Shoes!
 

F/26, Going to Venice, Florence, and Rome and am curious about what shoes to bring. I know to leave my chuck taylors and stilettos at home. Would black wedge boots be all right? What about for walking around?

Hi

What's wrong with wearing Chuck Taylor's? If you like walking in them wear them. The cities are as ritzy as you want to make them. Or live just like the locals.

Ciao

I do not want to stick out like a sore thumb. I have travelled in other countries before, but everyone (who mind you has never been there) is telling me that Italy's 'dress code' is different.

i am going to italy from 6/25- 7/18 and bringing 3 pairs of shoes.....comfy walking sneakers, teva type sandles and black maryjane type sketcher sneakers to wear with skirts. comfort to me is so much more important than looking good....lol

A lot of in Italian towns have cobblestone streets; you have to be careful what you are wearing for sightseeing ( so you are comfortable).
That being said , there are many local women walking around in stilettos.
One can find comfortable shoes that look nice and don't scream "tourist".

A) Beauty is Pain
B) So is getting your stuff stolen on the street because you stick out like a sore thumb.

I want to be comfortable. My goal is to try and fit in, or at least look as if I have been there before and know what I am doing.

alphaj13,

In the words of Maya Angelou "All God's children need traveling shoes". Ignore worldinabag and go get those traveling shoes. Just make sure they are Comfy Shoes :)

I was in Rome in February and ALL the women were wearing boots, some with stiletto heels but lots with low and wedge heels--if your black wedge boots are comfortable, wear those--you'll fit right in.

I have marvelled at the Italian gals' ability to walk briskly across cobblestoned streets - I couldn't do it no matter what! Unless you're skilled at this as well...I'd say strap on those comfy Danskos or Borns and see the sights!

Take the shoes you like at home. Two pair that are comfortable by day for walking and one fancy pair if you want for evenings (take taxis!)

I live in Switzerland in a city with cobblestones and can't wear stilettos while walking even to the bus! Maybe because I'm an ex-pat US and didn't inherit the stiletto-walking gene from my Polish and Irish immigrant grandmothers.

Anyway, we were in Rome at Christmas and one thing that really struck me was that women there (and men), even more so than in Paris, all wear black! Black pants, leather coats or jackets, shirts, sweaters, shoes.

So if you have comfy shoes in black you won't stand out like a sore thumb. I wear black and pink Puma sneakers for comfort. Plus they're cute and all the younger women here wear them (and I'm not young anymore).

Why is it men never feel compelled to ask these questions?

!

Because--they have one or two pair of "uniform" shoes that they wear everywhere all the time, no matter the occasion or destination. One brown, one black, all comfort.

"Ignore worldinabag and go get those traveling shoes."

Errr, my original point was "If you like walking in them wear them". Which means if they are comfortable, fasionable etc. Don't worry about looking like a tourist. Despite your best efforts you'll still "stick out like a sore thumb". Accept it and travel smart - use a money belt, no expensive jewellery, keep your camera in your bag until you need to use it, no dark alleys etc.

I agree with worldinabag - despite your best efforts, the Italians will still know that you're a tourist. As long as you're not wearing a hat and sweatshirt with your favorite football team's logo on it, and aren't talking loudly in English, hoping that non-English speaking people will understand you, you'll fit right in with the tons of other tourists from around the world who are visiting Italy also! I was just in those three cities over the last 2 weeks and brought two pairs of Keen shoes with me. I was glad that I had brought two different comfy walking shoes as I was able to alternate when my feet got tired of one pair. If you plan to walk alot, definitely bring something comfortable with arch support. There are stylish, yet comfy shoes out there that don't scream tourist. By the way, even though I speak elementary Ita

Whoops, my computer is acting up. I was going to say, that even though I speak some Italian and would always use it as much as I could, a lot of people in stores and restaurants would respond in English. Which made me wonder if it was that obvious that I wasn't a native! That's why I agree that despite your best efforts, people will know you're a tourist. It just depends on what kind of tourist you want to be. And I would worry more about the comfort of your feet than fitting in with the style.

You may not stick out like a sore thumb, maybe a stylish thumb. Wear what you like and if it is stylish all the better.

Carly-that's not necessarily true. I just got back from Venice and the Veneto, and I had people coming up to me asking me directions in Italian. It was funny, I was in front of Miracoli one night (and that is a confusing area, btw, unless you know which calles to take to get to where you're going) and a tourist came up and asked me in Italian how to get to San Zanipolo. (Basilica of San' Giovanni e Paolo) I started to explain in Italian, and then asked in Italian, "do you speak English?" (Lei parla inglese?") to which she smiled, and said yes, so I proceeded to give directions in English at that point.

Since I try only to speak Italian while in Italy, the Italians oblige, unless they really want to practice their English.

I don't dress like a slob, and I wear all black, and people don't think I'm a tourist. The style in Italy right now is boots, boots boots! With the three quarter length pants,(which I don't like) and the black puffy down coats-everyone in Venice wears a puffy down coat. (It started out warm in Venice when I first got there, but last weekend in Venice it was unbelieveably rainy, windy and cold-the weather has turned much warmer now).

All black works in Paris or Rome any time of the year. If you add a pair of nice earrings , a bright scarf, or a an interesting belt , it will be all you need to look less " touristy".

Just take a lint roller. No matter what I do, my long black wool coat has lint..always lint somewhere, even after using the lint roller every day. The Italians have NO lint. How DO they DO that?!!!!!!!! Life is SO unfair!!! LOL

I agree with beaupeep and girlspytravel
When I was in Italy, I left my "american" clothes behind and took mostly black pants and skirts (no jeans )with comfortable ecco shoes and sandals(no sneakers)and nice tops -(no sweatshirts or tshirts)instead sweater sets,etc all in a mix and match of black,cream and tan.
I had no problem fitting in at all and was never approached by gypsies or pick pockets. I used a money belt and was mindful of my surroundings and travelled from the Amalfi Coast to Switzerland with no problem.

crefloors, so you are a lint magnet too? I just can't understand it and I do carry lint remover in my purse. I think lint or no lint is the deciding factor in being chic.

Should we attribute it to our magnetic personalities?

When are you going to Italy? Tomorrow is April 1. Will Italian women be wearing boots in April and May? Do they still wear all black in spring?

Alpha,

Regardless of what color you wear or what shoes you take - definitely take Moleskin! I can guarantee you will need it - and some tiny sewing sissors to cut with. Bandaids just don't do the job.

Dayle, I am a big proponent of moleskin, but add to that a little second skin. Best blister solution I know of unless you don't mind injecting a little zinc oxide into it.
thereyet

I already knew about the black thing, and I am going at the beginning of May, so I think that I could get away with my black boots. But I have blonde hair and my stylist is going to be making me blonder soon, so I know they will know i am not italian. I just want to look like I am a tourist who has been there before. Plus, my travel companion has red hair. There's no hiding us as 'stu-pid ah-mer-ee-khans'!

well, don't go thinking you look like stupid Americans for goodness sakes. If you want to look like you have been there before just have poise. There are blonde Italians too.

I went through this same pondering before our first trip to Italy last year. Because of all the input I got about style, I was surprised at how little of this we saw. I have a funny photo of the line of people to see the David...I think it's the same people we saw in line at Disneyland. Of course you'll be recognized as a tourist because you'll be sightseeing, but I don't think it matters. I think basic rules like no Disney t-shirts or baseball caps is all you need. The other thing we saw was LOTS of Italians, as well as everyone else, wearing sneakers...even white ones...which was stronly discouraged ahead of time. Maybe we didn't go to the classy places...Finally, everyone was quite friendly. We honestly were a bit self conscious about being American in light of current world politics, and were pleasantly surprised. Several people we met made spontaneous comments to the effect of, "We love your country, it's just your President we don't like." Have fun!

Alpha-I'm blonde, and there are lots of blondes, in fact, it seems everyone has gone blonde in Italy these days-just turn on Italian television, and you'll see what I mean!

Sometimes we forget that in a big city like Rome or Paris one sees all kinds of people from different backgrounds and various income levels.
Taking the RER to the eastern suburbs of Paris was a real eye opener - the people getting on and off looked a lot like people from a poor part of any town right here ( including what they had on).

Merrill clogs are great for daytime...
your feet will LOVE them...summer ones
keep your feet cool and dry. Josef
Seibel makes great looking sandals.
Black ones with socks can be
attractive (there are cork insoles
in mine...and the bottoms do well
on the paved streets. I have Ecco boots
and teva flip flops for the room.
My daughter, the doctor, tells me your
feet are very important...they are
your balancer. Obviously, I don't
have good feet...and wear European
shoes. Memphisto (French) make
pretty shoes that are comfortable
and Taryn Rose does as well....BUT
THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.

Don't worry about looking like a tourist.

You'll look like a tourist anyhow because:

You can't walk on cobblestones

You have THE lost look

You can't speak Italian like an Italian

Your hair wasn't cut by an Italian hairdresser and just looks strange

When you sit down, your wrap your legs around the chair legs, or you cross your legs in a most unfashionable way

In other words, in posture, gesture, and speech you are foreign, even if you wear all black clothes and white sneakers! :)

Fortunately, the Italians are a gracious and hospitable people!

Oh, BTW, I prefer Merrills for walking on cobblestones!

just bought two pairs of shoes that i hope will make me glide over the cobblestones. both were recommended on this message board: stonefly (mary jane sort...good for evening) and all rounders. both cost $$$$, but fit so comfortably and have good support. thanks for your suggestions!

I am leaving tonight for Venice, Florence, Rome and Paris. The shoe issue was a big one!! It all comes down to comfort so in the end, I bought a pair of Vans slip-ons in black with little white embroidered polka-dots. They will match all of my clothes (black and white) - I packed a pair of black patent flats for something a little dressier. My feet will be happy!!

Francesca

I bought Cole Haan Nike mary janes to take to Italy in May. They are cute and comfortable for the day. I've forced myself to start wearing them now to break them in. My husband thinks the whole shoe/outfit selection process for a trip is crazy, by the way! :)

"Would black wedge boots be all right? What about for walking around?"

Isn't that all a matter of preference? Would you ask someone what shoes to by in your home town? You will see as many completely different style being worn and sold in Italy as you would anywhere else. Buy what appeals to you and is comfortable for whatever situation you want.

Thanx everyone who gave advice, and to those who were snide, get a grip and try not to be so snobby. I found a great pair of black eyelet wedge Aerosoles.

And for easytraveler, I do not cross my legs like an American, I do not wrap my legs so disgracefully around the chair legs, I pick up dialect in a snap (and have been complimented on it), and as a runner, I figure, if I can handle sand on the beach, cobblestone will be fine.

Jessica

Maybe this just pertains to me and my own foot problems, but what I discovered is this: The wider the sole of the shoe, the easier it is to walk on the ancient cobblestones, which are usually spaced far apart. These are not your grandmother's cobblestones in Boston; these are killers which have been spreading apart for two thousand years. If you are wearing a normally comfortable and attractive shoe for your sidewalk life, do NOT expect it to be the same in ancient cobblestone streets of Europe. If the toe is even slightly pointy and the foot bed is narrow, you can expect at least a trip or slide between the stones, possibly even a twisted ankle or fall. If you wear clogs, mules, or slip-on shoes, where the heel is not firmly secured in back, a simple slide of your heel off the sole can cause a fall or near fall--which happened to me when I was wearing my normally trusty Merrells.

Look, the simple practical truth is that you must wear not only a comfortable attractive shoe, but also a shoe that is fairly wide in front and secures your heel in place. Safety in walking is just as important as comfort.

Ah, another hilarious shoe thread.

How can anyone recommend a specific shoe for anyone else? Whatever fits you and is comfortable is what you should bring.

Ignore the rest of the recommendations on this thread.

As above, seriously, bring your best pairs of shoes... the one's you'd put on for weekend or being out and about doing a lot of walking. Depends what month you're going, whether a nice wedge boot or sandals or whatever would be best. I take 2-3 pair of my favorites (is my method). The bulkiest one worn on the plane ride over.