Following fashion in Puerto Rico

I am following this conversation.  I am a bit of a fashionista and would like to hear what sorts of fashions are preferred/popular there.  Obviously it is summer wear, so that limits the fashion choices.

Shorts and more shorts. LOL

Puerto Rican men tend to wear long pants most of the time and solid colors. Most of the florid stuff is for tourists. Puerto Rican do wear shorts on occasion again solid colors, mostly blacks, dark blues, kaki, dark greens and brown. sandals, tends shoes, and comfortable dress or leisure shoes. Sandals and short are common. For shirt the Guayaberas are a preferred item, usually short sleeves.

Women wear house coats (batas) at home and summer dresses most of the times plus tight pants if their bodies can take it. However there are quite a few stuff sausages out there that think they look good.

Young ladies wear the same as in the states for the most part, the sexier the better,

Depends on where you live and your lifestyle.  In San Juan I see more fashionistas but where I live it is mostly casual on the level of JC Pennys or Macys or Walmart.  Work clothes for men seem to be long sleeves and chinos or jeans.   Men's dress shoes are very upscale. Some give the feeling of boots.
I have seen  well-made clothes on some of the ladies. Some beautifully tailored dresses for the daytime.  More variety of styles and fabric patterns than you see in NY. Not as much black or dark clothing as you see in the states.  Eveningwear varies from the very sexy to to a little bit curvy. The traditional dress-up shoes for women are nearly indescribable.  Six inch or higher platform shoes.   
I enjoy looking at what the Puerto Rican designers are doing. 
Adults do not wear shorts when shopping or going into town.  That is a trademark of tourists.

True frog rock, I was not taking the night out of town or the San Juan nightlife into consideration.

Frogrock I completely agree!
From what I've seen people are very trendy and fashionable.  I had never felt so underdressed on my first trip to the grocery store wearing leggings, sandals and a light jacket with no make up on, ( think sleep deprived 1st time mom with a 5 month old lol) when mostly all of the women around me were very well dressed, mostly all in heels or wedges and in dresses. Mostly all the men I've seen have a fresh haircut and well dressed as well. Coach, MK, LV, CH, Guess and of course the sports brands are some brands I see the most.

Yes I agree with the above. From what I have seen in the metro area:
Shorts are rare for men or women (tourists only). Sundresses are often only seen on tourists, too, though I do see PR women wearing dresses sometimes- though they are usually "nicer" looking and not sun dresses. Many women wear heels, day or night. As an above poster said, most people are well groomed with fresh haircuts, eyebrows done, and dressed well. It appears to me that many care very much about their appearances. (A classmate even had someone from the school anonymously gift him $100 to buy new shoes when his were looking particularly worn out and dirty!)

If you are going to a government building, no sandals, no shorts, and no bare shoulders (there are actually signs posted prohibiting these items and the guard will enforce it).

Lots of single moms, prepared for the "Mr. Right" encounter, at any given moment... thatbwas my impression, when I taught English, at a private school.

My aprtment is in Viejo San Juan, and the locals there dress quite fashionably. I do see lots of mini skirts and semi-sheer blouses with fancy camis underneath and form-fitting sailor tops. Hair is ususally nicely couffed and most women wear make-up and have nicely manicured and painted nails - both fngers and toes.

They love designer bags and shoes,  but how the women navigate the cobblestone streets in high heels is a complete mystery to me

mlb03 wrote:

Yes I agree with the above. From what I have seen in the metro area:
Shorts are rare for men or women (tourists only). Sundresses are often only seen on tourists, too, though I do see PR women wearing dresses sometimes- though they are usually "nicer" looking and not sun dresses. Many women wear heels, day or night. As an above poster said, most people are well groomed with fresh haircuts, eyebrows done, and dressed well. It appears to me that many care very much about their appearances. (A classmate even had someone from the school anonymously gift him $100 to buy new shoes when his were looking particularly worn out and dirty!)

If you are going to a government building, no sandals, no shorts, and no bare shoulders (there are actually signs posted prohibiting these items and the guard will enforce it).

I'm glad you wrote this because I'm sure I would have failed on at least two of these criteria when trying to get everything done when we move to Caguas next month.

richvide0 wrote:

mlb03 wrote:

Yes I agree with the above. From what I have seen in the metro area:
Shorts are rare for men or women (tourists only). Sundresses are often only seen on tourists, too, though I do see PR women wearing dresses sometimes- though they are usually "nicer" looking and not sun dresses. Many women wear heels, day or night. As an above poster said, most people are well groomed with fresh haircuts, eyebrows done, and dressed well. It appears to me that many care very much about their appearances. (A classmate even had someone from the school anonymously gift him $100 to buy new shoes when his were looking particularly worn out and dirty!)

If you are going to a government building, no sandals, no shorts, and no bare shoulders (there are actually signs posted prohibiting these items and the guard will enforce it).

I'm glad you wrote this because I'm sure I would have failed on at least two of these criteria when trying to get everything done when we move to Caguas next month.

Yes! I'm glad to have helped you! I actually had that issue when trying to get my RN license transferred in to PR. I first came inside in shorts and a t-shirt, the guards sent me out immediately. Luckily we had stopped there on our way on a road trip to Rincon, so I had a small bag packed with other clothes. So I then tried in a sun dress that was long (to the floor) but tank-top style. They sent me out again. I ended up having to put on a t-shirt and wear a black tube-top style swim cover up as a knee-length skirt! It was quite the fiasco and I will never forget the guards trying to motion to me what was wrong with my outfit due to our language barrier 

Most males to include me (when I am on the Island) usually wear shorts and t-shirts, sandals or snickers for day time outings like going shopping or to hangout at the beach.  Evening wear usually consist of jeans, casual slacks, t-shirt or a casual shirt depending on what is planned for the evening.

Hmmm... Typically I wear shorts, t shirt, sandals, for daily activities, including errands to the DMV to get the Marbut.  I have never been told that I failed the dress code??   

Well, perhaps because I'm a male?  Don't know, but just a guess?

Must be! Next time if you ever have to go to the police station to get a certificate of good conduct (Antecedentes penales / Buena Conducta) look for the sign! I know they have one there and I have seen it in various other buildings (including the building where the RN licensing occurs, which is where the event I described above took place).