Why Do Americans Look So Obviously American Abroad?
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Have you ever had someone ask if you’re American before you even opened your mouth? You’re not alone. We often get pegged as Americans, but sometimes it’s hard to know precisely why. We collected some social media opinions to try and figure out just what makes Americans so obviously American.
Ultimately, these are stereotypes, and won’t hold true for everyone. But we cannot deny that a few may just be accurate…
Hydration Nation
If you’re lugging a gigantic water bottle around, odds are you’re a Yank. We’re a nation of hydrated people, and we don’t like to go without water. Taking your Stanley Cup on vacation makes it easy for people to clock you as an American.
You must choose: hydration or… assimilation. Kidding! But if you’re hauling a massive bottle around, don’t be surprised if someone assumes you’re American. Also, maybe check out WanderFull’s HydroBags for easier carrying.
The Blonder, the Better
“But I was blonde as a kid!” Apparently, all Americans are obsessed with being blonde, and the blonder they are, the happier they are — supposedly. Maybe this stems from the Scandi Girl beauty trends, or a desire to remain youthful and revert back to the times when they were blond-y toddlers.
Are Americans obsessed with blondes? Is it cause they have more fun? The real answer (we think) is that dyeing your hair in America is a fun beauty trend — considering less than 6% of American women naturally have blonde hair, it makes sense that many go blonde when they want something different. And we love a platinum blonde look.
Shiny, Straight Smiles
Ahhh, yes, American dentistry. Braces, perfectly straight teeth, and bright white smiles are all dead giveaways that you’re an American. At least, that’s what people on the internet say. That “Hollywood smile” is definitely a thing in America, so we’ll get on board with this stereotype.
We also have whitening toothpaste in our bathroom as we speak and embarrassing teen pics of us in braces (thank goodness for today’s clear aligners). So yeah, Americans might be a little intense about their smiles. But that leads us to our next point…
Expressive and Attention-Grabbing
Many people online say that you can tell someone is American by the way they talk and strut about. Some say Americans naturally grab attention and exude a noticeable presence, even when in large crowds. We’re not sure how much we believe this one. Sure, a loudmouth American might, but we’re not all loudmouths!
People say (and this is where we return to our great white American teeth) that Americans are always smiling big, using their hands, and moving their eyebrows when they talk. Essentially, we tend to be very expressive when communicating, which we believe is a positive attribute.
Athleisure All the Time
This one comes up a lot. America has wholeheartedly embraced athleisure. Why shouldn’t we be comfy all the time? Why do we have to wear stiff jeans to the grocery store when our soft leggings are right there?
Some people from other countries loathe our love of athleisure. It’s a noticeable American trait. If you want to avoid looking like a rube tourist when abroad, maybe leave the Lululemon at home.
Overdressing When Heading Out On The Town
On the other hand, people say Americans overdress when they go out in the evening. We think this one depends on which country you’re in — but at least we’re not wearing yoga pants to the opera, right?
Since we like to be comfy all day long, it’s understandable to get gussied up for our nighttime plans. We don’t think this is a bad thing because there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look nice. But if you want to blend in, consider dressing more lowkey for your evening events.
Head to Toe Beat
Supposedly, American women wear full-faced makeup, along with freshly done nails and carefully styled hair. We can’t fully agree with this. For sure, some American women love to look their best all the time, but many prefer a no-makeup look, natural hair, and even bare nails.
Beyond that, women from many other countries — England, say — often wear full faces of makeup on casual days, have exaggerated manicures, and styled hairdos. Sorry, we just don’t see this as a distinctly American quality.
Logo Lovers
We’ll own this one. Americans love a good logo, whether it’s the Nike Swoosh or the Louis Vuitton initials. And it’s not just about logos; Americans flaunt graphic T-shirts, sport tote bags with images on them, and rock branded items.
These logos and graphics are part of modern American fashion culture. Avoid these looks if you want to be mistaken for a local. That means leave the North Face and branded Coach at home — go for non-branded items, or go home.
The American Lean
Okay, this one feels a little mean. People say Americans tend to slouch or lean on things. Do Americans have bad posture? It’s true: in many countries, proper posture is taken more seriously.
So yes, we might be a tad slouchier. When it comes to leaning on things — doesn’t everyone do it? Still, we’ll probably think twice before resting an elbow on the counter again. We don’t want to be branded as a country of tripods!
Melting Faces
One way people might tell you’re American is that they can’t tell where you’re from. Wait, what? Actually, this makes sense to us. Many nationalities have a distinct appearance. But American features often come from a combination of different ethnic origins. After all, America is a beautiful, big melting pot.
If someone looks like a mix of Italian and Finnish, chances are, they’re American. This is by no means an exact science, but it seems many assume someone is American if they can’t make any other origin assumptions.
