I have to agree, after two trips to Italy, I brought shorts on my first trip and felt ridiculous--not on the second trip! We wen t in July/August and I wore capris-perfectly comfortable. I don't like to be conspicuous, and I felt slightly less so in the capris.
It's still nice to have shorts in your room for when you're relaxing.
Overall, the people in Italy seem to have a sense of decorum in their dress--the women manage to look sexy while still being fully dressed, and no one appreciates seeing tourists dressed for the beach when they're in a city!

IMO, it's easier to stick with pants or capris - and that's what the locals (femeales) wear, unless they're on the beach or out in the countryside. Pretty much only adult women wearing shorts are tourists. And, yes, they do attract the type of attention one doesn't necessarily want. I usually do take a pair as I have friends who live out of town & we wear them around the farm. In town, I usually wear pants or capris and take a light wrap (I use a very plain sarong bought in Bali years ago - doubles as a wrap-around skirt, too) in case we go somewhere shoulders need to be covered.

I'm a v.light packer. Lots of travel, I guess. The one thing I always take is a lightweight dark blazer (cool wool/silk mix) - can go over skirt, pants, you name it, and teams with every description of shoes. It's taken me from La Scala to walking around the markets early in the mornings.

BTW - the shop assistants in the cities (Rome, Florence & Milan in particular) are notoriously arrogant & I can personally vouch for the fact that you will receive much better attention if you are "bella figura".

Lose your husband's jeans - they'll be far too hot. If you are just going to Florence I wouldn't take his shorts either - the same rules on shorts in churches usually apply to men too. Anyone in shorts in cities just seems wrong to me, unless they are very smart, tailored, knee-length linen shorts - and then just on women. And not in churches.

>Ira giving fashion advice??? <

I would never presume to advise on fashion.

You might note that, on another thread, I think gentlemen should wear jackets at "fine" restaurants.

I was making a suggestion as to how to be appropriatley covered when entering churches.

Somewhere back up this thread I remember you're packing 4 skirts, 2 dresses, etc. so 1 pair of shorts won't break the bank.

For your husband, also 1 pair. And I'd skip the jeans in favor of linen or cotton pants. Denim in 90 degree heat is a killer.

I agree that a jacket is proper for proper dining in a fine restaurant. That's one reason that I never dine in fine restaurants while on vacation.

Climate changes are going to change a lot of "rules" in the future, but social customs change more slowly than the temperatures. You can choose to be comfortable or you can choose to be fashionable, but during certain periods of the year, such as summer, you cannot choose to be both, at least not currently (until lighter and cooler clothing becomes the norm even among the conformists).

Hi Anthony, there is no reason why one cannot dress for the weather and comfort. For women a skirt or capri's can work well as can summer weight slacks. The same for men. The residents of Italy manage to do both. It just depends on what a traveller desires.

Here in Switzerland, a lot of hikers and tourists where pants where you can zip the bottoms off and they become shorts (available in different lengths). They are great, look nice and so flexible. Does anyone know what they are called?

"Zip-off pants" ? Sorry I couldn't resist.

I looked in the TravelSmith mail order catalog, they call them "convertible pants".

Thanks Suze. Interesting name. Makes me think of a convertible car...only there you take the top off. Interesting.

A convertible (car) is exactly what I thought when I read the name!

There are shorts everywhere in Europe. Don't sweat it (literally). You won't be the classiest, most elegant, most sophisticated tourist on the continent if you wear them, but do you care? If you don't, then by all means pack them, and definitely pack them for your kids. If you don't feel comfortable wearing them... don't. The fashion police will be on holiday, too.

Just don't wear them in church in Italy.

I am reminded of this thread each time over the past few days when I see a tourist in shorts with their scrawny legs showin' (Seattle, WA)

Bring shorts; wear shorts! You ARE a tourist--like it or not! Respecting the views of the religion as to going in dressed "appropriatly" to a church may encourage you to bring the legs of your conv. pants w/ you in you daypack, or even a wrap skirt, but last month in Tuscany [Firenze, Siena, CT] shorts prevailed all over, especially on the 83F+ days---and not just in CT!

My suggestion [a guy's perspective...] on packing. I lived in my leather strap sandals, and could have left the tie shoes at home. Ditto forthe 2nd pr. of pants and shorts. The convertible pants did great double duty and obviated the need for additional pants or shorts! Go to LL Bean, Cabelas, Travelsmith, etc. online. They all have the convetibles, though their stylings are slightly different. Check out the inches to the rise [that's the length from the crotch to the short seam] to see how long or short the shorts part is. My wife used her pair all the time as well, and also thought she was overpacked by 1 capri outfit, another pr of pants and too many shoes. Though that did not stop her from buying a way-cool RED leather jacket [fingertip peblum cut] at the leather school in St. Croce church!

So here's the deal: Lay out all you THINK you want to bring a few days B-4, then cut it dow by 1/3 to 1/2. Then, the night b-4 you go throw out a couple more things. I know, you'll think you are goind "nekid"! By hey, what you don't have and think you need when you are there, you can just go buy! After all, this is not exactly the 3rd world. A couple of things that I always bring in my emergency kit: a couple of ft. of velcro stripping and small roll of gaffer's tape. These are purchased @ REI or similar outdoorsy type stores, and every trip prove to be invaluable for fixits.

Capris are such the rage here in California and they fit the bill for appropriate wear to the churches in Italy. We're going to Italy in Sept/Oct 2005 so I'm packing capris and the long shorts and short-sleeved tops to layer over camisoles. We were in NZ Dec 2003 and it was all the Kiwis wore! But then they are more laid back than the Catholics in Italy! Loved NZ by the way....

I always wear skirts instead of shorts, much cooler in my opinion (And they usually look better, especially when traveling.)

About capris: The men are wearing them in Europe! And shamelessly, too!

MEn is capris? I've only seen one or 2 here in SoCal and it wasn't pretty! My hubby WONT be following that fashion trend! Now, I'm wondering about shoes...I usually wear good running shoes for my errands, mall shopping, etc around town (plus walking the dog and light hiking) so I'm wanting to wear them on the plane and use them for all the city tours, museums in Rome& Florence. What's the evening weather like in Oct, i.e. covered toe shoes for dinner at casual/semi expensive, not super fancy, restaurants? Black slides OK? Or flat sandals? Here at home, flip flops are so acceptable...but we are so beachy! I know Italians like to dress up...

Here in Switzerland, my whole family (including husband) has capris and convertible pants. It's standard fashion and so practical. Both types of clothing are worn everywhere.

(However, please don't ask me about Italian church clothing: I don't know.)