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If you're a New Yorker, you hate tourists. They take up the whole sidewalk, jam themselves into already overcrowded trains and buses, and are just unapologetically in your way all the time. Typically, we dismiss them as just another annoying obstacle that exists in the everday life of a New Yorker.
But in the name of finding style inspiration in unexpected places, tourists can provide a surprising amount of stylish tips that we can all incorporate into the way we dress and present ourselves. Since we have to tolerate them anyway, why not at least glean what we can? They may be loud, obnoxious, and invasive, but these are the Style Tips New Yorkers Can Learn From Tourists.
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Dress like your hero.
If you stop a stylish guy on the street and ask him what inspires his style, chances are he'll say something like, "My shit is one of one, bruh." Oh, okay. Tourists, on the other hand, proudly dress like the principles and abstract notions of ideaology that they believe in. Are they proud of America's history of tolerance and diversity? Then they dress like the fucking Statue of Liberty. If only stylish guys in NYC would be as honest with their style inspiration and sartorial heros.
Be prepared for anything.
When a tourist heads out of their hotel in the morning, they know that they're going to have to face the day armed only with what they're carrying. Therefore, they're prepared for whatever might come their way, which is a philosophy we should all embrace. Tourists are more concerned with performance and ruggedness than looking good, and this is an element that any dude can and should incorporate into his daily outfit and preparedness.
Being away from home gives you the chance to experiment with silhouette.
People traval to expand their horizons and learn new things both about the world and about themselves. Tourists exhibit no fear when it comes to silhouette experimentation, so take it from them to try new things out without even having to book a flight. We're not saying you should rock a skirt, but you do have the homefield advantage to try out that new-new.
The more pockets you have, the more important you look.
Why do you think Michael Jackson had so many zippers on his jacket? Seriously, the more pockets you have, the more important shit you probably have to carry around. At least, that's the impression you'll give off. People will think you're something cool like a hitman, drug mule, or fisherman.
K.R.E.A.M.—Khaki shorts Rule Everything Around Me
Khaki is a severely underrated material that tourists love to rock wherever they travel around the globe. With a military history, stylish guys should learn how to inject more khaki into their daily arsenal of 'fits. If anything, it at least prepares you for being a badass old man.
Comfortable sneakers trump any other footwear every time.
When they're tromping around a concrete jungle all day, there's no way tourists would ever opt for anything other than the comfiest options available. Why would you be any different? Fuck releases and technology, the only thing you should put on your barking dogs are whatever sneakers you find the comfiest. Anything other than that is just sadistic.
Printed shirts are a bold, declarative statement.
No one really knows why tourists tend to wear the loudest printed shirts possible, but it's a stereotype at this point. Still, sometimes your style has to make a statement, and bold patterns and vibrant colors do just that. If you're ever looking to stand out, do as the tourist does.
Bucket hats are a perfect example of combining form and function.
Tourists have to dress in a way that balances form, function, and comfort. The bucket hat might just be the perfect blend of all three aspects. While we definitely think it's a stylish look, tourists love them even more for the 360 degree protection from the elements the bucket hat provides. You'd be dumb to not have a bucket hat in your wardrobe if you live in a place where the weather is ever unpredictable.
Tourists have an appreciation for classic works of graphic art.
They may not know it, but tourists in NYC have an underpraised appreciation of the classics. There's a reason why Milton Glaser's "I Heart NY" T-shirts have been around since 1977, and it's because tourists in the Big Apple immediately connect with the now iconic design. In fact, several streetwear T-shirts have been inspired by Glaser's timeless work, so before you scoff at the next tourist you see in an "I Heart NY," remember that it's important to recognize and pay homage to the OGs.
Break all the rules.
Tourists truly don't give a fuck. They talk loud, litter, and know that their actions are pretty much inconsequential as long as their visas are still valid. While this sucks when they're in your hometown, it's a sartorial lesson you can take from them. Ugly colors, white socks, clashing patterns, and absurd accessories are all par for the course, and this is something you should mix in once in a blue moon.
