Time to put your big tees and athletic shorts away and grab everything black you own. Transitioning from American college style to looking good abroad Packing my bag to study abroad, I gave little thought to the European style I would soon be immersed in. Not my brightest move, as I am now the only person in Spain who has 15 oversize t-shirts sitting untouched in my closet. Here are some other trends that you will not see abroad.

Athletic clothes. At OU, the oversize t-shirt and leggings or athletic shorts is practically a sorority girls uniform. In Europe, athletic clothing is only worn to hit the gym, so you won’t be seeing it on the metro. This concept of dressing nicer, with form fitting clothing goes for all ages.

Tory Burch and David Yurman. Since my arrival in Barcelona, a city known around the world as a huge fashion hub, I have yet to see one Tory Burch or David Yurman item or store.

Here are some of the trends you will encounter.

Dark clothing. The most obvious trend is the presence of dark clothing. Everyone seems to be wearing black puffy parkas with a moderate to high amount of shine. I’m unsure of what is under these parkas but I assume more dark clothing, as their pants and shoes are generally darker tones as well. The trend of dark colors and puffy jackets extend to both males and females off all ages. (My puffy pink Patagonia jacket keeps my oversize t-shirts company in my closet.)

Scarves. Scarves are my go-to accessory, so this is nothing new for me. If I was from Europe, I could share my collection with my dad! The man scarf is a huge hit in Spain and it is often accompanied by a “murse,” or man purse.

Lack of jewelry. This trend is not as noticeable as the others, but still very accurate. Women do not wear nice jewelry like we do in the States. According to one of my teachers, this is due to Barcelona’s theft problem. Wearing a huge wedding ring or a flashy watch would surely put a target on your back. This trend is reflected in the clothing stores, as they offer minimal jewelry options.

Dreadlocks. Dreadlocks, supported by the grunge look, are huge here. Some have even taken it a step further by dying their dreadlocks vibrant colors like dark purple, lime green or neon pink. Facial piercings often coexist.

American anything. I have seen more clothing with references to American cities in Europe than I ever have in America. Walk into any fashion retail store in Barcelona and you’re guaranteed to see a shirt with “NYC” or “Los Angeles” printed across the front. They love American sports team fan gear. Hats with NBA logos are common. I’ve seen many Oklahoma Thunder t-shirts and even one Oklahoma Sooners hoodie!

Dark shoes. The most popular everyday shoe for women is a black suede tennis shoe with four eyes, dainty laces with a 1-inch platform. Boots with 1-inch wedges or chunky heels are also popular. Popular shoe brands (that I recognize) include: Adidas, New Balance and classic Timberlands for young women.

Abercrombie and Hollister. Break out your middle school frocks; Abercrombie and Hollister are back. In Europe, grown men and women sport graphic t-shirts from both of these vendors. 

Imposter goods. Fake Ray-Ban sunglasses, phony Beats headphones and imposter designer handbags are extremely common in Barcelona. You’ll find these goods sold on street corners throughout the city.