The Color Of Clothing To Avoid Packing On A Trip To Europe, Per Rick Steves' Son

TV host, author, and travel expert Rick Steves has passed his knowledge down to his son, Andy Steves. He is quite the traveler himself, having grown up with one of the best in the business. When it comes to packing for a trip to Europe, Andy Steves sticks to his dad's golden rule of being as minimalist as possible and packing light. However, he also posted a more specific packing list of his own on his personal website, and included one unique rule he follows when it comes to clothing colors.

Steves revealed that he never brings any pastel-colored pants, shorts, or shirts, because they are a "fashion faux pas" in Europe. The travel personality explained that if people are traveling somewhere in Europe and want to blend in with the locals, wearing pastels is a dead giveaway that they are tourists. Steves also made sure to include a slew of other giveaways –– such as baseball caps, sports jerseys, boat shoes, and more.

After sharing what he would not recommend packing, Steves laid out exactly what he would bring, instead of some of the typical clothing items that he may wear in the U.S. He actually suggested that travelers wear pretty much the opposite of pastels, so think more dark tones than springtime light colors. Steves also shared his dad's famous packing list and reiterated the importance of smart packing, layering, and bringing the essentials. After all, everyone needs to leave some room for those shopping splurges and local finds!

In one of his ultimate packing guides, Andy Steves laid out a complete list of the items he does and does not recommend for people to bring to Europe. When it comes to clothing, Steves noted that Europeans can "identify Americans from a mile away" when they see someone in pastel-colored pants, or shorts. Steves even joked that the reason for this is because it looks like people are dressed as "frat boys at the U Alabama football game." Pastel colors are softer and lighter versions of common colors, such as baby blue, mint green, lilac, pale yellow, and blush pink.

Of course, pastel colors were not the only "fashion faux pas" clothing item that he nixed. Steves also included North Face jackets, blue jeans, boat shoes (like Sperrys), tennis shoes, flip-flops, and sandals on the no-go list. He pointed out that any sports pieces like baseball caps, football and basketball jerseys, and any American college apparel also indicate that someone is a tourist. The final unexpected thing Steves noted was that many European countries find chewing gum either rude or gross, so opt for mints instead.

When in doubt, Steves encouraged under-packing, so travelers can take in the true style of their destination and have plenty of room to bring home some newfound favorites. (Try this viral TikTok hack to help you save space.) He also reminded readers to research where they're going beforehand, because some countries have better sales during different times of the year.

Just like his dad, Andy Steves sticks to the golden rule of "packing light." Steves wrote in his Packing 101 blog that he centers his wardrobe around his undergarments and either brings enough for a shorter trip or prepares to visit his local laundromat amid his travels. Normally, he aims for around seven pairs of underwear and socks. Besides those necessary items, he packs dark pants, a set of workout clothes (or more depending on the sort of activities he's planning to do), a light jacket, a rain jacket, and a few sweaters or cardigans. Depending on the weather, he'll pack a swimsuit or heavy jacket.

Steves noted that many Europeans don't wear shorts even in the summer, so he skips those, but if that doesn't bother a traveler, it's not necessarily a faux pas. The shoes also depend on the weather and sort of travel, but he suggested only bringing a few –– including a pair of running shoes, "fashion sneakers," and dress shoes.

For non-clothing items, Steves prioritizes the essentials, like a passport, ID, other important travel documents, and some emergency cash. Like his dad, he also urges travelers to bring a money belt as a trick to avoid pickpockets in Europe. Finally, he keeps it simple with his toiletries and reminds his readers that millions of people live in Europe, so if someone forgets a basic item, it's likely they'll be able to find something similar at their destination. Steves also pointed to his dad's list of things he never forgets to pack for a trip.