Italian Churches, dress code
 

We will be in Italy on our honeymoon in just a few weeks. I have several skirts that hit right at my knee, or slightly (I'm talking a 1/2 inch here) below it. Will these be appropriate or should I shop for a truly long skirt. Also, will my then-husband be able to wrap a cloth around his legs instead of wearing hot pants, or will he have to wear pants all day? I have heard of men buying big cloths (like a curtain or small tablecloth) and wrapping them around their waists like a sarong. Thank you so much!!

This post reminds me of when I was a girl at St. Catherine of Siena Elementary School. You will be required to kneel on the floor at the front door of the church. If the hem of your skirt does not touch the floor you will be required to call your mother!

Seriously, your skirt will be fine, you can't have a sleeveless top and your husband can't wear shorts. I've never seen a man wear a sarong. Maybe those kind of pants that zip off the bottoms? Or wear long pants on the day you plan to visit churches.

Unless you are wearing a top that is more of a belt, and a skirt that is, no I won't use Trinny and Susannah's phrase, also belt like you will be fine.

Why does your husband wear hot pants?

Why not just wear trousers or standard shorts, really Aggie dear this is most strange.

A skirt that hits at the knee should be fine.
I would think that your husband would be more appropriately dressed in lightweight long pants than in a sarong , but to each his own!

I was LOL at the mental image of him wearing "hotpants" (Sorry!)

LOL!! I meant that he would be hot wearing pants, not hot pants! I don't even think I was born when true "hot pants" were in style (botn in 1979) ;-) Thanks for all the useful info. Great idea about the zipoff pants, he will like that a lot more than the cloth-around-the-waist idea ;-)

troll, troll, troll? Hot pants or hotpants? Please do a search and input "italian churches dress code" or something similar.
Modest dress is required in most/all churches - but mainly for the women.
If you'll be there in just a few weeks it won't be too horribly hot and pants would not be an awful thing to wear.
Skirts need to cover the knees in most "tourist" churches.
I was in a church for easter outside of sorrento (I really do intent to post a report, promise) and thre was a group of American college student at the Mass. Three of the five were "dressed" in mini skirts and it was not a problem. I would bet that they would not get into many chruches in Rome, etc. Just an observation.

Also agree with the long pants vs the sarong. You must also cover your arms(nothing sleeveless). I worried I needed something for my head, but that is not the case. Bring money to light candles.

You are fine with a skirt. It is the shorts and tank top thing that is frowned down upon. My two 20-something friends had to go buy shawls to cover up their tank tops and changed into knee length skirts to get into the Vatican and St. Peter's. Your husband will not want to wrap anything around his legs, that would look so absurd and comical. I have never seen any of the men do that. He should wear pants. A pair of pants in a light-weight fabric is not unbearable (khakis or even linen/cotton blend work great) - not all pants are heavy! Plus, the pants will come in handy in the evenings when you go out to dinner. You don't want to go out to restaurants in shorts anyway.

Wear hot pants in Europe and start a new fashion Trend..:):):)
I guess that this is a troll...But if is not, then ..here are some
Rules:


Always carry a large scarf in your purse, just in case you want to stop to admire a church:

You can wear summer dresses,
capris,
slacks,
skirts above your knee

Dont walk around the city in shorts, despite that i saw quite few tourists wearing them in Romelast year..is a nono..

Wear comfy walking shoes with a good soles..many streets are murder for your feets..

Dont worry, just bring something nice but practical..You are going to spend most of your days walking and sightseeing..
Most of all have a good time, dont worry about looking like a tourist, is not a shame to be one..

Have a great time..Congratulation!!!

Buon Viaggio,
Ciao, kismet

Grasshopper you made me smile! I remember in high school (St. Joseph's in Denver) yearning to wear sandals barelegged in spring, but could never get away with it because my legs were too white. If the nuns were suspicious they would touch your legs to see if you were wearing hose.

Things have changed TexasA, but good advice above. Cover your shoulders and I should think your new husband could certainly manage for one day not wearing shorts (which I don't personally find make me any cooler, so never wear them).

Congratulations and have a wonderful time!

Toured the Vatican and St. Peter's last year. My husband and son both wore slacks, I wore "capri" pants and a blouse with sleeves. Funny, no one said a word to the woman in our tour group in a tank top! (Personally, I wouldn't risk it, most comply!)

I have seen men wearing sarongs - at the local folk festival and on the beach. But I think it might be disconcerting and upsetting to do that in a church in Italy.

Thanks so much to the many of you who posted legit advice, I very much appreciate it and am happy to learn I won't have to go purchase long shirts in addition to all our other wedding/honeymoon related costs. The information about covering the shoulders was also very helpful!

For the few who commented "troll", it was a sincere question by a VERY new Fodors member, albeit poorly worded in retrospect. In my defense, the words "hot" and "pants" probably wouldn't trigger such a reaction in any of my peers but I will definitely take more care next time.

Don't sweat the small stuff...I think people understood what you meant and you got good information EXCEPT for that blurb about some things (outside of the churches) being "no-nos"...you can wear what you like as there is no "dress code" in Europe except for people who are ugly and I am sure you aren't one of those. Enjoy your trip!

Thanks Singletail, your post made me smile :-) Have a good one!

Hi Texas Aggie. I know you from theknot.com message boards. I did get a laugh out of the hot pants thing, but I understood what you meant.

For the day we go to the Vatican/St. Peters, I'm planning to wear capris and a short sleeved shirt. That day, my fi will wear lightweight khakis and a polo shirt. For other days when we might pop into churches, my fi is planning to wear the pants that zip off into shorts. They are usually in that lightweight material anyway, so he's fine with that. I'm planning to carry a lightweight cotton shawl that I can wrap around my shoulders or legs, should the need arise.

Have a great time, and be sure to post a trip report. We're not far behind you!

A man in Hot Pants, wow, I would like to see this in Italy or anywhere else, Buck

I'm picturing Thingorgeous in hotpants. Slap my mind!