Who dresses better: Europeans or Americans?

My European friends tell me that the median income is Europe is higher than in American, but America has higher highs and lower lows than Europe.

I would say that the same is true in terms of dress: Europeans on average dress better than Americans, while Americans can look very good or very bad.

Then again, perhaps the worst way to dress is found in Europe when Europeans try to adopt American sports or gangster fashions. It looks so wrong...

Sator: I agree that Americans may keep high end houses like Huntsman and Kiton in business, but these are the high highs. The average American isn't spending $1,000 for a suit, let alone $5,000 +.

m_wave: Do you ever wear jeans, chinos, t-shirts, sneakers, or mocassins (Native Americans count too, don't they?)?

Originally Posted by SoCal2NYC

Click to expand...

People dress like **** everywhere.

+1 - The great style of Europeans is a forum myth.

Some well dressed Euros can be found at:

http://www.chavscum.com/

Originally Posted by emptym

Click to expand...

Sator: I agree that Americans may keep high end houses like Huntsman and Kiton in business, but these are the high highs. The average American isn't spending $1,000 for a suit, let alone $5,000 +.

At least in the US, if you can't afford Brioni etc you can look for the Canali, Corneliani or Isaia on sale. In most places in Europe or Australia you often struggle to find these labels, which are almost ubiquitous in the US. Even Ralph Lauren stores carry a better range of quality stuff in the US - especially RLPL items. If you are lucky you might even have a J. Press store nearby too. Failing that, your local Brooks Brothers store can be counted on to have a Golden Fleece suit you can pick up during the sales.

Also I did specify that I was comparing my professional peers, rather than the man on the street.

On average, Europeans.

There's horrible dressers everywhere but I prefer trashy fitted Euro-trends over gym shorts, sneakers, and loose hoodies any day of the week.

Originally Posted by Eustace Tilley

Click to expand...

+1 - The great style of Europeans is a forum myth.
Nah, it is a myth that exists everywhere around the world, not just in forumland.

Originally Posted by Lel

Click to expand...

On average, Europeans.

There's horrible dressers everywhere but I prefer trashy fitted Euro-trends over gym shorts, sneakers, and loose hoodies any day of the week.

Yeah..you need to follow my link above.

This debate is absolutely rubbish ....It only depends on the person...

Sator ,le Printemps or Les Galeries are department stores and in France ,luxury brands have generally their own outlets where they do sell their products...

I can find you Brioni ,Kiton or anything you want but more in the 8th district..

Come with me and i will bring to Dimitri Gomez,Aubercy ,Delos,John Lobb bespoke,Corthay,Berluti bespoke and so many others workshops that you will not find anywhere....
Worshops like Chanel,Cifonelli,Lanvin,Hermes and so others...

We are all talking bullshit...Savile Row does not represent the average English lad the same way that Isaia or Brioni is on on every Italian or American shoulders...

You will find everywhere people with taste ,people with money ,people with both and also a vast majority of people who do not care at all...

When speaking on the average Germans dress better than French and English, who dress better than Italians who dress better than Americans who dress just above the Greeks. I do realize that I have omitted many other countries but not out of ignorance of how they dress but over certain cultural sensitivity.

I've travelled through most of Europe and spend a lot of time abroad and the few places I live in the US and the people I'm around dress much better than the Europeans. The US like someone mentioned above keep the markets open and available for a lot of the nicer clothes you'll see coming from the other countries.

Best dressed of all - Europeans, in America, wearing European clothes.

me

I say Americans,specifically those in NYC. I'll probaly be laughed off the forum, but, I think Black Americans are the best dressed group.

Both. Neither.

Originally Posted by Sator

Click to expand...

At least in the US, if you can't afford Brioni etc you can look for the Canali, Corneliani or Isaia on sale. In most places in Europe or Australia you often struggle to find these labels, which are almost ubiquitous in the US. Even Ralph Lauren stores carry a better range of quality stuff in the US - especially RLPL items. If you are lucky you might even have a J. Press store nearby too. Failing that, your local Brooks Brothers store can be counted on to have a Golden Fleece suit you can pick up during the sales. Also I did specify that I was comparing my professional peers, rather than the man on the street.
The "professional peers" point is the key one here and it is totally related to income. If you're discussing sticking to the traditional rules, buying expensive (and nice) clothing, and having consistent style, Americans working in law firms and wall street are at the top of their game. For the average guy, or the one trying to achieve a more unique aesthetic effect, Europeans win. Americans care a lot about quality and durability, whereas Europeans often prioritize the look. I rarely meet a really badly dressed Scandinavian guy. Germans, well, yes a lot of black jeans and clunky shoes, but Berlin is so much more interesting stylistically than, say, Chicago. Paris and London can rival New York in street style without a problem - though the shopping may not be as good. English men in general pay more attention to their looks and the high street stores there (topman, reiss, etc. as well as more obscure brands) are so much more interesting than Banana Republic, Gap, etc. Oddly, I think Americans pay more attention to the perceived status of the item and Europeans care more about the style, color, etc.