10 Important Rules for Dressing Right When You’re in Texas

Because the heat is unbearable for a large portion of the year, everyone’s default footwear is a pair of flip-flops. They’re comfy and versatile, most establishments are casual enough to sport them in, and you can quickly slip them on and off when lounging by the water, which is pretty often, depending on which city or town you’re in. Throughout the year, activities such as kayaking, water parks, and swimming are extremely popular, and in the summer, they multiply and are joined by tubing. In Texas, you can tube along rivers with a cooler of oversized beverage flasks, and getting in and out of rocky waters means flip-flops are the safest way to do it.

Because Texas is so casual and everyone’s in and out of water all day long, it’s totally fine to keep your swimsuit on for the duration of the day. Perhaps you decide to take a break from the lake to dine al fresco, or need to hit the shops in the height of the heat before heading back to the pool party; no need to change. Simply wrap a sarong around the bottom part of your bikini, or for fellas, a tank for your top (bare chests are a bit much at a Trader Joe’s!), and you’re good to go. Obviously, don’t forget the flip-flops before you tread around on land.

In most situations, it’s perfectly acceptable to wear shorts on a night out. Nightlife establishments are generally in a casual setting, and even swanky hotel bars have a relaxed attitude to showing a little leg (come on, everyone knows it’s darn hot!). In case you’re wondering, Texan gals gravitate toward teeny denim hot pants, while gents seem to favor sports-branded shorts. Whatever floats your boat, you’re unlikely to receive judgment for your choice of shorts, so wear whatever you feel most comfortable in.

Texas is big on sports: Austin has Austin FC (MLS), Dallas has the Cowboys (NFL), Houston has the Astros (MLB), San Antonio has the Spurs (NBA), and then there are the minor league and collegiate teams. You don’t need to be at a game, or even for it to be game day, to proudly demonstrate your devotion–team strips are worn all day, every day. If you don’t have the official jersey and are attending the game, then going for the corresponding colors is good enough. For example, you can wear navy blue and white for a Dallas Cowboys game at the AT&T Stadium.

Graphic and slogan tees are unsurprisingly popular in a state where everyone wants to express their opinion, but for a tourist who is unfamiliar with each district’s political stance, it could land you in murky waters. Cosmopolitan cities, like Houston and Austin, are mostly liberal, and destinations like Galveston are fairly conservative. Remember that no matter who you vote for and support, putting your view on a t-shirt welcomes comments.

Unless you want to turn Gulf shrimp pink, you’ll need to pack a hat. In Texas, the bigger the better (not just for hats, but quite a few other things). Walking around downtown, drinking by a pool, or just running in and out of your car, you’ll be surprised at how quickly the sun can do its damage. Cover up with a hat and sunglasses, and protect exposed skin with high-SPF sunscreen. If you’re in and out of water, make sure it’s waterproof.

As a state that’s cow-crazy (Fort Worth is even nicknamed ”Cowtown”), you might be wondering when you can don your finest leather gear. While it’s not common to do so day-to-day, there are plenty of occasions for a one-off cowboy hat, boots, and, if you’re going all-out, fringed chaps combo. You can wear them to a rodeo, line dancing at a dance hall, or a country music concert. The Cowboy Carter look is even cool enough for the odd party—just make sure the venue has AC.

Though most of Texas’s spaces lean heavily on casual, there are select spots where dress clothes are appreciated. They’re mostly in Dallas, the most business-centric of the cities, but that doesn’t mean stuffy. Gents can leave the ties and jackets behind and get by with a shirt and slacks, while ladies can opt for flowy maxi dresses with wedge heels. Style-wise, the choice is yours. Rarely do people pose questions or make comments about labels, seasons, and trends. In this heat and humidity, the fact that you changed out of your shorts is effort enough in a fine dining situation.

Despite being blistering most of the year, temperatures can dip suddenly (likely around December to February), so always pack a couple of options to layer up in your luggage. This could be a sweater, hoodie, or cardigan, which not only keeps you warm when the outside temperatures dip but also when the inside temperatures come as a shock. That’s right: some folks like to crank that AC so high, it’s like you’re in Canada. So it’s worth bringing along something a little extra to the museum, mall, or restaurant, even when it’s 100 degrees out.

You have Big Bend National Park, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Enchanted Rock, and many more natural wonders to explore, so chances are you’ll need to pack some hiking gear. This need not be heavy-duty, but rather, a pair of lightweight, waterproof hiking shoes, quick-dry shorts, and a vest. A good backpack is required to store your essentials (water bottle, hoodie, sunscreen, and battery pack), and always, always remember that hat.