spain it is illegal to be on the street wearing only a bikini or swimming trunks. Bare-chested clothing is also illegal in some areas of Spain. You can be fined if you are caught wearing swimwear on the boulevard or adjacent streets."
Other parts of Europe also have a bikini ban. In 2022, the mayor of Sorrento banned swimwear and shirtlessness on the streets, and the same rules apply in Venice.
For the chicest way to cover up, embrace linen. And don't worry about it getting crumpled in your suitcase. "I always tell people not to be afraid of wrinkles in linen," says Constant. "One of those things that no one really knows is that the more wrinkles there are in linen, the more expensive it is."
Local customs can trip up visitors, but so can cheap, see-through swimwear. Graham's advice is to buy durable, good quality pieces. "I buy swimwear on Vinted because you can buy it 'new with tags'. Sustainable swimwear brands are usually more expensive, but you don't need one bikini every day. Take a few and mix and match different tops and bottoms on different days," she says.
Is there ever a case for swimwear beyond the beach? Constant thinks so. "It can be so versatile, and that's what you want from your holiday wardrobe," she says. "You want to pack light and have a capsule wardrobe to work with. Go for the same color scheme so you can integrate your swimwear into your daily look. Bring accessories so that at a beach club you can combine swimwear with a skirt and a sheer top and big, chunky jewelry."
Meanwhile, the biggest fashion mistake on the sand according to both Constant and Griffith is forgetting the SPF. "I burn in about 10 seconds. So I'm always covered up, under an umbrella, with factor 50 on and with a blanket over my feet," says Griffiths.
Beware of the fashion police this holiday season
Chic hotels
Check this before traveling to a five-star hotel. It can be sultry in the Caribbean, but men can get into trouble if they only pack shorts: many hotel restaurants require pants in the evening. Meanwhile, trainers, T-shirts and shorts are banned at the American Bar in Gleneagles. And you'll need a jacket and tie for afternoon tea at Palm Court at The Ritz.
Cruise ships
Pants are the norm in some cruise ship restaurants (although in some locations on P&O ships you can get away with "smart, tailored shorts," while Disney's most casual restaurants accept everything but swimwear and tank tops). You'll also need a dress or jacket and tie for 'Black Tie' nights - unless you're on Virgin Voyage, where you can wear whatever you want, and even attend a 'pajama party' in nightwear.
Amusement parks
Do you have a desire to return to your childhood by dressing up as your favorite Disney character? Forget it: Disneyland bans costumes for anyone over the age of 14. Obscene slogans and visible inappropriate tattoos are also out of fashion, as are garments that show "excessive areas of skin."
Active wear
Can you embrace sports? And fashion on holiday?
It's finally time to look back with nostalgia on C&A's school ski clothing: the color has completely returned. Onalaja-Aliu prefers a swimsuit in highlighter shades for the snow, while Constant recommends the brand Perfect Moment, known for its '70s-inspired figure-hugging pieces in red, white and blue.
For those who want to mingle, Constant recommends Burton. "It's a snowwear brand that's a little more fun. It is comfortable and extra large. It looks great on everyone."
Meanwhile, the key to looking good while walking is always being comfortable. In some cases, wearing the wrong clothes can be downright dangerous, which may explain the ban on slippers and open shoes on the hiking trails of Italy's Cinque Terre.
The coolest brands currently in the activewear game? Try Normal Studios for cycling, Patagonia and Arc'teryx for outdoor trips.
