Italy in July - Clothing
 

First, let me thank all the postings people have made over the years -- their information has been invaluable in planning our family trip to Italy. My question for who ever can help is regarding clothing. I feel good about what to take for me and my girls (skirts, comfortable shoes--no white sneakers, somthing to cover shoulders in churches) but am checking for my husband. As the person who has to travel with him and hear complaints about being hot and sweaty, I want to make sure I can give good suggestions. He wants to wear khaki pants and like a seer-sucker jacket but that seems too much. So what should he take so that his clothing doesn't scream "tourist" but is comfortable, cool and easy to care for. Thanks!

Hi Kebwcb, Not sure if this is the answer you are looking for, but I got my husband some clothing from LL BEAN via internet. They have olive,khaki and grey pants, plus nice button down short-sleeved patterned shirts that are specifially meant for travel to hot climates where shorts are not appropriate. He thought they worked out really well last year in 90-100 degree weather. If they are not easily located on their website, they offer nearly instant online answers to queries. Have a great time in Italy!

peppermintpatti: Thx for the quick reply. So men don't really wear shorts in Italy? Are they OK for easy hiking around Cinque Terre?

Sorry kebwcb, but I travelled to Italy without my husband last time, and was on a tour with my church group, so the men all had pants on because we went to churches everyday! So, I don't really know if shorts are inappropriate there! My husband travelled to El Salvadore last year, and that is where he wore the pants, because the men there don't wear shorts in public. Maybe someone with more experience could give some advice here? I will add my two cents about the female clothing you have chosen. I think you are right on the money! For me, skirts are always cooler and more comfortable than shorts or capris.

Yes, real men do wear shorts in Italy, especially in July where it can get very, very hot. You will thank yourself for taking shorts. And if you have a comfortable pair of "white sneakers," wear them because you will kick yourself when you get there and see everyone else wearing them. ((b))

Way to go Budman!

Does the same rule apply for men in the churches as far as shorts are concerned?

Men on vacation do wear shorts in Italy if it's hot. Of course, you have to use judgement. You wouldn't wear shorts to a nice restaurant, the opera, etc.

We saw some interesting clothing selections among the participants in Italian tour groups.

I think a seer-sucker (or any other kind of jacket) will be too warm in Italy in the summertime.

I'd take a look at a catalog like Lands End (or LL Bean or TravelSmith)for lightweight fabric, neutral colored, docker type pants. On top - short sleeve button down shirts, solid colored t-shirts, or knit polo shirts. I would take at least 1 pair of knee length nice looking shorts. For footwear I'd go with one pair or sandals, one pair of sneakers, one deck shoes or moccasins type.

I vote for combed cotton. Doesn't wrinkle. Shorts during the daytime when the temperature hits the 80's and higher. Polyester is a no no.

We travel in Italy during July most years. When visiting a city, I find residents are dressed in business attire, because - they are working! I am not, so I figure I am there to be as comfortable as possible, and as cool as possible. No secret I am a tourist - big deal. Accept that and relax. Try to learn some phrases in Italian if you don't already know any - any attempt to speak the language generally results in smiles and encouragement.
Carol L

We founda couple of nice, washable (anddrip dry) breathable button down shirts for the hubby in the Travelsmoth catalogue; he wears them to work here when his stack of regular shirts runs low. He also got a nice houndstooth blazer there, but unless we went to the cooler north he would not bring that in July. He wears washable docker slacks--a dark pair and a tan pair--for the whole time. He does not wear shorts.

I wear a loose, white, linen camp shirt & similar tops with tan or black pants or a dark skirt.

post above's got it pegged. do what annw suggests.

Italian men do not wear shorts. At least in Tuscany, but I'm pretty sure it's universal. If you are very concerned about being obviously American, you may want to forgo them. However, you are probably going to be obviously American no matter how hard to try unless you have your finger on the pulse of Italian fashion as a rule. After three years of living here on and off, I am still recognized frequently as a foreigner before I open my mouth. Italian men DO sometimes wear peddle-pushers / cropped pants (not tight like women's), which to date in the US are reserved, from what I've seen, to women or very metrosexual types. Point is, be comfortable, both with style and heaviness of what you're wearing. Personally, though my personal style has been influenced by trends here simply becuse this is my environment, I still buy and wear what I like, rather than what i feel is going to make me less inconspicuous.

Pants with zip off legs can be a nice option. Definitely not polyester! I think Travelsmith & LL Bean cary them.

Italian men DO wear shorts. It's hot here in the summer! (We live in Tuscany just outside of Florence.) My husband is Italian and will most definitely wear shorts in July and August when it is very hot. Obviously not in a church and usually not at night.

Being from Florida, I am used to wearing shorts all the time, but I have found myself wearing shorts only in the summer months here in Italy. I have begun wearing capri pants and sandals in the last few weeks, much to the disappointment of my Italian mother in law. She swears I must be freezing!

So please, wear shorts if it is 90 degrees and you are more comfortable in them!

P.S. My husband owned shorts before I married him...so my American way of dressing has not influenced his way of dressing. His mother has influenced MY way of dressing, but that's another story...

I think he needs both shorts AND a pair of khaki's. The khakis for going out at night, and also for visiting churches. I love seer-sucker jackets on men... my husband always likes to travel with a sports jacket, and often chooses his seer-sucker in the summer months.

I'm not sure where you are visiting in Italy, but we encountered some cooler evenings during our visits in August, where we were glad we had packed sweaters or jackets.

Last summer, I noticed lots of red and orange trousers on the men. It sounds weird, but they really looked sharp! Both the men and women seemed to wear nice, bright colors. I've noticed the opposite during the winter months.

Okay........I need to ask this to the women who wear skirts because they're cooler then shorts. Do you wear a slip?...I find most lightweight, summer skirts are see thru if the light hits you right. I always wear a slip, which makes it hotter then shorts. Is my age showing here? Do you care/not care if you can see thru your skirt?

I do (wear a slip). I have to say 2 1/2 years ago in Northern Italy, I saw plenty of women in see-thru skirts. Lots of white linen!

A skirt that has a lot of pattern or is mostly dark with a pattern will not show your silhouette as much. Also, many of those Indian "broomstick" skirts actually have folds and folds of crinkly material, which isn't the same as wearing a lighweight, light colored sheath.

PS: I often pair a lightweight skirt with a long tunic length blouse or shirt, which means if anyone cares to look at the outline of my legs, they are not seeing more than they would if I was wearing a pair of shorts.

But I do find that the cheap imported skirts from India with colorful patterns are not revealing.

For men's shirts - when it is hot, my husband likes to wear the collared, button shirts with the hem cut straight across (as opposed to a curved shirt tail hem). The shirt is meant to be worn untucked and since they are usually made of a loose-weave cotton so they are light and allow lots of air flow. This type of shirt with a pair of long khaki shorts or pants looks really nice for summer.

The shirts J Correa described above are my standard "dress" uniform during our hot Florida summers (April - Nov). I will also wear them in Italy this summer. Additionally, I have recently discovered Nike Dri-Fit tee shirts which are very cool and dry quickly. Since I do not care who knows I am an American tourist, I will wear these mostly, along with the my thinnest zippered fishing pants, mostly with the long-legs zipped off, and of course, running shoes or sandals. My running shoes are mostly white with those cool orange, red and black design stripes. Oh, and if I can find any that don't have much blood on them, a multi-pocketed fishing shirt, or two. Have a great trip, :) Gianni

are you kidding me, GianniFL?! TTT :)

We have been in Italy the last three summers and yes Italian men wear shorts. Last summer it seemed the trend was for the real long short, which I would call almost a capri. American tourists (which I am) wore anything they liked. Whatever they would wear at home in the summer. We saw everything, shorts, white sneakers, sandals, tee-shirts. When it is 95 and humid you want to be comfortable. The only church that wouldn't let us in with shorts was St. Peter's in Rome, the rest did not care what you had on. Don't make it a fashion show, be comfortable. We are finished going to Europe in July, now that I have retired from teaching. July is just way too hot and way too crowded. Leaving for Paris on Tuesday.

Gelatogirl, No kidding...as DinPa explained. As luck would have it, after reading my last post the LW got me a new

shirt with no stains, and asked me to save it for Italy. Now if I can get used to this new laptop...:)Gianni

Lots of shorts evident in Rome at easter, but if you are planning to do a lot of church visiting, make it a trousers [sorry, pants] day, My husband got chucked out of the church on the capitoline hill wearing quite long shorts!
Apart from that, just wear what you'd wear at home in hot weather. If you find it difficult, you can buy water in a pressurised aerosol, which is very cooling.

The last 7 times I have traveled to Italy in mostly the warmest of months, I have found shorts quite appropriate. Khaki cargo shorts come in handy. Hikers in the Cinque Terre use them, and more and more locals can be seen being comfortable.

Khaki slacks are always a good choice for the church visits.
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Kakhi slacks are always a good choice for the church visits.

It's been my experience that light colored clothing is essential in Italy and Greece in the summer months. Because lightweight gray pants, particularly no stain and no wrinkle are hard to find, I have mostly worn khaki chinos. If one wishes to have the option of shorts (with my legs, I don't even shower in short pants)many of the travel companies have convertible pants with Velcro attached lower legs. I've not tried them, but the people I've met who were wearing them were very happy with the dual purpose clothing. The best look like cargo pants and hide their seams well.