The summer sun has suddenly become quite shy; this means the Brits will be soon be jetting off in an attempt to postpone the coming of winter. So for those of you attempting to escape the cold – what will you wear abroad? There are so many potential mistakes that can be made, so here are some of the best tips and tricks when attempting to tone it down and avoid offending the locals.

Choosing your Colours Wisely

In some countries certain colours are associated very strongly with particular words or ideas and should be avoided where possible; for instance purple is a symbol of death, mourning and tragedy within Brazil, Mexico and Turkey.

Red is thought to be a positive colour in the majority of countries and is associated with prosperity and good health; this view is especially true within China.

White, beige and yellow are all neutral colours that are incredibly unlikely to cause offense, as is the colour blue – blue has one of the lowest number of negative connotations and is almost always a good choice.

Religious Practices and Sensible Clothing

If you are visiting a country where religion is a prominent part of their culture it is best to observe this religion and try to grasp an understanding of it –by doing this you will be able to avoid accidentally insulting anyone whilst you are visiting, and it may give you some ideas as to what it is that you should be wearing.

If you are still unsure; play it safe with some sensible clothing – this means nothing too revealing or gaudy. However, don’t try to imitate religious clothing or practices whilst you are visiting; the chances are that it will end badly.

Focus on your Footwear!

If you want to stand out, then by all means go ahead and wear a trainers and shorts combination; I won’t stop you. Although, for those of you who have taste, please avoid open toe shoes and trainers; trainers can make your feet sweat and will quickly become uncomfortable whilst open toe or ‘peep toe’ heels will chafe and before you know it your feet will be too sore to even attempt sandals.

Sticking to closed toe shoes will protect your feet from wear and tear such as mosquito bites and damage caused by uneven road surfaces – if by some chance you do acquire an open wound on one or both of your feet you should quickly stop and sterilise the area to prevent infection.

Bin the Backpack

There is no denying that backpacks are incredibly useful accessories that can hold a many important items; but that’s the issues. Utilising a backpack whilst you are abroad signals that you are a tourist and an easy target.

To prevent this presumption from occurring you should deign to carry a smaller bag that will hold only the most essential of your belongings. Leave any valuables that you don’t need at the place in which you are staying; most hotels have a safe that you can hire for such occasions.

Clothing is not the only issue that you may face when travelling abroad, for more information you should get in touch with your travel agent or tour guide; they should be able to provide you with expert advice on the topic.

Author: Louise Goldsmith is a fashion devotee with a passion for sharing her knowledge and advice; Louise currently works alongside Coathanger in Westfield.