Fuzzy

A coworker who spent the last 4 summers in Italy told me that facial hair of any kind is gennerally thought to be somewhat "low-class" in Italy. I have a small closely trimmed circle beard. I think it makes me look professorial, he says I look like a country western singer. I asked him how Bocelli and Pavarotti get away with beards and he said that they are so famous they could get away with anything. Any truth to this about facial hair??

Janice

I've been told the same thing. I have, however, also travelled with a man with a neatly trimmed beard (which improves his looks considerably) and we encountered no flack. My friend dresses beautifully - no jeans, no trainers - and maybe that helps.<BR>Let the sniping begin - I've mentioned clothes!<BR>And oh yea, my friend IS NOT FAT!!!!<BR>Don't worry about if Fuzzy - if you make a nice general appearance, it won't be an issue or problem.

ChinnyChinChin

Dear original poster: as long as you are not a female, your neatly trimmed beard should be fine.

Suzy

OMG, Chinny, thanks for giving me my chuckle for the day.

Jennifer

Hi Fuzzy, I'm not familiar with Italy at all, but fwiw, I LOVE beards or facial hair on men! One more thought, and I could be totally off-base, but is it possible that your co-worker is not able to grow any kind of a substantial beard; thus perhaps he is a bit jealous of you and is trying to talk you out of it?<BR><BR>Although it isn't Italy, I've traveled to France (especially Paris) several times, and a beard isn't uncommon at all.<BR><BR>If you like it, I'd keep it!<BR><BR>Best,<BR><BR>Jennifer

jade

My husband has a beard, wears jeans and trainers and had no problems in Italy or anywhere in Europe. However, he's not fat and doesn't wear a baseball cap, so keep that in mind.

Dina

We traveled for 7 weeks last year, and my husband stopped shaving while we were traveling.<BR>I didn't notice that we were treated particularly friendly in Italy. By then, he had about a two weeks' growth of beard, which did look a bit scruffy, though he always dressed neatly (and isn't fat!) <BR>Hm, maybe that explains a few things!

mj

I'm fat, wear jeans and a baseball hat, and have a beard! What of it? I've travelled all over Europe with no problems.

jade

So there you go!

Book Chick

A dear friend of mine is an Italian gentleman who is a retired university professor. He has facial hair & from what I can tell is treated well wherever he goes within his own country.<BR><BR>BC

Uncle Sam

Flaming liberals generally sport beards. Gives them the college professorial intelligensia look...<BR>Al Gore is a perfect example!<BR><BR>US

Hiho

NEVER, NEVER go to Italy with facial hair. That is my story and I am sticking to it.

DB

So what you are saying is people that bathe twice a month look down on people with facial hair? hmmm.

jahoulih

Uncle Sam, that's one of the silliest observations I've seen here yet. Just consider the Supreme Court: Justice Scalia sometimes wears a beard, and Justice Thomas wears a moustache. (Would-be Justice Bork also wears a beard.) I don't believe any 20th-century Democratic appointee to the Court wore facial hair, but several Republican appointees did: Justices Sanford and Sutherland, and Chief Justice Hughes (a former Republican presidential nominee and the man who kept the United States out of the League of Nations), all had beards. Chief Justice and former Republican President Taft wore a very large moustache.

jahoulih

Come to think of it, Uncle Sam also wears a beard.