Hi everyone,

I need to think about packing for a late July honeymoon in Italy.

In the summertime I like to wear skorts, skirts, or dresses -- that way I'm cool and comfortable and usually look half decent enough to go into a restaurant after a lot of walking around. Also, they don't take up a lot of room in a suitcase. But I just read a review online that said not to wear skirts unless they are below your knee. Is this true? I'm really surprised that Italians would only wear long skirts.

While I don't have any mini skirts that show my rear-end, my skirts are mostly to mid-thigh. I don't plan to spend a whole lot of time inside churches -- do you think I'll be ok?

Sandy

Wear whatever you want, just know that certain churches require visitors to have shoulders, midriffs, and knees covered. If you have no intention of visiting churches, there are no rules.

You will be barred from visiting the Vatican - and possibly other major churches- if you skirts are half-way up your thighs - it's considered disrespectful by the locals - and enforced in many places. Bring either a longer skirt or capris if you want to visit the Vatican or any churches.

I have been home less than a week. You will be fine. Even if you go to a church, if they feel that you should be covered many have a disposable coverup. These clothing posts really freaked me out when I was planning my clothes for Europe this spring. I finally based my decisions on what I would normally wear when I am traveling and it was fine. Lets face it there are so many tourists in Italy you will not be noticed regardless of what you wear!!!! I did notice that Europeans do seem to be more conservative in some areas, but I have also noticed that the Italy posters seem obsessed about what Americans wear in Italy. Best wishes on your wedding and enjoy Italy.

The disposable coverups in churches that require proper dress are hideous, they look like paper hospital gowns. Save yourself the humiliation and make sure you take at least one skirt that goes below your knees. A gauzy, flowy skirt takes up hardly any suitcase space and they are cool to wear.

If you have nice legs, then I presume the italian male would say, the shorter, the better...
My wife has nice legs, and nice mid-thigh dresses which she wears to the general satisfaction of the italian male. For visiting churches, she has a piece of very light tissu in the photo bag, which she folds around her.

Hi - was just in Rome over the weekend. I always wear skirts and sandals when in European cities. Don't see why I should dress any differently than I would in London. I toured the Vatican in a black linen short-sleeved dress, to the knees. My dad said I looked like an elderly Italian woman, which I took as a compliment! But seriously, in a sea of "comfort wear" consisting of shorts, tshirts and tevas, you will stand out if you are elegantly and coolly dressed. I was brought up never to dress provocatively in any church in any country. As for the Vatican, I was was surprised to see them letting in women in boob tubes and short shorts. Still, err on the side of caution and bring at least one skirt, to or on the knee. Otherwise, you will be fine. Don't forget, you're visiting the home of Versace - that's the other side of Italian fashion and perfectly acceptable at any time other than in a church!

In general wear what you are comfortable with. But when you go into a church or holy place cover yourself appropriately.You are not there to display your body.

Either bring, or buy once you get there (nice souvenier) a thin but large scarf (pashmina type, but light weight). It's great to wrap around your waist to cover up when going into churches. Can also be used as a shall in the evening if your shoulders get cool (or to cover shoulders in a church if you're wearing tank tops). They fold up to nothing and fit in your purse. I have definitly seen people turned away because of too short skirts/shorts.

You say you don't plan to spend a lot of time in churches - but in Italy, churches are where much of the best art is. Most tourists don't go to them for religious purposes. My husband is about as anti-Catholic church as you can get (a former alter boy with a nun for an aunt - guess he got overloaded as a kid) and when we started going to Europe he said he wasn't going into churches. I said fine but you'll miss alot. Now he has seen that churches in Italy is a whole different thing than in the US. The major works of art in Europe are the church buildings themselves, as well as the paintings, sculptures, etc inside them.

I would take your usual clothing but do include one longer skirt or capri pants. You can decide once you get there which is appropriate, for what you end up doing.

Isabel is right on - if you eliminate churches from your visit you eliminate much of the best that there is to see. In Rome and throughout Italy I generally wore a skirt that hit at the knee - not below, a couple slightly above the knee. You can find many skirts/dresses that would still be sexy for your new hubby, but appropriate for wherever you may choose to visit.

As for Italians wearing long skirts - your right, I saw very few who wore anything long, but you are a tourist and will be doing different things than an Italian woman might do on her average day.

^