ETIQUETTE: Re Street Clothes

Curious as to the Mexican norms, gringo/a. Are shorts frowned on by Mexicans? Do I get more respect, say, in a bank, or other biz situation when wearing pants? Just asking. My wife is already fretting over her Xmas visit wardrobe. I just told her that the tightness of jeans in Mexico on the ladies is a wonder to behold - to the good and the bad. Thanks.

The short answer is "yes."

Shorts are fine around town but generally not on Mexican men and with rare exceptions NOT worn in the Catholic churches. One sometimes sees Guadalajaran men wearing shorts in town.

The fashion police have arrived. Can mordida be far behind.  

Thanks all.Done.

Cultural respect should be cultivated not denigrated. Thank you.

This is a functioning group of towns and not a resort area. Shorts are fine for running around daily but do not forget the slacks and sport coat with good shirt and tie at the very least. Weddings and funerals require dressing appropriately. Many holiday parties are dressier than you might think. If you just cannot do the suit or sport coat then a long-sleeved shirt with a nice v-neck sweater or sweater vest and khakis with real shoes works.

The boardwalk and pier in Chapala is clearly a tourist destination for Mexicans from all over. The younger generations are influenced by trends in the United States just as the rest of the world frequently is. I see plenty of Mexican tourists wearing shorts (at the pier and in town). Wearing shorts is fine if you are doing touristy things. For me this extends to doing normal errands.

If you are opening a bank account or meeting with your lawyer for the first time then that's not being touristy and I would attempt to look a little more presentable. (Rather difficult for me though. ;) .)

I've given up on trying to blend in completely. I look like a gringo; I act like a gringo; I dress like a gringo. I prefer to blend in with my use of the language. Put your efforts there and gain a little respect that way ;).

In business, evening bar/restaurant and travelling situations I typically wear pants and a collared shirt. Most of the other times it's shorts & sandals all the way. Really no different than back home during the summer.

Courtesy, respect and trying your best at Español are far more important than what you are wearing. Acknowledging someone you are passing on the street with a smile and a greeting. Attempting to use whatever limited Spanish you might know and por favor & gracias go a long way. Dressing up with a collared shirt and long pants is pretty much the same as NOB.
Common sense.

juanrey wrote:Courtesy, respect and trying your best at Español are far more important than what you are wearing.  Acknowledging someone you are passing on the street with a smile and a greeting.  Attempting to use whatever limited Spanish you might know and por favor & gracias go a long way.  Dressing up with a collared shirt and long pants is pretty much the same as NOB.  
Common sense.

Agreed but than I wear shorts all the time except for the catholic church so I would agree.  The local bankers don't seem concerned about my shorts.

Z

Sweater vest?! SWEATER VEST??!!

OP said "the wife" was fretting about winter clothes.... As a mature woman, I've never had a problem when wearing shorts in Ajijic, a few times when walking on my own in Chapala and wearing shorts I've been hissed at by decrepit old (Mexican) guys. Short skirts and incredibly tight jeans seem to be a norm for the younger Mexican ladies. However, after you get spoiled by this climate for a year or two, you may find it's too "cold" in winter to wear shorts anyway.

When I first arrived lakeside a little over 6 years ago, I used to wear shorts all the time.  This rainy season I am wearing long sleeved shirts and long pants.  The reason for this is that the mosquitoes love me. And when I was wearing shorts the little ankle biters used to ruin my legs.  So I am wearing long pants for protection and that may be also the reason that most of the Mexican men here lakeside do not wear shorts.

My parents were in the Military, we traveled all over the world. Military regulations were that you were to dress equal to the locals. Shorts do not belong in ANY church.
My kids tell me to DRESS my age. You look so stupid when your 60 and you dress like you were 20.

However never OVERDRESS....you do not want to make your hosts look BAD. 

Most of the local men wear pressed jeans (they iron all their clothes) and either a nice polo or button up shirt. I occasionally see chinos. The younger men will wear nice tshirts as well.

As a woman, I wear either nice jeans, capris, or a skirt/dress. I don't wear shorts above the knee unless I am at the beach.

So any difference between the long shorts below the knee and short shorts?

Z

Only in terms of age, taste, and perceived intelligence... lol.

WHAAAAAAAT? has this become an annex of fashion policehood from chapala .com and wayyyyy before that mexcon?
wear whatever gives ya comfort and what yer used ta. most o' the shit above only offends the gringos/canuckleheads that writted that it offends.
my wife still looks good in a mini at the age of 63. most of the churls and churlets that are giving ya unoffensive clothing advice and that wander the streets, look like my parents in the 50's. i bet the tapatios snicker-SNORK! and the locals for that matter. our first maid here[age 43] showed up fer work in a mini,see through top and strappy heels.
cargo shorts are really handy with all them pockets. then ya won't need a man purse like gravy uses.
if the church will do mass fer 200 hundred bikers-ya don't gotta worry about showing up in shorts or jeans.
don't worry the small shit

Pedro wrote:WHAAAAAAAT? has this become an annex of fashion policehood from chapala .com and wayyyyy before that mexcon?
wear whatever gives ya comfort and what yer used ta. most o' the shit above only offends the gringos/canuckleheads that writted that it offends.
my wife still looks good in a mini at the age of 63. most of the churls and churlets that are giving ya unoffensive clothing advice and that wander the streets, look like my parents in the 50's. i bet the tapatios snicker-SNORK! and the locals for that matter. our first maid here[age 43] showed up fer work in a mini,see through top and strappy heels.
cargo shorts are really handy with all them pockets. then ya won't need a man purse like gravy uses.
if the church will do mass fer 200 hundred bikers-ya don't gotta worry about showing up in shorts or jeans.
don't worry the small shit

GEEZ, Gravy does not carry a man purse, It's called a "Man Bag"   

Jim W wrote:

Pedro wrote:WHAAAAAAAT? has this become an annex of fashion policehood from chapala .com and wayyyyy before that mexcon?
wear whatever gives ya comfort and what yer used ta. most o' the shit above only offends the gringos/canuckleheads that writted that it offends.
my wife still looks good in a mini at the age of 63. most of the churls and churlets that are giving ya unoffensive clothing advice and that wander the streets, look like my parents in the 50's. i bet the tapatios snicker-SNORK! and the locals for that matter. our first maid here[age 43] showed up fer work in a mini,see through top and strappy heels.
cargo shorts are really handy with all them pockets. then ya won't need a man purse like gravy uses.
if the church will do mass fer 200 hundred bikers-ya don't gotta worry about showing up in shorts or jeans.
don't worry the small shit

GEEZ, Gravy does not carry a man purse, It's called a "Man Bag"          

...and now with a very expensive shoe horn.

Jim W wrote:

Pedro wrote:WHAAAAAAAT? has this become an annex of fashion policehood from chapala .com and wayyyyy before that mexcon?
wear whatever gives ya comfort and what yer used ta. most o' the shit above only offends the gringos/canuckleheads that writted that it offends.
my wife still looks good in a mini at the age of 63. most of the churls and churlets that are giving ya unoffensive clothing advice and that wander the streets, look like my parents in the 50's. i bet the tapatios snicker-SNORK! and the locals for that matter. our first maid here[age 43] showed up fer work in a mini,see through top and strappy heels.
cargo shorts are really handy with all them pockets. then ya won't need a man purse like gravy uses.
if the church will do mass fer 200 hundred bikers-ya don't gotta worry about showing up in shorts or jeans.
don't worry the small shit

GEEZ, Gravy does not carry a man purse, It's called a "Man Bag"          

No, I believe it is a Murse..........jajaja.

I'd be careful about kicking around the phrase Man Bag.

Oh jeez, are you kidding me. NO ONE wants, needs, or cares about your opinion of their clothes, keep it to yourself. Are the snowbirds back or is the usual judgemental crowd the resides here? Give it a rest.

No one is judging. A visitor asked for opinions on appropriate attire for our area in the first post.