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If you are visiting nicer areas of the city, such as the public parks or any museums or government buildings, proper expected dress by the locals for both male and females is to wear a collared shirt and slacks... Generally, for museums and government buildings, the expected dress a button-front shirt with slacks for men and a blouse and skirt or slacks for women.
I haven't been to DF since I was a kid but I've spent a pretty good amount of time in other parts of Latin America and know how to not dress conspicuously like a tourist. (as in, no shorts and t-shirt etc) That said, my usual dress when traveling is more like (nice, not faded or ripped) jeans and a polo or casual button-down shirt. I willl be visiting Mexico City in a couple months and will certainly be visiting places like public parks and museums, and I don't want to stand out as inappropriately casual.
Should I plan on bringing, say, chinos and a dress shirt? I travel very light and don't really want to bring things I need to press or steam if I can help it. Based on my other travels, that sounds like a really formal standard and I'm suspicious of the info.
Not at all, you certainly can dress casual for visit Museums. I was there just last week and girls where in dress or shorts and men in jeans and polo´s.
As I said, I was really suspicious because that seems like a really formal standard for a Western city in 2015, but I have only been to Central American cities lately and not Mexico City, so I had to consider the possibility that things were somehow different there.
People in Mexico city will a bit more formal than lets say Gdl, Mty and the turisticos areas. That being said, dress casual to comfy and no one will say anything to you. Nor give you a funny look.
Location: San Diego CA>Tijuana, BC>San Antonio, TX
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I felt out of place when visting the Papaolote Children's museum with my son in cargo shorts, t-shirt, and tennis shoes as is customary dress here in Southern California for the 40 and under crowd. It was a somewhat humid December day and people seemed over dressed, not formally, just more bundled up and all men wearing pants.
I also remember, on my first visit to DF, one morning I slipped on some gym shorts and a t-shirt to run down to the 7/11 real quick to get a cup of coffee. I was on the elevator of my hotel and another guest looked at me and said, "good morniing, going to the gym eh?"
You are not expected to dress formal but at least look presentable in Mexico City. It is easy to get away with shorts/t-shirt in NYC and Chicago, but even on the warmest day it is not the norm in Mex City.
I did, however, find my very casual SoCal attire much more acceptable in Acapulco even being mainly among Mexicans (not a gringo in sight in ACA).
^^^ Hey, I counted two guys wearing shorts from your pictures. :-) Thanks for sharing.
NP. I think the real reason why people don't wear shorts in DF is cuz it's NOT always hot there. Being in the 50's after dark is common. With a breeze, that can be quite brisk.
Yeah, you guys have it wrong. The Mexicans don't wear shorts and short sleeves due to the sun. It's how they protect their skin, especially the women (same thing in Viet Nam). Due to the fact that Mexicans aren't used to "cold" weather (anything under 18 degrees), they wear parkas in the winter. Okay, not a lot own parkas, but I have seen them. The rest wear reg. winter jackets which most buy at the local outdoor markets which sell used American clothing. If you wear shorts in the winter, you're just a nut. But that's because it's really cold to them.
And if you wonder why they do get cold so easily, just visit DF in the winter time and look at how and what they bundle their newborns and kids in!!
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