starrs

This thread is a great read!

julies

We are leaving the end of next week for a three week trip to Liguria, Umbria and probably Rome. My greatest concern is shoes because I know how your feet feel can make or break a trip! I've been living in sandals all summer here at home, but I have realized that at this time of year I will want regular shoes.

To Bonniestar--We were in Sicily for three weeks in Oct. two years ago. At the start of our trip in Ortygia it was definitely was warmer, and lighter weights clothes were comfortable. But by the time we made our way to Palermo two weeks later cooler weather had set in. Everyone there was wearing fall clothing in darker colors--sweaters, jackets, scarves. Not a summery thing to be seen. What some of them were wearing was much warmer than I'd ever wear in similar temps (of course, that is pretty normal for us since we live in a really cold climate), but we definitely needed rain jackets and sweaters/fleece at times in Palermo. For sitting outside in the evenings for dinner, both in Sicily and also in southern France last October, we saw a lot of men and women in those light weight down jacket sweaters. Now that I just typed this, I think I may go find mine right now so I'll remember to pack it.

suze

A lightweight down jacket or vest is excellent when you aren't sure the temps or will be changing temperatures during a trip.

Even better than fleece because it packs smaller and weighs less but will keep you just as warm (not for rain but for lower or changing temps).

NewbE

<It doesn't matter if your shoes match your clothes when you are traveling.>
LOL!

Sorry, it matters to me! Which is why I still think the best packing advice is to select a limited color palette and stick with it. Everything in your suitcase should, ideally, match (at least loosely) or go together. That is the only secret to packing efficiently.

Mimar

I'd worry about wearing white while traveling. Hard to get clean. I'm in Italy right now in the Veneto, and all the women are wearing fall colors or maybe grey or beige-y ensembles that span the seasons. The weather is cooling but still humid.

bvlenci

I'm still wearing sandals, and, unless it gets unusually cold, I'll wear sandals until the end of October. I'm a barefoot kind of person.

<i> Italians are honey-skinned and impossibly glossy. </i>

Italians come in all shades. There are lots of platinum blondes and redheads here, and people with pale, freckled skin. And a lot of Italian women are pretty hairy.

Here is a photo of a class reunion supper in Viterbo, near Rome.

http://www.tusciatimes.eu/wp-content...lasse-1990.jpg

In the front row, I see one pair of strappy sandals, one pair of boots, and three pairs of (horrors!) white sneakers. Also, torn jeans and a Lonsdale t-shirt. And, WAIT A MINUTE, do I see pink lycra under that checked coat? It may not be lycra, but it's a neon pink.

suze

<Everything in your suitcase should, ideally, match (at least loosely) or go together.>


Why should most things "match or go together"? I have tops that go with bottoms, every piece does not need to go with every other one. That makes no sense.

NewbE

<Why should most things "match or go together"?>

So that things can be worn interchangeably with each other--including scarves, belts, shoes, whatever.

Lamorna

Just an observation - when people pick specific quotes out of a reply and then diasgree wih it or say it's wrong...to me that comes across a little picky. There will be lots of different thoughts and opinions on a forum so is it not better just to post your own reply rather than pick bits out of other people's and contradict? It probably isn't done intentionally but just seems a little off x

NewbE

My intention was only to make it clear whom I was replying to. Sometimes one thinks that one's reply will appear immediately after a certain post, but another post intervenes, and things get confusing.

bvlenci

Also, often when I reply to something, there are already half a dozen other posts between the original and my reply. No one would know what I was talking about if I didn't include a quotation for context.

Some forums have "threaded" replies, so that you can reply to a specific post, and your reply will go under that post, indented. This isn't a perfect solution, because two people could be replying at the same time, leading to confusion. And often these sub-threads take over the topic.

suze

<to me that comes across a little picky>

Because it is. Thanks Lamorna. It's because NewbE doesn't like me. She does this all the time. Anything I post she will disagree with.


Bottomline for this topics is that I don't care about interchanging clothing. I don't wear scarves. I don't care if my shoes match my "outfit" in color.

We should all be able to express and share opinions on the forum.

massimop

For anybody planning a trip to the Italian Riviera, autumn weather arrived a full 2 weeks early, and you see plenty of women wearing scarves, denim or leather jackets, and sandals have been packed away. Walking through town this morning it was so windy I bought a cloth hat.

Where I live in Italy, a woman wearing black is not seen as being in mourning. (They still think that way in rural France?) It's a very chic look (and practical choice for an active population). Men, interestingly, tend to dress more colorfully than women do, and most women favor muted & earth/natural tones, and enjoy mixing patterns & texture (as well as jewelry). Shoes are fussed over, but the popular item this year seems to be feminized sneakers & hightops (glittery, or lacey, or with flowery prints).

Above all, for all the frippery & stilettos, the Italian women I encounter are extremely practical when it comes to keeping warm, dressing for the occasion (women here do not dress up for the vegetable market) and let "statement" accessories provide the flash in the wardrobes. The basic outfit wears well and is plain in itself.

massimop

Some very typical daily dress in my region

http://l450v.alamy.com/450v/fnyw3d/t...noa-fnyw3d.jpg

https://oldwayspt.org/sites/default/...nal_dinner.jpg

https://thumb1.shutterstock.com/disp...-517980784.jpg

http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/b7f94f7797...aly-dfxc2h.jpg

https://a.travel-assets.com/mediavau...dbcd334de.jpeg

https://www.therivierawoman.com/pics...DianaCima6.jpg

https://thumb1.shutterstock.com/disp...-526582273.jpg

massimop

This Swiss photoblog of Ligurian towns has some excellent candid photos of autumn streetwear, including shots of women's clothes on sale in windows. You can see how muted & practical the color palette is

http://andrislinz.ch/travel/liguria-2015/

julies

massimop--

We'll be in Liguria in two weeks, so all of your posts have been very helpful. Definitely looks like time to put away my summer wear before we come to Italy, especially now that you are saying autumn in the region has arrive earlier than usual.

Long pants, scarves, shoes with socks and a sweater here I come.