I know shorts are considered a no no. How about a skirt that hits the top of the knee. I am not talking about days I'm visiting churches--I've got that handled but we won't be visiting churches every day.

I think the top of the knee is perfectly fine. I'm not sure by your post where you'll be travelling - but if it's Europe I've not seen anything more conservative expected.

Shorts for older men within cities are no no. On the beach, shorts are okay. Ladies in shorts are okay, too. Mini skirts are also acceptable on most occasions (including a wedding in a Catholic church).

Shorts are a no-no in cities not because they might be considered immodest. It's because they're considered tasteless. Shorts are for sports (and beaches). Skirts (of any length) and trousers are for cities.

and please - no skorts - unless you are playing tennis or the like.

I wore an above the knee skirt into St. Peter's and was told to pull it over my knees before I could enter by the guards.

If you aren't going into a church (or other religous site), why would anyone care about the length of your skirt?

You will see plenty of miniskirts in Europe. But nobody cares what you are wearing, so long as you're not indecent.

<<I wore an above the knee skirt into St. Peter's and was told to pull it over my knees before I could enter by the guards.>>>

so what did you do - walk round crouched over like quasimodo?

regards, ann

Cheryl is right, NO ONE will care what you are wearing. No one will care about your skirt length or if you're wearing white athletic shoes or flip flops. Wear whatever you want and whatever is appropriate for the weather and activity you are participating in. I don't know how this information keeps getting out there but its just plain silly. I understand the church rules but beyond that Europeans dress just like you and I do, in all different styles and fashions for all different kinds of reasons and activities. Sometimes I get the idea that these so called "rules" are put out by stuffy 65 year old ladies who sit around and judge everyone on their trips!

I don't know ...what are your knees like lol.

Outside of a church wear whatever you like, there's no rules. Of course if you are a 25stone 70 year old in a mini-skirt, expect to get some funny looks. Any 'rules' quoted here are to do with fashion rather than etiquette/local restrictions/getting stoned on the street.

Nothing wrong with shorts or short skirts if you either a)look great in them or b)don't give a fig about what people think of how you look anyway.

the part of the world where I live follows "the shorter, the better" as a general rule.

Thanks for all your great answers. You who say I shouldn't care--wear what ever I want--surely you've seen the pages and pages and pages of posts about what you should and should not wear.

It's funny how the fashion advice on all the forums I read goes from the extreme of wear whatever you want to what length and color your clothes should be. I'm just trying to hit a happy medium.

It's odd to me that a skirt above the knees is okay but shorts at the same length are considered a fashion faux paus but hey, I'm not trying rock the boat, I'll "do as the Romans do".

If you aren't visiting a church that day, you can wear whatever length skirt you want. Heck you can even wear shorts of a decent length. No one cares.

Connie, Do remember the people posting "pages and "ages" of this supposed "fashion" advice here on Fodor's are mostly your fellow tourists. The local people do not care what you wear (speaking as a local in a city with a ton of tourists).

I wear shorts in Europe in the summer when there is a heatwave. They are loose, long, of a nice fabric that come to the top of my knees. I was visiting a friend who lives in Switzerland, and guess what she wears to the market on Saturday mornings... that's right, nice looking khaki shorts, a t-shirts, and white sneakers!!

I read and read and read all the posts about what I should and shouldn't wear...before my first trip to Europe. Then once I was there, I realized what a boat load of crap it all was. The only thing anyone needs to know is that shoulders and knees need to be covered in churches. Beyond that, people are just projecting their own preferences.

When our friends got married, DW (with a degree in theology) hold the prayer in church and she wore a long skirt with a long slit up to the hip.

You've all been great. I'm going to relax about it. Thanks for being so kind to this newbie European traveller.

There is nothing wrong with wearing shorts in Europe if they are tasteful. I wore shorts in Athens this past summer and I never felt uncomfortable. I would never wear shorts to dinner at a "posh" restaurant or to a museum, but for walking around looking at tourist sites they are fine. You have to know your venue.

I was born in Europe (London), by the way.

Balenciaga

In past trips I have paid WAAAY too much attention to "what not to wear". The last time, it took me over a year to get over the plantar fascitis I got walking a million miles a day.

We are going again in May, and my ONLY consideration is comfort. I am tired of seeing everyone else (including all Europeans) in jeans and athletic shoes, while I am uncomfortable. Been there, done that.

I've never paid attention to what anyone says about what to wear on either side of the ocean. I like to dress to please myself, and I just like to look nice - it's that simple. I'll wear shorts and flip-flops to the beach, because that's what those clothes are for. I'll wear a nice pair of shorts and cute sandals and a t-shirt (not a floppy one, a fitted one, with no logo!) if it's July and I'm touring Greek beach towns. I love to wear knee-length, or sometimes shorter, or longer, skirts or lightweight dresses when traveling in summer because they're cool and attractive. I went through a capri phase, and I still wear them sometimes, though now I prefer the long wide-legged lightweight "shorts." I also wear lightweight slim stretch jeans, which I think look smashing with a crisp cotton shirt and cute flats.

It's just so easy to look nice. I don't know why people fret about it so much. It's not rocket science to put yourself together to look appropriate for wherever you're going and whatever you're doing. Just look in the mirror - preferably a full-length one - and be sure to turn around.