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.