What Not to Wear in Ireland: Avoid These Fashion Mistakes for Rain, Wind, and Real Life

When it comes to what not to wear, the wrong clothing choices in Ireland can leave you cold, wet, or even injured. Also known as Irish fashion faux pas, these mistakes aren’t about taste—they’re about survival in weather that changes three times before lunch. You don’t need to buy expensive gear to look good. You just need to know what to avoid.

For example, shoes to avoid Ireland, like flat ballet pumps or thin-soled sandals. Also known as wet pavement killers, they’re a common trap for visitors and locals alike. One slip on a Dublin cobblestone or a Galway puddle can mean a trip to the doctor, not a photo op. Then there’s denim for older women, where tight skinny jeans might look trendy online but feel like a restriction in real life. Also known as mobility killers, they don’t work well with arthritis, long walks, or sitting in a pub for hours. Irish women over 60 are ditching them for relaxed fits that move with them—not against them.

And don’t get fooled by the word "activewear." activewear vs sportswear, in Ireland, these aren’t interchangeable. Also known as weather confusion, sportswear might look good on a treadmill in a gym, but it won’t keep you dry on a hike through the Wicklow Mountains. Activewear here means moisture-wicking, wind-resistant, and built for rain—not just sweat. You’ll see people in Dublin wearing zip-up hoodies in May, wide-leg jeans in July, and practical slippers indoors year-round. These aren’t trends—they’re adaptations. What works in Miami or Milan fails in Cork.

Some of the most common mistakes? Wearing cotton in wet weather (it stays damp), choosing heels for city walking (the roads aren’t flat), or thinking "if it’s fashionable, it’s fine." Irish style isn’t about copying runways. It’s about being ready for the next downpour, the next 10,000 steps, and the next pub night without changing clothes. The posts below break down exactly what to skip—and what to grab instead. From the worst work shoes to the jeans that don’t flatter, you’ll find real examples from real Irish lives. No guesswork. No fluff. Just what to leave in the closet.