I will start with a disclaimer. I'm not, by any stretch of the imagination, a fashionista nor do I even have the slightest interest in fashion (To give you a clue, my non-workday wardrobe consists of a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Where I'm from, a nice pair of jeans and a top with no stains or holes is nice enough to go to church in). What I am interested in, however, is not looking like a newbie (too much anyway) in a foreign country. Part of the trick is in how you dress. Here are some tips for looking a little less like a tourist.

1. Ditch the backpack and the fanny pack. My friend, J., and I occasionally try to pick the tourists out in a crowd, just for fun. Usually, the tell is that they are wearing a backpack. A backpack or a fanny pack is a dead giveaway. Singapore is a safe, orderly country, so no one's going to steal your stuff. I recommend carrying a handbag that is large enough to fit a water bottle and an umbrella. Cargo pants are a good choice for men as they can tuck essentials like a poncho and sunglasses in.

2. Wear something other than flip-flops.  While many people wear flip-flops here (it is tropical, after all), ballet flats and sandals are more common for women. Men also wear sandals with casual outfits. Tennis shoes are for workouts and running boring errands.

3. Showing too much cleavage or shoulder should be avoided.  Women should avoid wearing tank tops, camisoles, and spaghetti strap shirts without a cardigan, bolero, or blazer. Skip wearing shirts that show too much cleavage unless you really want to be stared at - and not in a good way.  Revealing getups should be for resort time only. If you want to show some shoulder or some back, try a shirt with keyholes on the shoulder, upper arm, or back. For a demure look that doesn't reveal too much, but gives a hint of sexy, try a dress with a higher-cut sweetheart neckline.

4. Dresses are a classic option for women. If a woman is looking for an excuse to tap into her feminine side, Singapore's a great place to do it. Many women here wear beautiful dresses for everyday tasks. There are lots of shops that sell pretty/flowy/fruffy/flowery dresses. But fair warning, they don't come cheap.

5. Smart, casual dress works in most social settings here. Most places, including swanky restaurants, accept customers in smart, casual dress. For men, this means khakis and a polo or button down shirt. For ladies, the rules are more complicated for smart, casual dress. I'll just say go with something slightly tailored in a classic color scheme (black and white stripes are really popular right now) that not's too heavy or thick.

6. Which brings me to my last point, pick clothes that don't show your sweat.  Who likes to see a guy who is sweating through his shirt without having done any manual labor? You know the one - the armpits of his shirt look like they are going to start dripping at any minute and the back of his shirt is drenched. Ewww! Since it's a tropical climate, you're going to sweat. Everybody does. Try to pick breathable fabrics that don't highlight that fact, but that also don't look sloppy.

If none of these tips work for you, you can always dress like a tourist. We already know you're one anyway, especially when you're holding the MRT map upside and studying it like it's in ancient Phonecian.