How should we dress for traveling in Italy? Before traveling to Paris last year, we were told by friends EXACTLY how to dress! (Actually, after we got there, we found we could have dressed any way we liked!) Are shorts, skirts, tennis shoes, sandles acceptable?

I just got back from Italy and wasn't very happy at all with the clothes I brought along. So, here's what I noticed and what I wish I wouldve done. (BTW--I know many people don't care about the way they look in public, but I do; I like to look good in public).<BR><BR>In Venice and Rome, everyone dresses really nice; women mostly wear knee-length skirts and very sexy clothes that are also comfortable looking. They wear pointy shoes with heels. The ones who wear jeans don't wear tennis shoes with them, but instead they dress them up with nice shirts and dress shoes. Men are also very stylish--big sunglasses, untucked dress shirts, and nice dress jeans.<BR><BR>In Cinque Terre, people dress much more casual--resort like attire (shorts, short skirts, wrap-around skirts, etc...).<BR><BR>I went to Paris too and there I felt comfortable in the clothes I had packed, but in Italy, people definitely dress up more.<BR><BR>Good luck! <BR><BR>

Unstylish clothes are not acceptable in Italy after your first day there.

Unstilish clkothes is what the bulk of Italians wear everyday of their life. Do not be too concerned about what to wear or you will end up just like in Paris, fonding out that people dresses in a plain and comfortable way. Personally, I have been this morning amongst a crowd of pretty cultured and wealthy fellow Italians on a industrial archeology tour of some industries outside Milano, most people was dressed just like me: jeans, trainers, sweathers and rain jackets were decidedly in faschion. Obviously, just like in the whole world, we dress up for special occasions, but for the most part of the day we dress plainly.

Have questions also: We'll be in Italy Oct 11-22 Mostly Amalfi Coast and Ischia. I'm comfortable about knowing what clothes to bring for Rome and AC but not Ischia. Is it more casual and will it still be ok for capri? Thanks!

In Rome at St. Peter's, please be mindful of arm and leg exposure! 2 friends of mine were turned away at the door last month because they were wearing sleeveless tops and slightly above-the-knee skirts. Their attire was such due to the exceedingly hot weather, however, was not appropriate for those venues. They ended up buying some long shawls that they wrapped around their upper body and draped around their waists. They learned a valuable lesson: tour St. Peter's and the Sistine Chapel in the first part of the morning, then change into more suitable site-seeing clothing (shorts, etc.) for walking around ruins, monuments, etc. in the hot sun.<BR>Overall, Italians dress very fashionably and nice. I didn't see any women in tennis shoes or shorts, just very elegant, classy attire that was both weather and style appropriate. I found bringing along a blazer to be a helpful trick because can dress up leggings, pants, or a skirt in a minute and works beautifully for an evening dinner at a nice restaurant.

You can get away with dark tennis shoes (black or brown)or good walking shoes - You'll be walking so you couldn't bare to wear those torture devices we saw women wearing this summer. However, I did notice that the bowling shoe style was still in and was worn with slacks. You can't go wrong with black slacks/skirt and comfortable top. Also my brother-in-law had the same dress-code problem at the Vatican. We warned him and warned him but he wouldn't listen. He was turned away from the Vatican because he was wearing shorts. There were some enterprising street salesmen just outside the Vatican selling paper pants! That's how he got in, finally. You know, you'll always look like a tourist no matter what you do (cameras tend to give us away). But you can still look like a neat respectable (and respectful) tourist by just dressing nicely, say as you would to go to your own church (only with more comfortable shoes).

Suzanne:<BR><BR>I think that you really gave but a superficial look to the people you met in Italy. Saturday evening I had to be back at the office for doing some work and I went back at around 8 pm, just as many people were getting out for their saturday-evening restaurants and whatever else. I was really bored and I had forgotten my newspaper here at the office. On a saturday night in Milano I estimate that as much as 1/4 of the women I met on the subway were wearing trainers and most of them wore white ones (I had a pair of black ones on, so I am amongst that 25%). The weather does not allow shorts anymore, but half the women and girls under 40 years of age were wearing jeans. As for restaurant attire, in Itay restaurants (unless ou really hit the VERY upmarket ones) will not frown on any attire, as long as the clothes are clean. Personally, but a few weeks ago I was convinced to join a group of friends in a far more upmarket restaurant than I use to go (and I go to restaurats a lot) and the eigth of us (5 men and 3 women) couldn't put toghether one elegant (although mismatched in color and size) elegant attire for either man or woman with their clothing: there were no ties, only one jacket, no shirts (only t-shirts) and not one of the women were wearing any kind of elegant dress, except for one of my friends, a journalist, who must dress up for work (but she sported a big coffee spot on her shirt from her mid-afternoon break). Now, belive me: I do not have an experience of a few days in Rome, I have 30 years of experience in whole Italy, and I know that the saying that all Itlaians are always dressed up is BULLSHIT!

I spied dressed up people in Milan only - once at La Scala and those were the people down on the floor; those of us in the balcony were casually dressed - and during lunch when the business people were out and about. I tell you I could sit forever and watch the parade men in their Italian suits. Yum.

What's appropriate is what you feel comfortable wearing. For me Italy presents the opportunity to wear more stylish clothes than I can get away with at home: the same high-heeled boots that call to mind dominatrix in the U.S. are just fine in Bologna (where I was working last week). I still wear them in the U.S., mind you, I just don't wear them as frequently. <BR><BR>Your age, your taste, the weather, your planned activities---all affect your style of dress. Wear what you'd like, and buy something new if you see something that looks cool. <BR><BR>All of the items Sonja mentions specifically in her initial post are appropriate, assuming she feels comfortable wearing them. I don't feel comfortable wearing shorts and tennis shoes or sandals unless I'm at home or hiking or at the beach, so I don't wear them, even if it's the fashion.

I just got back and found that if you stick with black, white and tan you'll be fine. Red and rust seem to be popular for fall and winter also. I brought floral skirts and felt like I was the only one colorized in a black and white movie. No shorts or tennis shoes. The best way to fit in is to buy yourself something there. After a very successful shopping spree my daughter looked so Italian that tourists were asking her for information. Have fun!

It's all relative, Alice.<BR>Your girl-friends who wore t-shirts did not wear t-shirts that screamed some sports teams' names. They probably wore "t-shirts" that would be considered here in the States as "dress-up" sleeveless tops. I've seen Italian men wear "t-shirts" and believe me very few American men could pull this off. There is probably also an issue of body weight. Most Americans are a lot heavier than people in other countries. So Americans no matter what they wear tend to carry themselves differently and thus stand out. <BR><BR>Sonja,I usually wear black when I travel. Can never go wrong with black and it matches every other color. (I just packed a black skirt, black St.John pants - 2 different kinds (sporty and dressy), black casual pants for the long plane ride and a variety of tops in black, red and grey - knit and silk). Pack a bright scarf to dress up any black outfit. And if you want to look nice never wear white tennis shoes in the city, even in the States. (Now, my kids wear very bright colors, but that's for safety reasons.)

I was also so gullible to fall victim to these "what to wear where" threads. We just returned from London, Paris and Athens. Wear the exact same thing you would wear at home. Especially the jeans!

igk:<BR><BR>Actually I have one good friend, one year older than I am (early thirty) who spends the whol summer wearing little but shorts and rugby teams shirts. Really, if you just would stop looking only at the well-dressed professionals, yo woudl see tht people in Italy (unless they have a spoecific job that reuquires being dressed-up) do not care much about what to wear.

Who cares ?!?! Why does it matter ?!?!? You either know how to dress or your don't. If you are so shallow as to worry about what a bunch of strangers think, stay home !!

I just got back two days ago from a two week trip to Italy. Please don't be concerned about the way you dress. Far too much emphasis is placed on this by non-europeans. First of all, many Italians wear jeans and tennis shoes (and yes, you will see shorts), especially the under 30 crowd. If you really want to blend, I wore black from head to toe every day (easier to pack), didn't walk around with a map or camera around my neck. It was amazing how many Italians came up to me and asked me for directions in Italian. Nobody ever thought I was American. Enjoy your vacation!