Which Footwear Is Suitable for Traveling in Europe?

I will be traveling to Europe for the first time this summer and I need advice on fashionable walking shoes. I mostly wear dresses, but my feet tend to swell up when I walk all day in ballet flats (sneakers are not an option). Can you suggest closed shoes that won’t make me look like a tourist? — Jennifer, Seattle

The shoes you wear can reveal a lot about you. While they may not be windows to the soul, they have long been associated with national stereotypes.

Germans were known for wearing sandals and white athletic socks while traveling. Italian bankers could be identified by their brown shoes, regardless of their suit’s color. British people famously avoided wearing brown shoes in town. And of course, American tourists were often seen in sneakers.

However, times have changed! Sneaker culture has exploded, Birkenstocks are now fashion statements, and comfort clothing has become popular. These shifts have blurred the old distinctions. If Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, can wear sneakers to a meeting in the Oval Office, and Serena Williams can wear them to the Met Gala, then Americans can certainly wear them in Europe. And so can Europeans themselves.

In fact, sneakers and Birkenstocks are no longer the telltale signs of a tourist. They are now essential parts of every wardrobe, including designer collections on Avenue Montaigne. So don’t be too quick to dismiss them.

According to Dana Thomas, an author and long-term resident of Paris, the only shoes that truly scream “tourist” these days are Crocs. Additionally, outdoor recreational shoes like Chacos and Keens may not necessarily identify you as American, but they do place you in a specific non-urban tribe or wannabe non-urbanite group. Even though luxury brands like Gucci briefly flirted with this sector, wearing such shoes is akin to displaying a sign on your head that says “I’m a hiker” or “How do I get to Mont Blanc?”

This brings us to the current situation with footwear. While it was once possible to make generalizations about certain types of shoes and the people who wore them, things are now more nuanced. Sneakers remain the most comfortable option for extended city walks, and rejecting them entirely would be counterproductive. However, the type of sneaker you wear does matter.

Jon Caramanica, The New York Times’ resident sneakerhead, points out that sneaker silhouettes in Europe tend to be slimmer compared to the United States. Therefore, it is advisable to swap high-tops and basketball shoes for low-top running shoes.

In terms of visual associations, the Adidas Samba and Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 are often associated with cool-girl fashion tribes, while New Balance 550s evoke thoughts of advertising or creative directors. Vejas are linked to eco-warrior chic, and Supergas are favored by influencers like Chiara Ferragni and Catherine, the Princess of Wales.

Yes, even Italian influencer royalty and British royalty wear sneakers. What more inspiration could you ask for to confidently step forward?

Your Style Questions, Answered

Vanessa will answer a reader’s fashion-related question every week on Open Thread. You can send your questions to her via email or Twitter. Questions will be edited and condensed.