Brits dreaming of a life under the Spanish sun have been issued a stark warning about the potential for “culture shock”.
An American expat living in Spain has taken to her YouTube channel, Maddie’s Mundo, to advise UK nationals on the cultural nuances they should be aware of before making the move.
She detailed her own experiences with the Spanish approach to public attire, contrasting it with the more relaxed dress code she was accustomed to in the US.
She explained: “The way people dress or present themselves in general compared to the way that we dress in the United States [is different]… In general, we tend to dress pretty casual in public.
“You can wear your gym clothes to go grocery shopping, some people even wear pyjamas.”
Despite originating from the US, the expat has embraced life in Spain within the European Union, leaving behind her American lifestyle.
She went on to say: “In Spain, no matter where you are going, you have to dress semi-formal. I would go to the store in a nice top and maybe jeans. It is definitely not the place you want to go out wearing just whatever,” reports Birmingham Live.
“People tend to really care about what they look like, especially in places like Madrid where most of your day and most of your life is in public.
“People really do tend to put a lot of effort into their appearance and how they present themselves to the world, which I find pretty different.
“If you need to go to the store, if you need to run an errand, don’t run it in the middle of the day,” she advised.
Maddie also noted that the US and UK share a “pretty relaxed style” when it comes to running errands.
Despite the warning, Spain remains a popular choice for British expats seeking a fresh start overseas.
Immigration Advice Service stated: “Spain is the most popular European country for British expats, with well over 350,000 British citizens officially registered as living there (though it is estimated that up to a million Brits are living in Spain).”