what to wear in colombia

MacGringo says on Apr 5, 2006, 15:01:

Just wear what you normally wear. In Manizales it is mostly students and they dress like your average students from any European country - trainers, boot cut or low waist carpenter style denims, trailing the ground and frayed at the back and a t-shirt (retro print or whatever).
Saw a lot of this with people in Bogota too.
I got by with my loose fitting Carhaart denims , trainers and a t-shirt for most of my trip and didn't get any strange looks.
Although depending on where you go at night you might want to get some more dressy denims, a pair of shoes and a shirt. But if your just going to student type bars, then you'll be fine with what you normally wear.

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omargue says on Apr 5, 2006, 16:53:

i always say be yourself, but you may want to blend in alittle more because for any reason you wont stand out. I've only been in Cali, and there i didn't really see people whereing too many urban style clothes.....if you're talkin about a big t-shirt and big baggy pants and hat (straight brim and to the side a bit), you may want to just get alittle more tapered clothing. you dont have to where tight clothes, but if you walk around in you roccawear jeans, big ecko shirt and NY hat, you def gonna stand out. i would buy a couple outfits just to have to you can at least rotate in case you see your clothes not fit for Colombia. comfortable is the best way to be.....

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costajunkie says on Apr 5, 2006, 18:06:

Dress neither up nor down I'd say don't even try to be yourself if what you wear is definitely something different than what those around you are wearing. I come from the school of travel where one tries their best to blend in so as to not attract attention.

I live in B/quilla half the time, and for the last four years I have been wearing my my unofficial colombian uniform everywhere: oxford button-down shirt, Docker pants, and loafers. Most colombian men do not dress -up or -down too much. NEVER wear shorts (except at the beach or the resorts), as this will draw attention immediately. I look nothing like one would think a colombian would look like, but most of the time when I am out - say, in a grocery store or wherever - people assume I'm just a white colombian.

I remember when I first came to Colombia, I wore shorts all the time and everywhere... I got so tired of being bothered - the last straw was when I outstrode a mob of people hawking their wares in Cartagena, so they started throwing rocks at me to get my attention.

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ColombiaBoard says on Apr 6, 2006, 06:35:

What to wear What you should have in mind is the weather differences.

In cities such as Bogota and Manizales you'll have to wear a jacket or light sweater, a coat at night, those are cold rainy cities.

In places such as Cartagena, San Andres wear loose clothing, beachwear, those are resort towns.

In Cucuta wear summer clothing

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lfflorez says on Apr 6, 2006, 07:53:

what to wear just be humble gringo
and dont play the rich visitor trip
when i travel
i look at the locals
and copy their style
play the humble and penetrate the culture
be cool always bro
hey
if u want to visit CALI which is south in colombia
near popayan
and have a taste to go alternative
visit my hostel for backpackers
http://hostelmochileros.googlepages.com

thanx

Visit us at HOSTEL MOCHILEROS CALI COLOMBIA at http://hostelmochileros.googlepages.com/home info: hostelmochileros@gmail.com

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Miguel says on Apr 6, 2006, 09:56:

"NEVER wear shorts (except at the beach or the resorts" Elmo and I did not get that memo and have been in violation of breaking that rule for a hell of a long time when we are in Barranquilla.

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JLynISU says on Apr 6, 2006, 10:33:

Somebody took the words right out of my mouth when they mentioned southern food. Christ have you been to New Orleans, Louisiana or Jackson, Mississippi? My mom is originally from the South and Southerners know how to throw down some bacon, grits, crawfish, gumbo, cornbread, hamhocks, sweet potatoes, etc etc. The south also has some of the most obese people, lol, but the foods delish. My fav is Cajun or some spicy Tex-Mex cuisine.

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kernow62 says on Apr 6, 2006, 14:45:

In Cartagena purple velour tracksuits are de rigueur at the moment.

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Colombiche says on Apr 6, 2006, 14:49:

In Bogota You can't wear tiger speedos, you have to wear leopard print speedos, it's all about territory and wearing the wrong feline print can get you killed.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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fennell01 says on Apr 6, 2006, 21:21:

Urban Cool Pair of stying jeans....retro Pumas and a long sleeve shirt button down with the sleeves rolled up or semi tight fitting tee..you will be rockin....do you need to go to Cucuta? Shi#hole. I have travelled to all of those towns and I was never cold...you could bring a light sweater but you will not need a freakin jacket unless you are originally from Miami....

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costajunkie says on Apr 6, 2006, 22:30:

"Elmo and I did not get that memo" Miguel, my post had more to do with blending in and remaining anonymous. However, I never believed that you and Elmo gave a shit about about blending in when you were there!

I live there about half the time, and if you are there for extended periods of time, the desire to remain faceless becomes more important than comfort - at least for me. The first few times I visited I also wore shorts everywhere I went (even in Bogota!), and it began to grate on my nerves to be noticed and ID'd as a gringo everywhere. For example, the fucking mimes that follow you four, five, six blocks even, harassing and extorting you until you pay up.

Yes, I would much rather prefer to wear shorts. You think I'm comfortable in long pants? I'm from Arizona, and it is insane to wear anything else but shorts here when you have the choice, especially in the summer. Besides, being a "desert rat," my body can take the heat, but it's not accustomed to the humidity.

By the way, you can wear shorts (not that there is a law against it)... In B/quilla on Sundays, supposedly it is socially acceptable to wear shorts and sandals. In other words, you won't be the only ones doing so.

In addition, I have another problem if I wear shorts... I have a wife, and she hates it when women come up and talk to me - and it happens more often when I'm wearing shorts and my college T-shirts. Furthermore, my mother-in-law nags and chastises me everytime I leave the apartment wearing shorts for fear I'll be robbed, kidnapped or killed. Make fun all you want, but just wait until you have these problems!

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