The main problem I found in spain with find in clothes was shape, not size. Spanish and Italian women often have slim hips and thighs and gain their weight in the front/stomachs (The older women looks like little hens - instead of pears). If that is your shape, I think you will be okay.

I am the ooposite, small waist, and some hips! So finding pants was really a pain, and I just made due with the pants I bought in the States. I would say take a a nice pair of blacks slacks and maybe a long skirt and get a few sweaters and scarves over there.

When my Mom came over and traveled with me in Spain, a lot of the people in the hostels thought she was French, because she wore black gabardine slacks and a blazer. She always looked nice (unlike her ripped jeans, flannel wearing daughter ) and kept warm.

You are really going to have fun shopping over there. Take a few wardrobe basics, and make it grow over there!!

Thank you all of you for your responses to this subject. Nicole, I think I will plan on buying accessories or sweaters there, rather than bottoms. You're probably right about the shape thing.

Keep the tips coming! Thank you all.

Almost every young woman that I saw in Spain wore a scarf around her neck. Not wrapped to keep her warm, but just hanging to make her look good.

And it's that same pattern *everywhere*. Did I miss the fashion memo?

~

Oh, as far as differences between "shapes", I'll have to very much agree. Much to my better half's annoyance, I think, I spent a fair amount of my last trip to Spain studying the difference between Spanish and American women's bodies- and I'll have to say that the biggest difference is the roundness of the aft ends of spanish women as opposed to the triangle shape common to american women.

(just my base observations, of course ).

Sounds just like the Latin women we have here eh? no coincidence either I'll bet!...Rev. Mike

Scarf???, shape??? You are loosing me. I've been living in Spain 24 years and I don't have the same perception that you guys have.
Besos...Nuria

Momic, my ladyfriend, a madrileña who is about to turn 40, also loves to wear scarves (or is that "scarfs"?? I forget), the kind you tie somewhat tightly around the neck and slightly offset. I love it! Looks very... Mmmmm... nice. (panting!) When I first saw it, I thought to myself, "Hmm.. How French!" (I know. I konw. BITE MY TONGUE!! heehehe..) AND, she's almost never seen without either black or navy blue leather shoes.

Saludos, MadridMan

That was one of the things I loved about living in Spain and in France. I love silk scarves, and felt I could "get away" with wearing them over there. Here, it seems like a fashion no-no, or looks pretentious or something. Like an American trying to look like a European (God forbid)

So, you feel self-concious. Although, I go ahead and do sometimes anyway, darnit!

Don't forget the "Jevis" who wear the black skin-tight denims, a sweater with the Arafat scarf around the neck and a beat-up pair of "Paredes". I love "Paredes" and had to laugh when the text series I used at the high school as a teacher had a picture of an ad for them as realia... too funny.

Oh my gosh. I had totally forgotten about that. how funny!