Well, you are a tourist, and believe me, at all the tourist sights and attractions anything goes and the primary concern (along with being dressed appropriately enough to be admitted) is comfort and durability. You'll see everything imaginable on others. Whether one considers themselves to be "on vacation" or a "visitor" generally dictates what one packs. In very hot weather, I find a long gathered skirt, tank tee, pointelle sweater over the shoulders or wrapped around the waist, with good walking sandals far more comfortable than shorts and sneakers. The sun burning down on bare skin is just not pleasant. As for shopping, it depends upon where you're shopping. In the more exclusive shops, you are definitely received better if you are dressed nicely and can say "Hello" and "Thank you" and "What's the Price?" in the local language. At the "tourist traps", your money is more important than your appearance. Same goes for restaurants. If you care about the impression you make (and you must be or you wouldn't have asked), it's best just to not look sloppy. So, your pair of khaki shorts with a plain black or white tee, black sandals and a nice belt will make a far better impression than with a baseball cap and an "I'm with STUPID" tee-shirt and white sneakers. You'll look "like a tourist" no matter what. Your camera, map, amazed expression, lack of language skills, will give you away. Some inquiries on this subject I've always remembered are: "Should I take a jacket and tie for dining in Paris?" (Answer: "A jacket and tie would be BETTER.") and "Are jeans okay in London?" (Answer: "Do you plan do be gardening?" So, I'd advise dressing however you like during the day. If you plan to do any serious shopping in the nicer shops, dress a little "better". Change before going out in the evening (and wear that outfit the next day to make the most of what you've packed).

The person who said they put on "jogging" pants in public before entering the Vatican is an example of one of the tacky things that make Europeans cringe.

Did our person with the Nike jogging pants say they put them on "in public?" I hope not! But that would not be as bad as the person I saw try on a brassiere IN PUBLIC over her tee shirt!

Heaven forbid...the thought of putting on nylon jogging pants over shorts in PUBLIC! Give me a break...some of you must think that the average European has so much class and dignity that Americans should bow and quiver in their presence. What possibly can be wrong with wearing shorts and then conforming to the local request to cover one's legs by putting on a pair of pants. If this is all it takes to make a European cringe, then I have a feeling that the continent is in a pertual cringe from us Yanks. You can bet that European tourists seen at the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Las Vegas and elsewhere are not wearing their black Armanis'.

I noticed in Paris that a lot of people dress in Gap clothes.I felt the most chic wearing my black, Gap pants. <BR>I never wear shorts in cities.I find cotton dresses the most comfortable in the summer. <BR>I don't judge other people who do wear shorts. <BR>As for putting on jogging pants outside a church,well why not.Europeans don't have a moral majority, or Victorian values.The lovers in Europe practically eat each other alive right in the street.It's a celebration of love and life. <BR>We saw an advertisement in France on the T.V.It was for cheese and the actress was topless.This was at 5pm. <BR>

May I add from London two irrelevant notes to this entertaining correspondence ? <BR><P> <BR>Tank Tops. We are having what we call a heat wave (that is, for a Florida it is plessantly warm), and young women all over London are wearing tank tops, with a delightful gap above their skirts. <BR><P> <BR>Other Times. We don't know about Christ or Mahommed, but do about Ghandi. In London in the thirties he insisted on wearing north Indian Hindu dress, dhoti and all, so riled the conservatives. Winston Churchill about 1946 was heard to speak of the "disgraceful sight of a halk-naked fakir climbing the steps of Government House". But then, in those days people dressed to go to the theatre. <BR><P> <BR>Ben Haines <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

May I add from London two irrelevant notes to this entertaining correspondence ? <BR><P> <BR>Tank Tops. We are having what we call a heat wave (that is, for a Florida it is plessantly warm), and young women all over London are wearing tank tops, with a delightful gap above their skirts. <BR><P> <BR>Other Times. We don't know about Christ or Mahommed, but do about Ghandi. In London in the thirties he insisted on wearing north Indian Hindu dress, dhoti and all, so riled the conservatives. Winston Churchill about 1946 was heard to speak of the "disgraceful sight of a halk-naked fakir climbing the steps of Government House". But then, in those days people dressed to go to the theatre. <BR><P> <BR>Ben Haines <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Hi shari <BR>your question has provoked many answers and I have not had such good entertainment for ages! I can't resist having an input into this discussion so here goes... We live in Sydney and shorts are very commonplace in the summer because of the heat and because we have so many beaches, however if you do not want to stand out as an American tourist maybe you should leave your shorts at home. Italy can be casual in a more chic way. We find that it is almost compulsory uniform with all the visiting Americans here in Australia(and we are seeing so many of them as the Olympics draws closer)regardless of shape or size. Basically you should wear whaterver makes you feel comfortable but there are many alternatives if you decide to go incognito. MOST importantly have a great great time. <BR>P.S. I wouldn't be seen dead in SHORTS.If you saw my legs you'd know why.

Boy oh boy, what a thread and what opinions. Well, here is mine. Granted when traveling it is polite to show appropriate respect for other cultures. It seems that this comes often regarding churches and dress. I will certainly show respect for those reasonable expectations, but it is folly to think that I, as a southerner with lite hair, accompanied by a 6'1" wife, carrying a 6 mo. old in a Kelty backpack carrier is not going to look like a tourist. I expect to look like what I am. So, I will dress for comfort and for me, weather permitting,that will certainly include shorts. Any anyone who doesn't like that can just-well- thats just my opinion.

Bravo Cherie, John, Karen & Donna! <BR> <BR>Shari, you'll get more out of your trip if you mainly wear miniskirts or short dresses. See & be seen, I'm so pretty/you're so pretty. It's a Europe thing. <BR> <BR>I always pack a couple of dressy, sleeveless sundresses with a few light cardigans. (Banana Republic has great sundresses -- they're my favorite.) When it's hot, the cardie gets knotted over my shoulders. When I want to go into churches, & when it gets cooler in the evening, on goes the cardigan. Nine West does perfect little black pumps which don't need nylons . . . ballet slippers or pumps with kitten heels are all the rage in Europe this season. <BR> <BR>Knock 'em dead!

We just returned from a 3 week stip in Italy. We went to Rome, Venice, Florence & Pisa. I was very concerned about not looking like a tourist and not wearing shorts. The reality is that, especially in the big cities like Rome and Florence - over 75% of the people are tourist and they are wearing anything from shorts (short shorts) to blaxk spandex dresses. I decided that I wanted to be comfortable and yet not stick out. I was not going to kid myself and try to dress like an Italian (who by the way like Americans do not all dress the same). I wore shorts and comfortable European sandals most of the time. It is so hot that, my first priority was to be comfortable without looking totally out of place. <BR> <BR>Be warned you cannot see any of the Duomos and go to any of the vatican sites if you are wearing shorts, tank tops and or sleeveless tops. In this case I wore a long linen dress. <BR> <BR>

We also just came back from Provence, Pisa, Florence and Rome. Before we left I read this particular message board and decided not to wear shorts so as not to look like a "typical tourist". Instead the bulk of my wardrobe were cotton pants and cotton short-sleeve shirts. But it was Soooo HOT and like the message above so many tourists abound everywhere that it didn't matter anymore if you look like a tourist or NOT. So I wore my thin sleeveless dresses (except in church where I put a light sweater over them) and SHORTS. But even in shorts I tried to be presentable. In this case comfort from the heat is of primary importance for me. If we had gone in September or October or even May, I would probably not wear shorts at all.

Just returned from Scotland, England, France. Wore pants in scotland put as we headed south to London my shorts came on as in paris. When i go out sightseeing or to the museums i like to be comfortable so i ware shorts. But when we go to eat at night i put on pants. So ware what you feel like after all you payed for the trip.

Let me see if I have this right. What the various clothing threads [sic] posters are saying is that a person wearing shorts is underdressed in the city, but decidedly overdressed at the nude beaches? So am I being told that the same European people who bear it all at the seashore frown on a tourist in shorts in the city? <BR>And a mini skirt that barely covers the derriere is appropriate whereas mid thigh shorts are not? <BR>A little while ago we were having fun on the "drunk - prison thread" with jesting, ridiculous questions like "Will they know I am a nude tourist if I take my clothes off?" I think I am beginning to understand. The question was more appropriate than I thought at first glance.

Tracy, what is a kitten heel? I am a big fan of shoes and would love to know. Does it enable you to leap up onto surfces where the humans don't want you?

Hey Ms Python! <BR> <BR>Kitten heels are prrrrr, not grrrrr. They're usually open-toe, like a mule, but the heel slopes towards the arch, sometimes arcing into a little point. Oh, and they're rarely over an inch tall, so they're easy for hours of walking. <BR> <BR>Watch for them -- they're all over the euroshop this summer. Will let you know if they're good for pouncing. <BR>:¬) T

This kitten heel thing has me intrigued; I foresee a shoe shopping venture in London this fall. Tracy, do I need to look in shoe shops, or would Harrod's or Selfridge's shoe departments have them? Are they real, or is this a cruel joke to make Americans look silly? "Excuse me, Ma'am, I'm looking for kitten heels" as the salesclerk runs into the storeroom, screaming with laughter "Ha Ha He He guess what SHE just asked for! Got another one!" And, do they make you cough up hairballs...

Elvira, I seem to recall Bridget Jones owning a pair of kitten heels, so perhaps they'll just think you're a slightly flakey twenty-something (or thirtysomething?) reenacting a Jane Austen novel. Could be worse. <BR>Can't really see you with a Darcy type, however.

Have never heard the term "kitten heel" over here so am thinking it must be a British term, and based on the description might be what we would call a Sabrina heel, yes? <BR> <BR>Now that I've heard the term, I can only picture the kitten heel worn with cat-eye glasses.

prrrr, not grrrr?!!! OH, Behave.....