Russia and America: Tennis Shoes or High Heels

clunusual appearances as the definition of
Every time I plan another trip to Russia I face a“usual” appearance has seen marked
dilemma of sorts – I need to go through mychange in the past 40 years here (my husband says it
closet to pick the best outfits. Perhaps that is standardwas not always so). With individual liberty comes
operating procedure to nearly all of us, but what doesindividual expression. This is not to say that there is no
that mean for me and you? Do people in the US andcohesive theme to dress. No. What I mean to say is
in Russia really dress differently?that people choose to look the way they like and
To answer, I must establish a simple premise:sometimes that choice is quite dramatically different.
It’s more difficult to discuss anThere are certainly some standards within particular
“average American” than ansocial groups and regions, e.g. business attire for work,
“average Russian”. American societyjeans accepted as casual dress; however, there is no
is a melting pot comprised of people from all over theuniversal fashion and, what is more important, there is
world with different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.no “enforcement” of such. Each
One common theme in the USA is tolerance to othersperson follows their personal criteria often giving equal
and this tolerance starts with the way people look.consideration to comfort ahead of style.
Here it’s more difficult to surprise society with