tennis shoes
 

should i wear tennis shoes in italy--or will i look ridiculous

Uh oh, here we go again...if you look in the archives you will see all the pros (telling you to wear what is comfortable for you)and all the cons (that you will look like a stupid American tourist and be an easy target for pickpockets)! In fact, there will also be tourists with you there from all over the world, wearing all sorts of footwear. Dress your feet in your favorite, most reliable shoes, appropriate for your itinerary! I swear by my Keens and wear them even with dresses, if necessary...

i wear mine. and yes i'm sure they do look ridiculous. but they are my best walking shoe the only thing i can comfortably walk miles a day in.

Wear what you want. No, they don't look ridiculous. Looking uncomfortable does.
Shadow

My wife and I have just returned from two weeks in Rome, and I can assure you that the use of informal footware, including athletic shoes, is universal. The thing I'd worry about most is turning your ankle when walking on cobblestones.

The people of any big city, anywhere in the world are far too busy living and working there, to notice what a tourist has on their feet! Wear what you find comfortable, clothes- and shoes-wise. The locals will not notice, the tourists will be busy being tourists. Relax and enjoy yourself1

Do you think they look ridiculous at home?

There will be MANY "tourists" from MANY countries in Italy wearing "tennis shoes" or "athletic shoes" or "trainers" or whatever you want to call them.

Why would what you wear on your feet make you an easy target for a pickpocket unless you buy into the notion that somebody wearing tennis shoes doesn't know how to protect their valuables?

No, you'll be fine, but if you're traveling in the summer months, don't wear all-leather sneakers (like K Swiss) or particularly heavy sneakers or your feet will get much too hot.

towens

I always wear my most comfortable shoes. I wear an incredibly comfortable and lightweight Saucony. It's the Saucony Original, "Jazz" - kind of a retro look. I get them from Zappos.com.

Sadly, unless you are dressed in black from head to toe, including socks and undies, you will be snatched by the Fashion Police, soundly beaten and sent back to your hotel to change. Note that black tennies or sneakers will not help you. The shoes MUST be black leather expensive models such as mesphitos or they do not qualify. It is critical that you avoid the Fashion Police at all costs.

Does anyone do any research before asking such stupid questions? Geez, who give a .........

These stupid debates have gotten me to look at shoes in the metro once I have finished my newspaper. I say at least 50% of the people in the metro are wearing athletic shoes. I will, however, admit that most Parisian locals tend to wear dark atheltic shoes. Suburban hood rats go for the pristeen white shoes and probably throw them away at the first tiny black mark on them.