BigRuss

Wear a Yankees cap - it's universal so it doesn't necessarily mean you're a tourist.

hetismij2

"As for shorts - adult europeans keep them for resorts or athletic activities."

News to a lot of Europeans. True they tend to wear longer shorts, or pedal pushers but men in Europe do wear shorts.

As to a hat, if you are happy with your baseball cap wear it. If you when you get to your destination you feel unhappy in it buy a cheap straw hat for the duration.

Wear what you are happy wearing. The good folks of Italy and Spain (or France or anywhere else for that matter), should they even notice you, will no doubt have seen a lot worse.

tomboy

Whadya mean wear what you want?

PLEASE don't wear your baseball cap in a restaurant.....or in a church....or in a museum....or anywhere else indoors. A cap is for outside, not inside. Unless, that is, you hang around with a lot of lower class slobs who think civility has something to do with Selma, AL. If that's the case, just buy some size 48 bermudas so you can put a 12 pack between your thighs and look cool.

hetismij2

tomboy, I am sure that OP knows how to behave and when to take his hat off.

xyz123

I agree no hat in churches or cathedrals (although if yu go into a Jewish synagogue...). Restaurant? Depends on the restaurant. Museum? Come on....nonsense. At the theatre, perhaps.

Baseball caps and gang connotations? Nonsense.

twk

Baseball caps are practical in that you can pack them in your bag when not needed. The bill keeps the sun out of your eyes, and light preciptation off your glasses (if you wear them). Most other headgear suggested will not satisfy both of those criteria. If you're comfortable with the baseball cap, wear it (just not indoors). If you feel like you are standing out too much, you can buy something else when you get over there.

tomboy

I'm not saying that caps have no purpose or place; only that they aren't ubiquitously appropriate. Folks that wear them indoors seem to have no sense that others just might think them foolish for doing so.

knoxvillecouple

I really do appreciate all the fine suggestions offered by all of you. As you might note in my original post, the hat/cap would only be to protect my bald head while outside. It's a VERY rare occasion that I'd have a hat/cap on indoors. Additionally, another reason I'm leaning away from ball/golf caps is that my dearly beloved is not keen on that look anywhere except on the golf course, but she is concerned with being blinded by my hairless dome.

Per Toucan's suggestion (and my prior familiarity with the brand), I'm going to get a Tilley hat, the plaid Tilley hat. I'll be stylin' in Rome, Montepulciano, Venice, Bellagio, Malaga, Granada, Sevilla, and Madrid!

TDudette

My dear hub brought 2 pairs of jeans and one pair of dress slacks. We usually travelled in March so heat was not much of an issue but jeans were his preference even in hot weather.

I never took shorts or jeans and just wore lightweight slacks. They were easier to hand wash. DH's jeans didn't always dry if a lavanderia wasn't handy for him and he had to hand wash them.

That we were carrying camera and tour guide gave us away before our clothes ever did.

Just be well-mannered and you will be fine.

Shanna

Gotta agree w/Julia1, alanRow and nytraveler. When you see a 10-year old wearing it, it's not for adults any longer. You don't want to be treated like a kid so don't dress like one. Personally, I think nothing is as attractive as a tan pate. Tilley's are fine - try to stay away from plaid, however. Neutral works for the stylish man. Jeans are HOT and weigh a LOT and say things like, "I've just cleaned out the garage." Unless you have GREAT thighs, forget shorts. Hmmmm . . . I'm seeing a theme here. I think I need a date. Whatever you decide, just relax and have fun. Really, nobody's looking at you. Ah - well - maybe I am. My apologies to your wife.

knoxvillecouple

Thanks again for all the helpful and, in quite a few cases, hilarious responses. As noted in both my original post and my "mid-course" reply, I had/have no intention of wearing ANY kind of hat in a church, restaurant, or museum. Moreover, whether I wear shorts, jeans or slacks, what I wear will be appropriate to the venue. And as I also noted, I have no doubt that my American-ness will be obvious and really don't mind that.

Grazie, gracias, and merci.

hetismij2

Shanna - so we can't wear jeans, bikinis, t-shirts, skirts, dresses, socks, shoes or practically any other item of clothing except possibly a bra simply because if a 10 year old wears it isn't suitable for adults? What utter utter balderdash.

Knoxvillecouple have a wonderful time, in all your glorious American-ness.

annhig

As for shorts - adult europeans keep them for resorts or athletic activities. You can't wear them in churches in Italy (either officially - turned away at the door - or unofficially - local churchgoers are likely to complain about your lack of respect). If you choose to wear shorts other places in cities - no one will stop you - but if I were your wife you would be doing it alone.>>

nyt - not for the first time I'm going to disagree with you. my DH [a brit, BTW] cannot abide going around in trousers in hot weather, and therefore the only option for him when we are in places like Rome is shorts. when we know that we are going to be visiting a place where this will be a problem, eg St. Peter's, he will make an exception, but generally, if we are just wandering around sightseeing, we either have to hope that his shorts are long enough [they are VERY decent] or he goes and sits in a bar while I tour the church where his knees are deemed unacceptable. Sometimes I think he does this deliberately to have an excuse to have a beer.

the priests in charge at san Lorenzo in Florence had a different idea - they lent him a sarong.

nukesafe

My objection to ball caps is they look cheap. When I was growing up they gave them away at gas stations; a cheap, adjustable-size head covering that farmers could wear. If you wore one anywhere but on a tractor, it meant you were too poor to buy a hat of your proper size.

Hats used to come in sizes other than small, medium, and large, you know. They still do if you look, and you don't have to walk around with folks sneering at that plastic adjuster on the back of your cranium.

uhoh_busted

My DH often wears a Durham Bulls cap. It fits in his daypack when he needs to stash it. He also has been known to take a tan fabric safari hat ( brimmed) for treks around outdoors...like the forum in Rome and Ostia Antica. It too can be rolled and stashed in a jacket pocket or his bag. Funny thing about the ball cap...someone came up and asked if we were from Durham, England!

I have to be there when he packs. His natural inclination is to go overboard. We have gotten down to using only carry-on tha past couple of trips. We are over there for at least 3 weeks to a month, and only take what we know we can wash easily. We also figure if we need to supplement, we can buy it there. For some reason, men's underwear is comparatively expensive in Europe. Do yourself a favor and buy the lightweight, quick drying stuff from an outfitter or Travelwhatsis....sorry, senior moment. It takes less space in your bag and it really does dry overnight.

uhoh_busted

BTW, nukesafe, he always buys fitted caps. They come in better styles.

Shanna

Oh for Pete's sake, hetismij2 - you know what I mean. Once items of "pop culture" filter down to children, they are passe for adults. We adults can all still wear shoes - just not with wheels or flashing lights.

NYCFoodSnob

I think older men who wear baseball caps look silly. Sort of like fat, unattractive men who wear Abercrombie & Fitch. OK, baseball caps are fine for a family barbeque in the backyard, but I would never permit my dad to wear one in Italy.

If a man wants to walk with me on the streets of Italy (or anywhere), he better do his best to exhibit some style. I would check out Kangol before I settled on a Tilley. And I would keep the fabric as understated as possible.

ps Be sure to slap some sunscreen on that head, even if you wear a hat.

SeattleMichael

I have to have a hat that covers my ears and provides some protection for my neck. It saves me the hassle of having to put as much sunscreen on. I like the crushable canvas that was linked to at http://www.coolibar.com/02500.html

knoxvillecouple

Well, the OP has consulted with DW. "She who must be obeyed" has decreed "enough" of this Fodor consultation. I'm buying a Tilley hat (she likes the plaid), I'm going to wear it, and all's well that ends well.

Lesson learned - just ask DW!

Thanks for all the advice.

Ciao!