Sounds cute, wear it. I have one too that I might bring with me, afterall we have to have our own personalities!

Animal prints are very "in" at the moment esp. on skirts with slashed hems or assymetrical lines and worn with black or brown and big belts. You will do fine...

We just got back from Italy and Greece.WE were in Venice,Milan,Como and Rapallo.Then Athens and Mykynos and Santorini.The one thing I noticed more than anything was that everyone(Italian and French) were wearing AVIATOR Sunglasses.My 20 year old and 17 year noticed it also. I'm talking everywhere from Milan to the nude beaches of MYkynos.

Thanks, ladies, for your prompt response to my question on animal prints. I also recently purchased a big belt that is worn low on the hips...and it was actually made in Italy..so it should look great!

Thanks again.

Animal prints and wide belts worn on the hip or on the waist and you will be able to compete with any Italian woman there. These are two VERY NOW items. A cute pair of ballerina flats and you are set!

I was in Rome last weekend ( American expat. in Switzerland)I honestly didn't see anything outstanding in the way the Italin woman dress.The men are the exception very nice tailored suits .
I think the northern part of Italy is much more fashionable.

OOPS i just realized the posts were from last year.
Hope the info is helpful for anyone traveling in 07.

Sewswitzerland3000, were the women wearing summery clothes? the weather looks warm there now (high 70s or 80).

2007 update?

We were in Venice in late September '07. It was very hot, except for one cold, rainy day. The women were wearing snug, form fitting jeans, long, flared bottoms in the new Euro fabric; stretchy, almost shiny dark wash, like a navy-almost black color. Many wore scarves. We saw lots of Puma and Geox casual shoes, and some high heels with jeans. You don't see the sloppy dressers in Europe like we have in the States, for the most part. Nobody goes out to eat in sweats, or ratty clothing. Maybe "nobody" is incorrect, but it's very uncommon to see. Whatever they wear, is clean, pressed, fits well, and is worn with class.

We were just in Italy (Oct. 2007-Venice and Florence) and as always....anything black works.

For Fall fashion: low or no heel knee high boots with pants tucked in (this was mainly the only way the locals were wearing jeans). We saw alot of trench coats cinched at the waist. Those who weren't wearing boots were wearing mid thigh skirts w/ black opaque tights and black pumps.

very, very helpful as I need to buy jeans and boots for the trip...

I just bought some great boots in Rome. They are very soft leather and have snaps all the way up, you can wear them partially snapped for a cuff on top or snapped all the way. It is easy to tuck jeans inside with the snaps. I bought them on the street next to Condotti, via Frattina, shop named Danielle. They are comfortable even on the first wearing because the leather is so soft.

We were in Rome, FLorence and Tuscany for two weeks in October. Yes, saw business men in nice suits, but the younger (20-30s) people mostly wore jeans (and unlike the previous poster) not all very nice and pressed. Women wore nicer boot cut or flared jeans with black heeled boots and saw lots of tight little jackets/blazers in all colors and fabrics. Everyone had a scarf tied around their neck. Men wore decent casual shirts, like you'd see in NYC and the sporty shoes (merrils, etc); no running shoes. And I was surprised to see a LOT of white tennis shoes & baggy jeans -- mostly on young Italian men. Who says tourists are the only ones wearing white shoes! Otherwise saw lots of black -- head to toe with a colored scarf.

jbm, did you notice the several locations of Foot Locker which have recently appeared in Rome, and at least one in Florence? Some of the teenagers were wearing running shoes, and I believe next year many more will. Also, i just happened to notice that the young Italian women's jeans were very tight!

There was even a Footlocker in Siena! My husband was tempted to go in and buy a pair of sneakers. They had some different designs from the US.

GianniFL, I did notice very tight jeans, really saw a little of everything in the jean dept. Now that you say that about running shoes I did see men wearing them during the day in Rome. It was rainy in Rome a couple days, and I had my head down to keep the rain out of my face and I was so interested in all the shoes that on this site they say not to wear! I saw them, and not on tourists. We did go into a Foot Locker to find an Italian soccer shirt and checked out the prices of shoes. Much higher than we pay around here, when you consider the exhange rate.

I completely disagree with Virgogirl. I have been all over Europe many, many times and some of the most horrid dressers are the Europeans. In Greece this summer, I saw French women and German men who should have been shot for their dress sense. The wife-beater, in particular, seemed to be very popular with Munich men.

Black nail polish doesn't look good on anyone, especially on those sucking on a Galoise.

I saw many Italians on Rhodes who looked like they slept in their clothes. They also smelled like old cheese.

Stop with the stereotyping.

My goodness, Margie!

"Stop with the stereotyping...'
I believe it was meant as a compliment!

Anyway, come with me to Wal-Mart this Saturday and see what people come out shopping in. Then we can stop by Olive Garden to see the diners in sweat pants, jogging suits, chubby chicks in tight jeans with muffin tops and men in saggy baggy jeans and trainers.

Seriously, I've never been to Greece, my loss, or to as many places in Europe as you have, so you are the better authority. Just responding to the poster's question with my observations. That's why we're here, isn't it, to share what we've experienced to help others?

There's no rule that you can't chime in if you haven't been to as many places yet as someone else. Everyone should feel welcome. Please forgive me if I've offended anyone, but let's enjoy and have fun. Peace!

We were in Rome late November. For woman, the fashion was all about the coat and the boots. Seems every woman on planet Italy was wearing a beautifully fitted coat - tweed, wool...mostly darker colors, and "riding" type boots with the jeans or pants tucked in. The boots were varied, some had a flat heel, some a bit more of a wedge. Coats were wore each day, with a plain scarf. They did look quite lovely. The coat and boots were of fine quality so one noticed little else. Most looks were conservative in Rome and Florence - but in Venice one sees more fur coats - men wore coats with fur trim. The men also wore orange pants, and other fashionable, creative wear. Venice style was more individual, where in Rome and Florence, they conformed to a set style. I could not walk in boots all day, we were on the run. But I would have liked to have some for evening strolling or dining. Many of the older folks dressed so beautifully also, reminds one of the way people dressed in the US in the 50's. I did ask the owner of our hotel about all the beautiful clothing we saw the italians wearing. His reply was that it was "for show". I asked him to explain. He said that the italians don't live as well as they did before the Euro, that times and taxes were tough, and that they wanted to "show" that they still had the buying power they once had. That was his take on it, this is his homeland.