Rule 1: Leave the Fanny Pack
What makes an Ugly American ugly? Is it the timbre of our voices? Or the way we travel in herds? Or is it (as we suspect) our love of sweatpants, baseball caps, and yes, fanny packs, no matter the occasion or place? While it can sometimes seem that the world has fallen victim to a sort of sartorial globalization, where jeans are welcome anytime, anywhere, the truth is-of course-more nuanced. What works in surprisingly laid-back Singapore will be greeted with looks of horror on the streets (or in the boardrooms) of Paris. And ladies, while you can (and should) pile on the gold and jewels in Greece, quirky and stripped-down is the way to go in Germany. So here are the rules on looking not just appropriate but actually stylish around the globe, whether you're in a meeting, At a party:, or just walking outdoors. Plus: Tips on how to wear a head scarf, what to pack for safari, and how to play European for a day. Ugly American? Fuhgeddaboudit.

AFRICA/THE MIDDLE EAST
In general, coverage is key. But while merely clothing your collarbone is enough in Jordan, just an inch of shoulder skin could get you arrested in Iran; over in Dubai, you'll need a brand or two to make it big. Men are usually fine in long pants, and women carry shawls for a quick conservative fix, but consider yourself forewarned: Style is a sensitive subject here.

DUBAI
At a meeting: Women's pantsuits should be sheeny and glam; men's duds are buffed, black, and paired with slim ties.
On the street: The mall, not the street, is the social arena. Here, girls in T-shirts (their shoulders covered out of respect and as a remedy against the freezing AC blasts) tote the latest Louis Vuittons. Carry a pashmina to cover up in case you find yourself in a traditional souk—although you'll see miniskirts and shorts, they're for people who know the city well enough to avoid ultra-conservative quarters. On men, reflective aviators abound, as do Gucci sandals.
At a party: Go glam to the gills: No Swarovski is too shiny and no Giuseppe Zanotti is too high. Men wear Y3 trainers and tailored blazers over graphic tees.
P.S. Put on clean socks if you're going to a local's house—you'll leave your shoes at the door.

EGYPT
At a meeting: A long-sleeved ?button-down with slacks is acceptable for all but the most formal meetings. You might spot an older lawyer or professor wearing a tie, but ties and sport coats are almost obsolete. Women, on the other hand, always wear jackets over high-necked shells and loose pants.
On the street: Shorts are a faux pas unless you're hitting the greens or playing squash at a sports club, and even then they're wrong for women, who are better off in pants or long skirts (ankle-length jeans and khaki cargo styles are popular). Men always layer undershirts beneath polos, even on warm desert days.
At a party: It would be hard to underdress. Men are never turned away for wearing a smart shirt and slacks, even if others are wearing full suits. For women, a shoulder-covering black sheath is safe and sophisticated.
P.S. About 90 percent of Egyptian women cover their heads, but tourists aren't expected to.

IRAN
At a meeting: Men wear crisp Italian suits and shined shoes. A chador (hooded floor-length cloak) is needed for a woman meeting a clerical group, but for most gatherings, she should slip on a black manteau (a loose coatlike garment), low closed-toe pumps, and an Iranian hijab. Locally bought products drape best and look contextually refined.
On the street: Special police enforce the Islamic dress code, which requires women (non-Muslims included) to be covered from head to toe. The working classes wear full-length black chadors, but a manteau over jeans is an acceptable alternative. Hijabs are often patterned or pinned with pretty brooches. Makeup should be minimal, and while bright lipstick isn't allowed, flawless eyebrows are an absolute must.
At a party: Wear whatever you want under your outer cloak; ?the young remove their voluminous robes to show off tight jeans and strappy stilettos at friends' informal gatherings. Older intellectuals conceal elegant suits under their cloaks.
P.S. They're credited with creating the first perfume, so it's no surprise that the Iranians are scent savvy: Although women might be cloaked, they're often doused in glam, sexy fragrances like Azzaro's vetiver and pimento tonics.

ISRAEL
At a meeting: Israelis take pride in dressing down: Jeans are more common than jackets and ties, and business formal often means no more than a button-down and khaki pants. For women, skirts are better than trousers for meetings with religious colleagues. But in liberal Tel Aviv, anything goes—particularly trendy dresses from boutiques on Dizengoff and Shenkin streets.
On the street: It's South Beach style in resorty Eilat and Tel Aviv, where cotton shorts and tank tops are de rigueur during the hot summer months. Everywhere in Israel is fairly casual, but Jerusalem, Galilee, and Tiberias get colder winters and call for more conservative dress. In these places, long skirts are ideal for women, and everyone covers up at Jewish and Christian religious sites, with high necks and long sleeves.
At a party: Secular celebrations call for jeans and nice tops; for religious ceremonies or weddings, cover past the elbows and below the knees.
P.S. Far from frumpy, Israel's a burgeoning fashion hub: Lanvin's Alber Elbaz and designer Yigal Azroel hail from the Holy Land.

JORDAN
At a meeting: Suits and shoes should be simple, and dresses work for women provided they're shin-length and sleeved. Big hair is not for the Jordanian boardroom: Tie long locks into chignons and keep short dos neat. The "Hillary Clinton look" is a woman's best bet, according to John Shoup, author of Culture and Customs of Jordan.
On the street: Rich red embroidery is popular, so Western women can don detailed tunics over loose trousers (many local women wear pants) or black cotton dresses embellished with traditional needlework. Men wear khakis and collared shirts.
At a party: King Abdullah II is a sartorial guide; he's almost always dressed in navy suits for nighttime (gray for daytime) and a light-colored silk tie. Queen Rania set a haute new tone by sporting Lanvin, Dior, and Elie Saab to evening affairs, but the first lady covers her shoulders and legs (with couture) when she's out in Amman.
P.S. The veil's a release of sorts for trendy young women, who can show a little more skin as long as the head is covered.

LEBANON
At a meeting: Newscasters like Rima Maktabi set female fashion mores, making straight skirts, fuchsia jackets, and big hair (never a ponytail) the look for any sort of meeting. Men favor two-button Hugo Boss in navy or black.
On the street: Beirut is fashion-forward, but the city's poor Shiite majority dictates a conservative look. Since the stylish set don't do much walking, women shuttle around in Audis wearing light dresses or caftans. Men are ostentatious in Hermès belts and loafers, and carry crisp bills folded into platinum money clips. Be warned that such liberal style won't fly outside the capital city.
At a party: Anything goes on weekend nights in the nightclub district of Ashrafieh, but fancier parties demand draped, flowing gowns by local designers like Rabih Kayrouz and Krikor Jabotian.
P.S. Women express themselves through their accessories, which are often over-the-top: bright scarves, gold bangles, glittery clutches, and neon satchels from local favorite Sarah's Bag (100 Liban St.; 961-1-575-585).

MOROCCO
At a meeting: Casual Friday hasn't arrived in these parts—women and men are invariably formal in suits.
On the street: "You see styles of the twelfth century and modern urban wear" when strolling down any Moroccan street, says Joel Zack of Heritage Tours Private Travel. Some women still wear head scarves (they're no longer required for Muslim girls), but Zara jeans and trendy tops are the popular style du jour.
At a party: Hand-piped tunics, bright floor-length djellabas, and elaborate caftans outfit crowds of locals and émigrés who gather in ornate riads. French expats come in a chic Little Black Dress (LBD), and cover up en route with a light cotton shawl.
P.S. Moroccans are particularly averse to shorts and everything Lycra (which, in our opinion, should be universally shunned).

SYRIA
At a meeting: A suit for men; women wear smart skirt ensembles (never trousers or slacks).
On the street: Although tight jeans and bare midriffs aren't unusual in hip Damascene hoods like Salahiya, you'll have to search hard to find a Syrian woman over 40 wearing pants. Older women wrap the head in a hijab—or an Hermès scarf—when shopping in marketplaces downtown, although this isn't required of tourists. Do remain respectful by covering arms and legs before going out.
At a party: Syrian socialites idolize First Lady Asma Assad, the London-raised Deutsche Bank alum who beat out Carla Bruni to become French Elle's best-dressed political lady in 2008. Assad loves an LBD or a curvy suit by Valentino or Chanel. Her husband, President Bashar al-Assad, is always perfectly pressed in a two-button wool ensemble.
P.S. Don't worry about bringing a covering to tour a religious site: If a mosque requires women to wear abayas—which leave only face, feet, and hands exposed—it provides the wrap at the door.