A word of advice from a Russian Woman

[Son of Clyde]

My wife, a Russian woman, has told me countless times that the Russian women are very much looking at how the American men are dressed.

Their culture is very different from ours except that the women seem to be very much into style more than how handsome the guy is. That first impression is very important. You can purchase a pair of black slacks at K-Mart or at Macy's but they will most likely be very different in appearance. As far as shoes, maybe wear Italian made shoes and not shoes made in China. The Russian woman is very observant.

I suggest you wear clothes not too flashy and yet not too bland either. I really believe my wife is correct as far as the Russian women wanting to see American men who dress well. If you are travelling 4,000 miles it is not a bad idea to buy some new threads.

[swindoom]

My wife was totally unconcearned about the style of what I was wearing the first time I met her. Since it was -25 C when I arrived she more worried I had good warm clothes and boots. It is very hard to look stylish in Antartic clothing.

[Son of Clyde]

 

Did you purchase your arctic gear from an upscale arctic clothing store? It makes all the difference.

[SANDRO43]

As far as shoes, maybe wear Italian made shoes and not shoes made in China. The Russian woman is very observant.

Always done that, easy for me . That puts me ahead in the wolf pack, then.

If you are travelling 4,000 miles it is not a bad idea to buy some new threads.

Are they also expecting us to stitch our own suits ? Wouldn't that be a sign of thriftiness bordering on "greediness" ?

[Kuna]

Did you purchase your arctic gear from an upscale arctic clothing store? It makes all the difference.

Hmmm... I've been thinking about this.

I only own 1 "cold weather jacket". I won't count any of my "Aussie jackets" because they just won't cope with the weather up there but it's hard to measure whether my current jacket (purchased in Canada about 6 years ago) will be "sufficiently fashionable" or not.

It's still in perfect condition, looks good, blah blah blah...  but I guess when I get to Hamburg I'll have a look around and decide if it will do.  If not I guess I can pick something else up there.

I like my current jacket though... but then again maybe it's just the memories of winter in Canada. 

Kuna

[jb]

Kuna,

May I recommend you make a quick stop in Turkey on the way.  They make the warmest and most fashionable shearling lamb coats.  I own one and it is timeless.  Warmest thing I ever put on.

[ScottinCrimea]

If you do stop in Istanbul on the way, I've got a friend there in the coat business.  I picked up a great antelope skin coat a couple of years ago and it helps this California man survive the Ukraine winters in style.

[swindoom]

Did you purchase your arctic gear from an upscale arctic clothing store? It makes all the difference.

I bought them from stores that supply people who are crazy/stupid enough to want to visit very very cold places, such as Siberia, in the middle of winter. My boots were stylish, bought from the US but my coat made me look like the Michelin man, dressed in black.

[Kuna]

If you do stop in Istanbul on the way, I've got a friend there in the coat business.  I picked up a great antelope skin coat a couple of years ago and it helps this California man survive the Ukraine winters in style.

Kuna,

May I recommend you make a quick stop in Turkey on the way.  They make the warmest and most fashionable shearling lamb coats.  I own one and it is timeless.  Warmest thing I ever put on.

Ummm, thanks guys. Looks like I should have asked the question before booking my tickets!   

I'm sure mine will be OK...  but if not, you might see a homeless guy in a big black leather jacket from Canada on your next trip to FSU.

Kuna

[Jet]

I'm sure mine will be OK...  but if not, you might see a homeless guy in a big black leather jacket from Canada on your next trip to FSU.

Kuna

A Leather coat will be fine, just pack a sweater or two to throw on before heading outside. You may still freeze, but you'll look good doing it, and that's what's really important now isn't it 

[Turboguy]

I was in both Russia and Ukriane last January when the temperatures were the coldest in 25 years.   I had a standard winter coat, (with a hood) gloves and a scarf. I often had to walk close to a mile to meet the gal in Kiev I was visiting and had to stand in front of TGIF for 15 minutes waiting for her several times.  Yes it was very cold but I was fine.   The biggest problem I had was the door to my apartment.  The push button lock did not work well and I had to take off my gloves to play with it and to try to get back into my apartment.  That was painful.  Otherwise no problems.   Do as everyone says and you will be fine.

[Son of Clyde]

The winter gear is not something we will consider if we visit in May or June. When the weather is nice it is the time to dress to impress.

[ConnerVT]

Y'all are wimps.  I enjoy going to Russia in the winter.  It's a nice change to go someplace warm and get away from Vermont for awhile.

[viking]

Nothing like going to the summit of Mt. Washington in Feb., in the good old USA, to experience cold.

[FunIndieBloke]

Speaking of cold, I live in a country where men are proud to wear t-shirts and women are proud to wear halter tops in freezing temperatures!

Regarding dress, its true that the average European person does dress better than the average American person.  (Not to slag off Americans)  And I read that women in any country pay more attention to the way a man dresses, and little things like his shoes, while men usually are interested in physical looks.  So I would agree with the original poster's wife.

[Jet]

Nothing like going to the summit of Mt. Washington in Feb., in the good old USA, to experience cold.

Amen! Last time there, my brother's boots froze to the ground 
Fargo ND is another tropical paradise in February Brrrr.... -47f was colder than I ever wanted to be!

[RussianGal]

..Regarding dress, its true that the average European person does dress better than the average American person..

I will agree with this statement, however, I personally did not care how my hubby was dressed when he came over for the first time. I mean, if he was wearing smelly/dirty/too flashy/tasteless, etc clothes, I would notice it and of course be turned off. But he was dressed normal and that was fine with me. :-)

[ScottinCrimea]

It seems Russian/Ukrainian women place a lot of stress on a man's shoes.  I remember one female friend here who was immediately turned off by the style of shoes a visitor from American wore and that was the end of it. They also have a thing for shoes being very clean.  My wife won't let me leave the flat if my shoes aren't spotless.  The Russian men seem to have this down but I still don't understand how they can keep their shoes so darned clean walking the streets of Simferopol.  And of course my white Adidas make me stand out like a sore thumb when I wear them.  If you come here, guys, invest in some black sport shoes.

[Zhena]

I will agree with this statement, however, I personally did not care how my hubby was dressed when he came over for the first time. I mean, if he was wearing smelly/dirty/too flashy/tasteless, etc clothes, I would notice it and of course be turned off. But he was dressed normal and that was fine with me. :-)

Agree...Though I knew something about american menthality and their way to dress,so didnt expect designers clothes on him Thats not what can impress me really.

[Son of Clyde]

I purchased a pair of black jeans for Ukraine and my wife hated them. She was always threatening to trash them. They were not terrible looking but had a dusty look even though they were freshly washed. I think they were Lee jeans. I was thinking I should dress only in dark clothes but I was wrong about that too. My wife likes only Italian made dress shoes and nothing polyester. 

[Darth Vader]

I purchased a pair of black jeans for Ukraine and my wife hated them. She was always threatening to trash them. They were not terrible looking but had a dusty look even though they were freshly washed. I think they were Lee jeans. I was thinking I should dress only in dark clothes but I was wrong about that too. My wife likes only Italian made dress shoes and nothing polyester. 

I know, I know.  Same story here.

I have totally given up buying clothes for myself.  What looks good to me, especially when it comes to jeans, does NOT look good for my wife. And since I see no rhyme or reason, I just let her pick out my garb now :-)

[groovlstk]

I got a lot of flack from my fiancee when I showed up wearing these shoes with jeans:

http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2012354&cp=1779791.1761081.1761135&view=all&page=2&pageBucket=0&parentPage=family

Do I have bad taste? I do a lot of walking so I just wore through a sole, I think I'm going to toss the shoes rather than have them re-soled.

In general, I try to avoid Italian made shoes because they're a little too delicate for me.

[SANDRO43]

and nothing polyester.

Fortunately, the concept that one should wear natural fibres (i.e. cotton, wool, etc.) rather than synthetics next to the skin is still holding up rather well here in Italy, and complaints from part-time housewives about ironing them are often accomodated by hiring out immigrant help for this unpalatable duty.

As a matter of possible future personal concern, what's the FSUW's attitude towards ironing ?

[Son of Clyde]

Timberland makes a sturdy shoe but it may be better to wear them for hiking or construction work. The FSU has adapted to athletic shoes and clothing which surprises me. You might do ok wearing a Reebok or Adidas jogging suit. The more expensive the better.

[groovlstk]

You might do ok wearing a Reebok or Adidas jogging suit. The more expensive the better.

No way, and be mistaken for a German?

A few years back, when the Euro became strong against the USD, there was a flood of German tourists in NYC. They were easily identifiable in their shiny track suits