Simple clothing question ...

[ScottinCrimea]

 Once you meet your other half, wear what she likes on you 

There's the key!  Her opinion is the most important!

[RK]

There's the key!  Her opinion is the most important!

Agreed! That's what I do. I'm just glad that much of what she likes me to wear is what I like to wear also.

[SANDRO43]

I wore tan comfortable loose pants to keep cool.

Many years ago I discovered that suits and trousers made of very light virgin wool (called frescoes here) are an ideal summer wear when temperatures do not exceed 35°C (95° F), and preferable to cotton probably because their fabric has finer threads and therefore their surface has more "vents" into the outside air, which is what gives you a sensation of coolness (evaporating transpiration).

They are also more crease-proof than cotton, and much more so than linen, either. I wear jeans ("Genoas" ) occasionally only in mid seasons, I find them uncomfortably hot in summer and cold in winter.

[Ste]

Alan Partridge, Sports Casual, say no more...

[Lily]

There's the key!  Her opinion is the most important!

I'd recommend sending some of your characteristic photos that shows your face and full body, and asking her for a few styling advice. This way you not only get the clothing idea, but also some of her emotional investments in you.. the latter would be good, ain't it?

[Jet]

Alan Partridge, Sports Casual, say no more...

  LMAO I'm sure I met this guy on the banks of the Volga a few summers back! Too funny!

[wendaaaal]

 Can't go wrong with "cheese vents"  , but you'll have to wait until you get there to buy them at the "rynok" ....
http://www.exile.ru/2007-July-27/cheese_vents_today_summer_fashion_guide.html

[MaxxumUSA]

Go to your closest banana republic.

Some thoughts:

White is always right.  Get a button up white shirt - not the kind you wear a tie with - but maybe one from banana republic type store.

You can try some colors like khaki green but like others said I would stick around darker colors - when not wearing that white shirt.  I would steer clear of ANY color that might be considered feminine.  No yellow, and GOD FORBID DO NOT WEAR PINK!!!  Nor any color close to pink.

When in doubt - whip it out!  (not THAT)  LOL  I am referring to if you are unsure to be casual or dressy - lean toward dressy side.  I have never been on a date in a suit and had a woman tell me I was dressed too nice.  First dates go REAL nice when you break out the Armani.  You can be assured the first time you take her to a nice dinner she will spend a lot of time planning her attire and getting beautiful for you, so you should not be shy about looking your best.

As for blending in - well - why?  As long as you look good, it is OK to look a little different - I mean - You are american.  For me - when in Samara I get a fair amount of attention from women I think because they can tell I am a foreigner.  Trust me in this - you definitely want your woman to notice that other women notice you.  BTW this goes for a relationship anywhere in the world.  I'm not saying flirt with other women AT ALL.  Just saying you should dress so that women notice you.  YMMV

[catzenmouse]

I seem to remember Groov catching a bit of hell for trying to wear a coral shirt once. Stay away from the "blue man" colors! 

[RK]

Maxxum, agreed. About 90% of my dress wardrobe comes from Banana Republic, and your thoughts about being a foreigner mirror my experiences.

Lily makes a good point about looking at the person to see what styles may fly. We all have different colors and styles that compliment our coloring and physique, and as has been mentioned, you can't go wrong having your significant other choose it for you. And your SO, like everybody else, will have a personal opinion on what they think looks good.

I did learn not to wear orange in Ukraine, at least not in Kharkov. I have a nice orange polo shirt that I wore one day in Kharkov. I met my fiancee in the park and she politely told me that it probably isn't a good color to wear out in public due to political references, etc. So of course I parked it in the closet the duration of my trip 

[MaxxumUSA]

RK,

Orange...  hmm...  That brings to mind my observation that it seems any pastel colors on men would probably not go over too well in Russia.  Personally I wouldn't wear them anywhere on the planet unless I turned gay.  (not gonna happen)  LOL

[RK]

RK,

Orange...  hmm...  That brings to mind my observation that it seems any pastel colors on men would probably not go over too well in Russia.  Personally I wouldn't wear them anywhere on the planet unless I turned gay.  (not gonna happen)  LOL

LOL!  I have no problem wearing pastel colors and never worry about how it may or may not affect how my masculinity is perceived. Maybe it stems from me being a California native! The orange had to do with political party affiliations. All other colors I wore/wear were regularly complimented by my fiancee and others. Wasn't looking for it...just happened. Some can wear certain colors and others can't. Has a lot to do with your "season" coloring and what you can pull off wearing. I work with 80% women and have two daughters who keep up on fashionable colors, styles, etc. I just wear what they and my fiancee recommend and all seems to go well.

[ScottinCrimea]

RK,  Being from California and knowing what is too often worn there as "normal", maybe in addition to the ladies recommending what you wear, you should have them dress you in the morning as well.
 

[groovlstk]

I seem to remember Groov catching a bit of hell for trying to wear a coral shirt once. Stay away from the "blue man" colors! 

Hey now, my shirt wasn't coral or pink, it was SALMON. Big difference, at least in my mind.

Funny enough, I still have this shirt in my closet and whenever I want to get a rise out of my wife when we're going somewhere I casually take it out and start buttoning up, usually she's on the warpath before the second button is secured. 

[Texas_Ag]

I thought I had read a couple times that Khaki dress pants were a big no no... is that not the case?

[RK]

RK,  Being from California and knowing what is too often worn there as "normal", maybe in addition to the ladies recommending what you wear, you should have them dress you in the morning as well.
 

[Yulz]

Do not buy "turtleneck" then.

I beg to differ! I'm pro-turtleneck, USFCAN!!!! With a nice jacket over, it'll look perfect!

I think the difference in generally acceptable dress code, so to speak, between "here" and the FSU is not as obvious these days; especially if you're travelling to a big city.. I wouldn't wear a Hawaii t-shirt on a date if I were you, but I definitely don't see anything wrong with Khaki pants.. But again, different people like different styles; and if you are not sure what exactly the lady you are meeting prefers, something a bit more conservative would be better.

[ScottinCrimea]

The most important thing, whatever you wear, is that you have no wrinkles and not a single spot of dirt on either your clothes or your shoes.

[Shadow]

Pink might be accepted. The colour associated with homosexuals in Russia is blue. 

If you want the militsiya to stay away from you, and some chance of the woman you meet not being embarrased about your clothing, wear office clothing. Wearing jeans and sports clothing can make you look like a bum, attracting the wrong kind of attention.
No matter what you wear, you will stick out as being a foreigner.

[Jet]

Pink might be accepted. The colour associated with homosexuals in Russia is blue. 

Last time we painted our place, Lil wanted to paint Kolya's room pink. I objected, then found myself in the position of having to explain why. Shadow is right, there is no connection between this color and homosexuality for Russians (or at least the ones I know). "Peach" was as close as I'd let her get to pink, that way when his friends come over to play, he can tell them it's orange  and avoid the harassment at school. My wife honestly had no idea about this connection, here in the US.

[Serebro]

No matter what you wear, you will stick out as being a foreigner.

Especially if you wear all these things at the same time

[USCFAN]

Serebro ...

 

Did you take a look into my shopping bags? 

[supranatural]

So I don't see consensus on wearing blue - I'm trying to decide if I should bring any of my blue polo's and button down shirts (I haven't been over there in a few years and this will be my first time in Ukraine).

[jb]

supranatural,

I have never worn anything special in the USSR/FSU other than what I normally wear here.  Everyone knows you are a foreigner the moment you open your mouth anyway,,, don't sweat the small stuff.  Navy blue is good.

[Turboguy]

Darn, no wonder it took me so long to find a gal who would have me.  I have a lot of blue clothes.

I liked the idea of the gal picking out your clothes.   If you have problems in a dark alley those pointy shoes will give you an extra weapon.

It also explains why the Orange Revolution turned out the way it did.   Their colors were orange as we all know.  The other side's colors were blue and white.