So I have a bit of a fashion predicament...
I was raised in a small (read: very tiny) town in west Texas. I currently attend a very casual/laid-back university. Next semester, I will be moving to Austria, and I feel like I need to update or completely re-vamp my wardrobe. I've grown up in jeans, a t-shirt, and Converses. I'm relatively clueless about where I should start in putting together a more polished look, so I would appreciate any suggestions and pointers that you can give...

Hi Jenn,

I just returned from Germany. Here's what I've seen, and I hope this helps.

Leather jackets will tag you as an American - I've never seen a German wearing these. Leather pants are fine if you're over forty.

I would recommend a good quality three quarter length wool coat, along with boot-cut trousers. German trousers tend to show off the junk in your trunk, so keep this in mind if you go shopping. Scarves are also very popular in fall and winter. I'm not sure what's in this year, but I've seen Burberry plaid, the Afghan men's scarf and a multitude of other colors.

Skinny jeans are really in vogue over there, as were fur trimmed anoraks before I left. However, you can't go wrong with the 3/4 length coat.

You'll also be walking everywhere, so invest in a good quality pair of walking shoes. I've never seen Converses worn by anyone except U.S. military, expats and their dependents. Adidas, Puma, and Kangaroos (curiously enough) are all popular. Get the slim soccer style shoe, not the clunky American sneaker.

No baggy sweatshirts - unless you're an American military wife.

In a nutshell, slim fitting, curve skimming clothing is your best bet. Also, check out www.hm.com/Austria for a look at what's in style over there. H&M is the Old Navy of Europe, but I like their clothes a lot better than Old Navy's.

Hope that helps!