Expert: Nan - 5/9/2007

Question
Nan,  Ive been reading a lot about the dress attire in Bermuda but I have not seen mention regarding appropriate shoes.  If my husband has dinner wearing pants/shorts with a cotton polo shirt, are athletic shoes appropriate.  He likes to run and for luggage space we'd like to take as few shoes as possible.  Thanks for any advice

Answer
Hi Stephenie,

What an interesting question!  I, too, like to streamline my shoes when travelling.  Isn't a pain? To lug clunky athletic shoes along? I like to take exercise walks in the morning in Bermuda because it's such a great place to enjoy the view through the neighborhoods, the railway trails, along the South Shore Road, etc. Be careful, though, sidewalks aren't common.  

As much as I like to take my own clunky walking shoes, I'd never wear them out to dinner. Neither would my husband wear his.  So I'd advise your husband to bite the bullet and take yet another pair of shoes for evenings out. A casual loafer or even a lace-up boating shoe would be more appropriate.

Even though the dress code in Bermuda has relaxed quite a bit in the 20+ years we've been going, I'd err on the side of formality.  I'm not saying you won't see any athletic shoes while you're there -- you'll see plenty of, shall we say, diversity in clothing choices amongst the tourist crowd -- I'm just saying he and you might be more comfortable if his evening shoes while dining at The Waterloo House (where they've even relaxed the dinner jacket rule in the blazing hot months) or The Reefs weren't of the clunky variety.  And that's more of a fashion answer than anything else.

Over the years I've seen plenty of fashion changes in Bermuda.  There was a time when you wouldn't dream of being on a public bus, on a moped or off the beach in a bathing suit or even a tank top.  Nowadays I see tourist after tourist letting it all hang out.  And that's a shame.  Sorry, getting off track here....

You've asked a great question.  And the fact that you've asked it shows there IS hope of retaining some sort of decorum while travelling!  After all, when we travel, we're someone else's guests!

Thanks and HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME!  I'd love to hear about the shoes when you get back,

Best Regards,
Nan