Help with clothing/shoes
 

I'll be doing an 11 day tour of Florence and Rome in July...I know it is supposed to be in the 80's and cool at night, but I am trying to pack as lightly as possible...so do I really need anything dressy? Also, we will be doing a lot of walking and I've been told by my travel buddy that I shouldn't DREAM of taking my comfortable New Balance tennies....so what's my alternative??? I have not traveled in Europe before and feel like a total "Midwestern tourist"! HELP!

Hi
When we go on long trips, I usually take one outfit/dress or whatever that will do for a dressier night out. I just wear it over and over.
Usually, it is black:)
I would take plenty of cotton tops and capris, and a few light cotton sweaters.
Wear whatever shoes are comfortable. Sometimes, it is just as cool to dress the way you want than to dress the way others do.
Have a lovely time!

Hi "what to wear" is a controversial topic, sometimes it disintegrates into "slobs" vs "snobs."

Since you asked, and are interested, here are my thoughts.
July is a very busy tourist month, you will be surrounded by tourists from all over the world, many of whom, if not most of whom, will be wearing very casual clothes and tennies/sneakers/trainers. So, the first thought is that if those are your only comfortable walking shoes, by all means wear them. Nothing can ruin a trip like aching blistered feet.

Next thought: You are going to sophisticated cities where fashion holds some value. IF, and that's a big IF, you would like to look a little more sophisticated and still be comfortable, you could look into a comfortable shoe that has a modicum of style. YOu have to try them on and make sure they are good for your feet, but popular brands ranging from Easy Spirits to more expensive types like
Mephistos or Ecco have a bit of a heel and little more style then sneaks.

Noe of this is to imply that you won't be detected as a tourist. Those of us who wander around with cameras, maps, guide books, and "accents" are definitely tourists, no matter what shoes or clothes we are wearing.

I will advise bringing a second pair of shoes of some kind, even just a sandal.
Or pick up a pair there.
They will look better when you go out at night, even casually, and your feet could use a break from wearing the same shoes all day, every day.

Whether or not you need anything "dressy" depends on what you are doing. If you are planning on visiting any churches, and I can't imagine going through Italian cities without visiting churches, then shorts are a no-no and so are sleeveless tops.

I'd also avoid jeans simply because they are HOT,and can't be washed out and expected to dry, and they are so definitely casual that they limit, imo, you in versatility.

Even if you go to one or two nicer restaurants, you can get by easily in solid dark pants or a cotton skirt, same thing you can wear in the daytime, perhaps adding a little costume jewelry or a scarf or a light jacket or shawl.
That's another place where your alternate shoes can come in.

Elaine is right. You will be surrounded by lots of tourists. The Americans will be recognozable because they will be those dressed up like for a wedding, after having been scared by too many people telling them how snob are Italians when it comes to clothes. The slobbier wiull probably be the Italians. Yet, no tennies!!! Your feet will melt into the, get yourself a comfortabel pair of sandals, at least for the daytime (my own favorite are Birkenstok, as a matter of facts I have been wearing only Birkenstocks for the last two weeks).

That helps a lot....thanks to all of you! I own lots of "Birks" but wasn't sure if they would truly hold up to a whole days worth of walking....did that in NYC last year and regretted it! Have heard a lot about Ecco's though, so I will check them out! My traveling friend just scared me with the "Midwest Tourist" stuff...didn't want to look like a fell off the "haywagon!" I live in Northern Michigan and we dress casual all year (in fact I own NO dresses!!!)

I usually try to restrain myself from answsering these sorts of posts...please do not misunderstand me but I get the impression that sometimes women travelers may be a bit more concerned about the clothing issues than men...but anyway, wanted to say that I think elaine's comments above are very good ones and are useful to both women and men. I actually do take Levis when I travel and have been able to get them dry overnight BUT I agree thay can get hot for some AND they are definitely "limiting" in terms of where you can wear them sometimes.
Despite what you read here I think you'll see people in "tennis shoes" or at least very comfortable shoes which I think are vital...I always take a pair of dressier shoes to wear out to restaurants in the evening, etc.
And I agree with elaine that it is very hard to "blend in" even when you may be wearing the same sorts of clothes the "locals" are sporting..but I'm not convinced that "blending in" should be the prime consideration when traveling, either. Hope you enjoy your trip.

You asked...
May I suggest something? Do a search here under "clothing" or "clothes" or "wardrobe" and one under "shoes" and you'll find LOTS of info...
Random thoughts:
I'm just back from Spain (which I realize is not where you're asking about, but I'll tell you what I saw anyway) and was in the UK less than a year ago: We all look and dress fairly similarly no matter where you are from and/or where you visit. We buy roughly the same items and look a lot alike, for better or worse.
Don't be a slob, dress appropriately for the weather and for your size and weight and you'll be fine. Show some respect if you're going to be in a church. You can buy anything you need there. I bought a bunch of new clothes before going and regretted it. Why? There were some really cool clothes that I couldn't justify spending money on since I'd just bought so much to take with me; I wasn't willing to discard items, when if I had chucked a few shirts, I could have had more room for souvenirs plus never take anything that you would hate for the airline to lose. Don't worry about whether or not you're going to stick out like a tourist, because 1) you ARE a tourist, 2) you will likely be but one of many tourists and 3) there are more important things than fashion. We saw plenty of tennies/trainers and lots of jeans; I'm SO glad I took a pair. The simple black dress I took stayed in the suitcase the whole time, but it was a great option to have. Always take or purchase a second pair of shoes - no matter how comfortable your shoes are, it feels so much better to put on different ones at night or every other day, if only to make blisters on different toes;)
I asked the same question regarding clothes before we left, and I have since asked my husband to remind me before every trip that it doesn't matter what I wear, for the most part.
When it comes to shoes, find something comfy disregarding brands - what works for one person might not work for you. PS Mephistos may be comfortable but they are some of the ugliest shoes I've ever seen.

My solution to the dress up issue: take one skirt that packs well and goes with one or more of your tops and your sandals (or other shoes). Choose one of your tops with this in mind, to be the "dressy" top with slacks or skirt. For summer, the skirt would probably be thin and lightweight, not taking up too much of your luggage space. Then you have the dressy outift just in case. For your next trip, you'll know better if it was worth packing.

I like to experience the night life when I travel and find that I enjoy it a lot more when I dress in accordance with the expected norms in that country - if that means heels then it also means taxis! I would say that if you are in mainly tourist areas during the day doing sight-seeing then go with what you're comfortable in. If you are out painting the town red, then try to dress like a local would on a night out - you'll love the experience.

My husband and I just got back from 2 weeks in Rome, Florence & Venice and I think we were the only tourists NOT in sneakers. I finally broke down and bought some Adidas in Rome because my feet were so blistered from wearing non-touristy shoes. I think dressing nicer for dinner and the Vatican is a good idea, but the rest of the time I recommend wearing what's comfortable.

We had an amazing time -- you're going to love it!

Heidi;
Since you just came back, can you give me any ideas about good buys for things to bring back for friends from Florence and/or Rome? I'm not talking pricey leather goods or stuff like that, and I am Catholic, so I'll be picking up the usual medals, rosaries, etc., but I am interested in smaller, unusual types of things. We will also have a few evenings away from the tour group for dinners...any suggestions?

July can be pretty hot , especially in Florence...Bring summer dresses, skirts and capri..Confortable sandals, tennis shoes if you like and a pair of walking shoes also....
Other than that just enjoy yourself.
I am going next month.
Ciao,
kismet

I also am a huge Birkenstock fan, but I still wouldn't take them to walk 10 to 15 miles a day which is what we end up doing in Europe. There are lots of brands of very comfy cushioned sandals which could hold up to that kind of walking. By the way, speaking of walking, you need to be aware that we are not talking walking like you walk on the sidewalks in Michigan. We are talking walking on cobblestoned lumpy streets. One more thing since I am causal most of the time and from the midwest and since we travel on a budget. I bring skirts in the summer because they are cooler than slacks. I also take a sun dress and a very light wrap that I can throw around my shoulders or sit on for a picnic. As far as evening clothes, we never go to fancy restaurants, so we just wear what we had on during the day (casual but neat clothes) because the evening is usually just a continuation of our day. You have to ask yourself what kind of traveller are you. Will you be going to fanicer reataurants that will necessitate going back to your room to change for the evening, or will you be sticking to the more casual eating spots. That will help you decide how dressy you need to be.

I'm afraid I won't be much of a help here. I only brought back a few gifts: a ceramic spoon rest for $15E (a big, pretty non-kitschy one; I'll look up the store address in Rome if you're interested); a 2004 calendar for $10E from a street vendor (I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I thought the street vendors had some nice non-touristy calendars); and note cards for $8E from a paper store in Florence. If foodies are on your list you'll be able to find small bottles of truffle oil for $5-10E and I remember seeing inexpensive bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar (of course).

I'm afraid I won't be much help with restaurants either. I did a ton of research on fodors and epicurious before we left, but it didn't do me much good. Our first day in Florence we had a cooking and photography class with a couple native Florentines and when we told them where we had dinner reservations they looked horrified. They did, however, recommend Quattro Leoni (which we never made it to), and I-13 Gobbi, which had good food at good prices. We also ate at Buca Mario and really liked it. Our first night in Rome the same thing happened. When we asked the concierge for directions to the restaurant where we had reservations her exact words were: "You don't want to go there. The beautiful people eat there but the food isn't good." So much for all my research. After that I tossed my research and we ate in trattorias away from the piazzas (I don't remember names). Also, if just you and your travel buddy go to a trattoria for dinner be prepared to sit at a table for 4 with 2 people you don't know. This took us by surprise, but 2 of the 3 times it happened it wasn't uncomfortable at all (and we left before ordering the time it was uncomfortable).

One last note, even though I'm not Catholic I couldn't help but notice a store near the Pantheon that apparently outfits the Cardinals and provides all the items used in mass. I don't remember the name of it, but I'm sure your tour guide will know the place (it was a big store). I imagine it has all kinds of Catholic gifts.

Sorry for such a long response . . . I guess I'm still pretty excited about our trip and enjoy talking about it. Best wishes to you!

Heidi; Thank you for all the info! It really helps to have some idea of just what to do. I am going with a tour group (a church choir) and many of our dinners are pre-arranged, however, we do have some time on our own, and not being there before leaves me a bit anxious about where to go. Your info is extremely helpful. If you think of anything else, you can e-mail me directly at [email protected].
Thanks again!

djkujat, if you own NO dresses then I can't imagine that you'll feel very comfortable in a dress, no matter what everybody tells you.
On the other hand, if you can picture Rome in July, with heat fissures rising from the sidewalks, you might be able to imagine a loose dress... and you will not be the only tourist wearing a dress with sneakers, if it comes to that.
The most important thing is foot comfort. How would you like to hear yourself say, "I know I should go see the Pantheon but I'm going to stay in the hotel room, my feet are killing me."?

dmkujat, I have the shoe for you. It's Josef Seibel "Lena" (in the sandal section of his website. I got that sandal in black and it was unbelievably comfortable and keeps your feet cool.

It's like walking on a cushion (the strap part is cushioned too). And the black ones go with everything.

I definitely agree with Jenneepoo that a search on Fodors would be a good idea. Even though there are tons of posts on what to wear (clothes and shoes) and I think I have read them all, when I do a search on those topics (which I do every time we are planning a trip) I always find a new suggestion or brand that I have not seen before.

I love the Travelers collection from Chico's. The fabric is drapey and lightweight. It will not wrinkle, so no matter how you pack them the clothes will look great once you get there. Timbuktu Station is another store that has comfy clothes - they don't have as many locations as Chicos - but both of them have websites (www.chicos.com and www.timbuktustation.com). I personally love skirts (long ones) because I find them cooler in the summer and very comfortable. I don't think you need to take a skirt in order to have a dressy outfit, but I also think you might find a skirt or dress more comfortable for travel than you think it might be. Broomstick skirts are made to be wrinkled, so those travel well also. And linen is very lightweight and comfortable in the summer. It wrinkles very easily and is supposed to.

On all of my vacations since I became an adult, I always ended up with sore feet and blisters (never had that problem when I was a teenager living in Germany for two years and traveling all over Europe). On our most recent trip to London and Paris, I invested in three pairs of walking shoes although I only ended up taking two pair with me. One pair was Merrell Jungle Mocs (black) and the other was Ecco, but I don't know the style name (black - looked like Mary Janes - no heel). The soles on the Eccos were a bit thinner and not quite as comfortable on uneven surfaces or cobblestones. However, both pairs were wonderful and I did not have tired or sore feet our entire trip.

Good luck.

Thanks to ALL of you! I got lots of ideas and will begin shopping now for my July 1 departure!

Hi - literally just got back from Italy (two jet lagged days ago - trip report still to come), and I am pleased to report that way more Euros were wearing tennies than expected. I had grey New Balance running shoes, and Ecco walking sandals in black... the walking sandals could manage to look dressy with a long skirt. And nary a blister for 3 weeks. And never felt like I stood out as an American or a tourist (except once in Milan, as we were staying in the business center).

I say pack what you would for a July in the US, be sure to remember that when visiting major cathedrals you can't wear just shorts or tank tops, so either wear long, lightweight items or bring something to cover up when needed. And a few black dressy items from Chicos or whatever (I love their long black Travelers skirts - lightweight and pack well). Maybe a scarf or two to accessorize, that seemed pretty big with the Italian women. Have fun!