What Not to Wear in Travel Photos
I cringe when folks seemingly go around the world to take pictures of themselves- sometimes in cringe worthy outfits ....then write:
Here's US posing (in these horrendous outfits we put together just for this trip) at The Coliseum, here's us Posing at the Louvre....
And you see 90% THEM and 10% the edge of the building? It's like seriously??? Nooooo......
Flickr creative commons: bark
So here goes, offending everyone, it seems…
Flickr creative commons: zoetnet, adapted by Wandering Educators
What not to wear in Travel Photos:
Leave that soft gray/light yellow & especially baby pink and most definitely Gruesome Beige sweater at freaking HOME. FYI- those colors make just about everyone look sick in pictures. Plus? They're light hogs. They pull the eye.
Photo: Anna's Page
Instead?
A strong navy, brilliant blue or dark gray or deep red/green make for fantastic pictures. Yellow is good, if it's a good shade of yellow. Redheads in pink? Hmmm....think Strawberry Shortcake, so Not Really.
Blondes in yellow? Honestly? Depends on the condition and style of the hair. Healthy hair, no frizz, OK. Extremely curly blonde hair and yellow ? Is wonderfully OK. But the I "spent three days on a bus and my hair is gnarly or humidified or stringy or greasy or flat fried blonde hair with yellow?” Sorry. No can do.
London Wenlock and Mandeville Stroll, Pink Trail, Tourist Wenlock. Flickr creative commons: Martin Pettitt
It's Ball Cap day. (I suggest a Navy, bright Blue, Black, or White all purpose non trucker style ball cap to save the day! ...never maroon or orange or neon green. Those colors suck wind on most complexions. Right along with? You got it! Beige/gray or yellow…)
Flickr creative commons: istolethetv
If you don't have a tan? Don't wear tan shorts. Or khaki ones. It blahs out the entire lower half of your picture.
flickr creative commons: istolethetv
White tennis shoes with ankle socks? Noooooooo, please don't. No see socks are nice. White tennis shoes? Never nice.
Photo: Michele Erdvig, IrelandYes.com
Cargo shorts on your man usually look like he chased a family of 5 out of them. Pockets are handy but come on!! REI has cargo shorts for 1, a style worthy of emulating.
The handbags on tour? For god’s sake - no one but you thinks your designer purse means anything. In these pictures, it's like,
"Here's the year I took my $1200.00 purse on vacation." Sorry...No again.
Instead, carry a sleek backpack or a cross body purse....without Disney characters, please. It should only hold a day’s worth of meds, a disposable rain slicker, a bottle of water, a chamois towel, a swimsuit (just in case), and a bit of sunscreen, and maybe extra contact lenses.
Your ID, $20 in cash, and a loadable (by phone with your bank) prepaid debit or credit card should be ON your body at all times. I never advise traveling anywhere with a debit card attached to any of your real bank accounts.
Now, to the sunglasses. No matter how big they get- even if the designer trend is white or light green- certain sunglasses should never be taken on vacation. Stick to the sleeker frames, traditional styles, non-pinkish tinted lenses to keep your pictures timeless.
Flickr creative commons: JoeC
Your shirts. I think the most painful vacation pictures are the ones at a distance with white shorts and print shirts with stripes, or otherwise weird designs on them. Think more LLBean, when packing.
Flickr creative commons: Joe Shlabotnik
Certainly save that sundress and femme magenta sweater or soft gray scarf wrap for an evening out- but if you’re in the Grand Canyon, leave off the petunia print and Hawaiian shirts if you want a good profile picture of you later on for FB.
Flickr creative commons: ShellVacationsHospitality
Shoes? Comfy. Whatever works for the wearer. Just keep them appropriate for what you're actually doing. Walking tour? Strappy sandals and espadrilles aren't the ticket.
Flickr creative commons: meeshypants
Keep it simple. Keep it appropriate for where you're at. Pink flamingos in Grand Canyon? No. Church clothes in Vegas? No. Tee shirts from the Grand Canyon while at the Grand Canyon? No. Button down shirts at the beach? Sure! (If they're worn over a bathing suit with hiking shorts and flip flops.) White sundress with sandals in Rome? You betcha. Disney Tee shirt in Tuscany? No. Tucked in shirts with belts in pants? Never. Anywhere.
Flickr creative commons: Joe Shlabotnik
That gray favorite comfy sweater? Save it for trips to the doctor with the flu.
And don’t EVER wear this:
Photo: Laurel Perry, Capturing la Vita
Do you have some fashion faux-pas to share? Spill it!