www.CostaRicaTicas.com

One doesn't have to dress up like the guys in those photos to be a dandy (although those photos were a hoot). Even an urban/sportswear theme can qualify. Here is the definition of "dandy" from dictionary.com:

Shoes to match the color pattern of your shirt? Multiple hats to match your various outfits? C'mon

A well chosen and sensible styled athletic shoe (not the over-done over-the-top style worn by innercity youths) will go with just about any casual attire you choose to wear. Something dressier may be needed if you wear dressier slacks and shirt, but more formal attire in CR is rarely really necessary. I have a pair of lightweight black leather dress/casual footwear with rubber soles that are quite comfortable for walking around town but are also passable to wear with the dressier black pants I sometimes bring with me (and black pants go with ANY color shirt). Alternatively, I have a pair of light weight tan mesh suede leather loafers and rubber soles that can also be worn with dressier outfits, but are perfectly comfortable for walking around town, wearing with more casual outfits or even getting wet rafting (they're quick drying). The point is that if you choose carefully, you can bring footwear that are multipurpose and can be worn with a variety of outfits.

Similarly, one hat in a neutral color that can go with anything should suffice and that hat can be worn on your head on the way down. If you absolutely HAVE to bring multiple hats, they could be nested together and packed around (inside and out) in such a way that they won't get "crushed". These are BASEBALL caps, the ultimate in CASUAL headwear, not fedoras or stetsons for chistsakes.

The other key is to bring only clothing that can be mixed and matched with complementary colors and patterns (e.g. brown/tan/khaki earthtones which will also make you stand out less on the street, or shades of blue or complimentary colors that will go along with that). If you do that 3 shirts and 3 pants can equal 9 different outfits. And if you're worried about repeating after 9 days or think the chicas will either notice or care, I think you're seriously mistaken. It matters much more in YOUR mind than it does in theirs, because you see yourself everyday in the mirror but they don't.

Chicas want:
a) guys with green money.
b) guys who are polite, respectful and treat them well.
c) guys who are clean, neat and well groomed (showered, shaved and brushed)
d) guys who are well dressed (clean clothes without any holes and tears, modestly stylish or more likely not outrageously out of style, ie not dressed in a manner that would be embarassing to be seen with, name-brand designer labels NOT required)
e) guys with green money
f) if guys have sufficient green money then d is not even strictly necessary.

CLN,
Do you look good when you dress so stylishly? I'm sure you do. Do chicas sometimes compliment you on it? I'm sure some do. Does it get you better sessions than guys who dress more plainly? I really doubt it. Is it worth lugging down so much of your wardrobe with you when you go to CR? If that makes you feel so much better dressing up like that, I suppose it might be. Would it be worth the extra weight and bother for most other guys? I seriously doubt it. Obviously, this is a case of YMMV.

Prolijo,

Whats your agenda dude? It seems by your posts that it really bothers you that I bring a carry on filled with stuff I wanna wear on my vacation. What do you care about how many different shirts, shoes, or hats I have? You worry about you, and I'll worry about me.

We've had a thread about this before, and I'm not gonna run out and buy a new wardrobe to look more 'tico' every time I go down to CR for a long weekend. No matter if I buy all my clothes at stores down there, I'm still gonna stand out as a tourist.

I have a very clean and crisp style. Ask any of the members on this site who have met me, and I'm sure they'll tell you I'm very presentable. On the other hand, I've seen way too many guys down there who stuff 2 or 3 t-shirts into a carry on, and walk around wearing wrinkled shirts reeking of arm pit sweat for the week. No thanks. I dont have time to get my laundry constantly done and keep waiting on it and walking around in the same clothes. I'll gladly wait an extra 20 minutes for my bag to come out of the carousel. Also, like I also mentioned, I bring quite a few other things with me as well.

I think being clean, and also having style, will definitely help you in having better sessions. Take the same type of guy, and put one in nice pants, a polo shirt, nice shoes, smelling good. Then take the other one and put him in dirty sneakers, and aforementioned smelly armpit sweat t-shirt looking like he just rolled outta bed. I'm willing to bet I get a better session, or at least a more favorable approach when it comes to negotiating.

So once again, we all do CR different. YMMV.

a little exaggeration on both sides here, I think. CLN, I bring along 4 pairs of pants (including what I'm wearing), perhaps 3 sport shirts, 3-4 t-shirts, a couple of dress shirts, a light jacket,along with two pairs of shoes, books, electronics, at least a week's worth of underwear and socks, bathing suit, my toiletries, and a few other odds and ends. I do this all in a carry on, with my backpack.

I am not that wrinkled, sweaty guy you mentioned, and if I want something washed then I give it to a service or my hotel and forget about it. It doesn't use any of my personal time at all.

It's more about intelligent packing than it is about stinting yourself.

My, my, didn't I get something started here! Dale Ray's Website is www.eaglecreek.com
There's also www.travelsmith.com for designed-to-be-packed clothes
I tend to overpack but you can cram a big bunch of silk shirts in a small space so it's OK.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED