What does the information about your summer course say about clothing? Is this a program with mostly American students or is it Portuguese/European? What’s your style for “school clothes” at home? If it’s basically an American program, your regular school duds will be fine for class. If it’s a Portuguese program and for clubbing, etc. you may find you want to dress up a tad — not really dressier clothes, but with more attention to stylishness and fit than your normal schlep to class style (depending on how you normally dress for class, of course). Loose fitting grubbies or, conversely, ultra-snug fits or bare midriffs on a less than perfect body will scream “American” — even if you’re not.

Warm weather will probably be the norm, but you’ll want to have one thing with long sleeves plus a lightweight, water repellent jacket.

The course is directly through a Portuguese university. It is not an American program. It didn’t provide info about clothing.

At home, I usually wear jeans or corduroys with sweaters or sweatshirts in the fall and winter, and otherwise, I wear spring-like skirts (think colorful, knee-length or a little shorter, generally—not dressy, but not the short/tight variety) with tank tops or shirts and a cardigan if it gets cold. I don’t wear grubby clothes, but I also dress conservatively—not tight or low cut. I don’t go clubbing here at college, so I don’t know if I even have clubbing clothes to bring. I was just wondering what kinds of clothes to bring—skirts, pants, capris, tshirts, sleeveless, tank tops, oxfords, polos? and about shoes—flip flops, converses (sneakers, but not the white “gym” variety), ballet flats? How dressy? How laidback?

I was also wondering about washing clothes—should I be prepared to hand wash or dry?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

I would concentrate on skirts and slacks and T’s (dressier — not message, athletic team, etc). Capri’s don’t seem to be that common. I’d take tank tops, sleeveless, and a polo, but perhaps fewer than at home and maybe 1 pair of shorts if you’re going to the beach. Shoes should be comfortable for lots of walking, probably on cobblestones and uneven surfaces. The locals will probably wear stilletto heels, but I can never figure out how they walk. Your non-white sneakers and (unless your ballet flats will carry you over a mile of rough cobblestones) some sturdier-than-flipflops-sandals (I like ones that are dressy looking enough for a skirt) will probably get you by. If you have a pair of high heeled dress shoes that don’t take up much room, toss them in, otherwise your ballet flats. Flipflops will be handy for beach and showers if you’re in a dorm or will be staying in hostels.

As for laundry, I’d assume you’d have access to laundromat or a wash machine in your apartment or dorm but maybe no dryer. I’d be minimally prepared to hand wash with a travel clothes line, a flat drain stopper http://www.magellans…
and a few French clothes pins. You can always buy more clothes pins, detergent, and probably a clothes line, etc. when you’re there, but the drain stopper might be hard to find — an essential if you wear contact lens, too.

Are the classes taught in portuguese or in english?

Thanks everyone for the help! And MB, they’re taught in Portuguese, at all levels. You take a test after registration days, and they place you in an appropriate level.

Meg,

Just to add to oldlady’s advice:

People in Southern Europe generally dress a bit dressier and trendier than Americans and Brits in general. For example, if Portuguese friends invite you to a night out at the bars, and you show up wearing shorts and your college t-shirt, you’ll stand out. The other chicks will be wearing something like nice black pants or maybe trendy jeans with a nice shirt. And probably high heels too. You’ll be amazed at how many women dress like this to the supermarket.

I think dressing casual (shorts and sneakers) during the day is totally fine, but you’ll want to bring some spiffier things with you for evening outings. I think oldlady has accurately oultined what you should bring.