Long or short skirt while travelling in Europe???
Mar 6th, 2007, 06:12 AM
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Long or short skirt while travelling in Europe???
I will be visiting Europe for the very first time this April (Paris and different parts of Switzerland)! I am going with my husband and his parents (his father is working for a year in Switzerland)- all of whom are well experienced travellers. I am working really hard on putting together a great travel wardrobe that fits in my new 22 inch roller. I have been reading a LOT of the threads here and many people suggest taking a long skirt...is a skirt above the knee considered inappropriate in many places abroad? (I know this sounds like a really dumb question...I just want to look great and make a great impression on my new in-laws!!!!)
Thank you for any advice - I am loving these message boards already!!!!
Mar 6th, 2007, 06:21 AM
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Hey McAllister
You are probably young enough to be my daughter, so take this with a grain of salt and ignore me if I am wrong.
I'm no fashionista, but IMO, a skirt that's too short is a pain in the neck to wear while traveling. One tends to move more, bend more, etc and a shorter skirt might give away more information than you'd like.
IMO the definition of "short" is at least five inches above the knee. For me, I keep them to knee length and don't have to worry.
You are probably young enough to be my daughter, so take this with a grain of salt and ignore me if I am wrong.
I'm no fashionista, but IMO, a skirt that's too short is a pain in the neck to wear while traveling. One tends to move more, bend more, etc and a shorter skirt might give away more information than you'd like.
IMO the definition of "short" is at least five inches above the knee. For me, I keep them to knee length and don't have to worry.
Mar 6th, 2007, 06:35 AM
#5
Shorts skirts or long skirts, everything is in style except cellulite. You might want to bring some tights and boots if you're wearing skirts though. Boots are definitely the rage. You see a lot of pants tucked into boots too.
Mar 6th, 2007, 06:44 AM
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A dress-up skirt and a few nice tops are quite useful and more flexible than a dress. You will need sandals to go with the skirts - not good if you are considering taking only a 22" suitcase!
I find long skirts comfortable and easy to wear during long car or train rides. BUT I have not used them enough to justify the luggage space. On top of that, skirts which are comfortable are rarely the fashionable kind
April could be wet and cool in Paris, maybe not skirt and sandal weather...
In Switzerland the entire country dresses in hiking clothes. It will be cold at higher elevations. Dress in layers and forget the skirts unless you plan to attend power lunches in Zurich.
I find long skirts comfortable and easy to wear during long car or train rides. BUT I have not used them enough to justify the luggage space. On top of that, skirts which are comfortable are rarely the fashionable kind
April could be wet and cool in Paris, maybe not skirt and sandal weather...
In Switzerland the entire country dresses in hiking clothes. It will be cold at higher elevations. Dress in layers and forget the skirts unless you plan to attend power lunches in Zurich.
Mar 6th, 2007, 07:00 AM
#10
As above, I would not wear a long skirt because I don't think they are practical, especially for traveling (climbing onto trains, etc.)
A short skirt is fine and prefectly appropriate, that said, since you're traveling in April it might be a little breezy!!
Why not just stick with pants/slacks? That is the most "pulled together" look imo and easiest to have shoes that look good with. You can have both casual and 'dressy' pants outfits.
A short skirt is fine and prefectly appropriate, that said, since you're traveling in April it might be a little breezy!!
Why not just stick with pants/slacks? That is the most "pulled together" look imo and easiest to have shoes that look good with. You can have both casual and 'dressy' pants outfits.
Mar 6th, 2007, 07:04 AM
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Not that I wear skirts (except at the weekend 
), my wife has found that at some places of worship, particularly in Italy, they are a bit funny about showing too much flesh, especially shoulders. The same applies to men in shorts.
), my wife has found that at some places of worship, particularly in Italy, they are a bit funny about showing too much flesh, especially shoulders. The same applies to men in shorts.
Mar 6th, 2007, 07:11 AM
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Sorry, marigross, but we do not all dress in hiking clothes all the time! Only when we hike. I am at work right now and have on a cashmere sweater and a gypsy-ish kind of skirt with boots. McAllister, you'll have to wait and see what the weather is like closer to your departure date to decide what to wear. And yes, different skirt lengths are fashionable but comfort is most important.
Mar 6th, 2007, 07:17 AM
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Wow - thank you everyone for taking the time to reply to my silly question! I am planning on taking a few pairs of slacks that will be easily made into dressier or casual outfits (and make up almost my entire wardrobe while away). However, I was going to slip in one nice dress for nicer dinners out etc.
Mar 6th, 2007, 07:20 AM
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(Sorry, hit the button by mistake...)
I guess I will take the advice to wait and see what the weather is like...I am hoping that I can take my beautiful little black dress! (It is sort of small and can fit into any size suitcase easily.)
Thanks again - I appreciate any advice for my first trip to Europe! (By the way, we are going to London and Scotland in August so my second trip will be pretty soon!)
I guess I will take the advice to wait and see what the weather is like...I am hoping that I can take my beautiful little black dress! (It is sort of small and can fit into any size suitcase easily.)
Thanks again - I appreciate any advice for my first trip to Europe! (By the way, we are going to London and Scotland in August so my second trip will be pretty soon!)
Mar 6th, 2007, 08:54 AM
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Hi,
Do you watch "What Not to Wear" with Stacy London and Clinton Kelly on TLC? That is a great show! Clinton and Stacy are fashion stylists and they advise no short skirts after age 35. I think anything above the knee is a short skirt. I like A-line or straight skirts that fall right at my knee when I travel, usually in a fabric that I can wash easily, such as rayon or cotton or linen. I usually choose a basic color - black - and take a solid color skirt with blouses, sweaters to match. Just mix and match!
Definitely wear longer sleeves and longer skirt in churches and cathedrals.
Have a great day!
Julia
Do you watch "What Not to Wear" with Stacy London and Clinton Kelly on TLC? That is a great show! Clinton and Stacy are fashion stylists and they advise no short skirts after age 35. I think anything above the knee is a short skirt. I like A-line or straight skirts that fall right at my knee when I travel, usually in a fabric that I can wash easily, such as rayon or cotton or linen. I usually choose a basic color - black - and take a solid color skirt with blouses, sweaters to match. Just mix and match!
Definitely wear longer sleeves and longer skirt in churches and cathedrals.
Have a great day!
Julia
Mar 6th, 2007, 09:48 AM
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It's probably too cold to wear a skirt with bare legs in April.
Wear what you would at home. Don't buy something because you think you should, if it's not what you would normally wear. I wouldn't want to go sightseeing in a long skirt; just to the knee is easier; shorter only if you are young, have great legs, and don't plan to visit churches, where they might object to short skirts.
Jeans are always fine, and with a smart top and good shoes, will do for most restaurants in the evening too. I usually take a dress (like a Diane von Furstenberg) since it's so easy to pack and always looks good. There a lots of these type of dresses in the stores at the moment.
Wear what you would at home. Don't buy something because you think you should, if it's not what you would normally wear. I wouldn't want to go sightseeing in a long skirt; just to the knee is easier; shorter only if you are young, have great legs, and don't plan to visit churches, where they might object to short skirts.
Jeans are always fine, and with a smart top and good shoes, will do for most restaurants in the evening too. I usually take a dress (like a Diane von Furstenberg) since it's so easy to pack and always looks good. There a lots of these type of dresses in the stores at the moment.
