Barbara

Uncle Sam, Pearl is your wife. Now it all makes sense. Only your wife would be asking about linen....

linen lover

First off, unpressed linen is absolutely acceptable...I NEVER iron linen and travel with a suitcase full...very light-weight, washes out just fine in cold water in the hotel, dress it up or dress it down, layer it for evenings. Fairly hip fashion statement AND great travel tip...good for both France and Italy and just everywhere else I have been in warm weather (a lot of places!).

Uncle Sam

Barbara,<BR><BR>And you must be one of those NE big haired, caked makeup, gum chewing cigarrette smoking tramps!<BR><BR><BR>US

Pearl

OK everyone, calm down, this thread is going to get deleted before the end of the day and it is only about fabric!!<BR><BR>I have decided to take my linen as well as silk and I am sure I will be fine.<BR><BR>Thank you again, from the South, Pearl.

Barb

You and Uncle Sam belong together, embarassing us in Europe with your attitudes and your linen and silk. <BR>

Uncle Sam

Barb,<BR><BR>My goodness the horror of it all!<BR><BR>Being embarrassed by a fellow American in Europe. One of course that you do not even know. Amazing, I hope your shoulders are bigger than your brain because you certainly are carrying around a lot of collective guilt!<BR><BR>European Wannabe!<BR><BR>US

mimi taylor

rules are made to be broken. Only Americans worry about linen wrinkling.<BR>It it's HOT wear it. You'll be cool while others will be feeling the heat more. Clean, neat, good fit count more than trendy, flashy. Have a great trip.<BR>.

DontKnowYou

Sam & Barb-before you worry about being embarrassed in other countries, try being embarrassed here for your bad behavior.What a couple of jerks!

another linen lover

Linen , the best fabric to wear in the heat, elegant and not hot like rayon,<BR>washes beautifully(I drip dry it) sure it wrinkles, as Mimi says it is supposed to and it is only the yanks who worry about that. Pearl bring the darker colored linens. The italians make very beautiful blouses and skirts,<BR>often with lovely embroidery.

Pearl

Thanks Linen Lover, I am going to take darker linen and on your suggestion I will buy scarves and jewelry to wear with it. I am sort of amazed that such a question about fabric would stir up such feelings. Must be alot of bored people out there, and maybe a little misinformed too. Anyway, I am planning on having a nice trip in my linen, maybe, if I am brave and silly I will report my experiences. We'll see. Ciao!

Here's a secret

Europeans don't care what you wear! Whether it's a linen baseball cap, tennis shoes, or a jogging suit. They really don't care! Just don't try to wear sleeveless linen or linen shorts into a church or cathedral.

Bugroff

Uncle Sam, you really need to get gone from here -- you manage to poison just about any post, even the most innocent, with your smartass, Texas cracker b.s. Do you have any life other than spending all day here ambushing any a)liberal, b)female, c)northerner, d)dissenter, e)non-trailer trash? You're the best reason to become a member of any one of the above groups.<BR><BR>Lord, we really are sick and tired of your everlasting subversion of this forum into a ratfight! Go take a trip somewhere and then come back and talk about THAT.

Alice Twain

Pearl<BR><BR>Go ahead and bring your shorts. People do wear shorts in Italy all the time, in particular in the hotter south, and it may still be shorts weather in October in Naples.

Ruth

Maybe Pearl is in the circle of people that do care what you wear and that is not bad. I would rather travel with Pearl's circle than in the sweatshirt, jeans tourist group. If you stay in high end hotels, you should dress nicely what is wrong with that?

Alice Twain

Dressing nicely, on the other hand, doesn't mean that one can't dress in a more relaxed way, especially when travelling. For instance, a polo shirt, a pair of jeans and a pair of Superga can be perfectly acceptable in top-end places as long as they are clean, new and not worn out and the time of the day is right. You do not have to dress like an industry manager all the time just to be elegant, on the other hand you will end up looking foolish touring Pompeii under the sun in a grey suit or tailleur, while wearing the kind of clothing i mentioned above you will look elegant and your clothing fits what you are doing. Obviously you can't adopt the same kind of clothing in a pumarket restaurant, but even in an upmarket restaurant you are not expected to wear tuxedos or nightdresses! In a upmarket restaurant at dinner time wearing the grey suit is more than enough!

Pearl

I came back to my computer and looked back here and I am glad I did. Thank you Alice Twain for the shoe tip, I will buy some Supergas over there, or do you know of a place in the US? They look comfortable and "stylish".

Alice Twain

The Superga thing was just an example. Just wear any kind of shoes that is comfortable for walking for a long time (Superga are comfortable, but do not try to wear them for too long if you do not want to smell like cheese!!!) and that does not look too bad. For instance, Birkenstock sandals and clogs could just be perfect, as long as you do not use the very "German looking" models. Or use any other kind of trainer, as long as it doesnt' look like something out of a basket court. ^_^

xxxx

Alice, why would you smell like cheese? Is it because they don't breathe? No air holes?

Alice Twain

yes, they are almost waterproof (as long as it don't start raining, and your feet suffer from it in the worst way. The only kind of shoes that are worse than Supergas are All stars!

Felina

I am buying my linen wardrobe now on sale to take to Italy in September. It is still hot in the south of Italy at that time. What else would I wear? Linen is cool!!