WHAT TO WEAR
 

My husband I will be visiting London, Edinburgh, Paris and Rome for the first time in early May 2006. I've gotten conflicting stories about what to wear for sightseeing, dinners out and theatre. Can you help? We are both in our 50's. My husband will be playing golf at the "old" course in St Andrews Bay. Thank you.

WWhat would you wear to dinners out and theatre in your home city? Or nearest big city?

My husband will be playing golf at the "old" course in St Andrews Bay.

Won't he get a bit damp?

I would wear "business casual". Neat pants, knit top/blouse/shirt, sweater/blazer, comfortable shoes for day. You might like to have a skirt/dress, dressier flats/low heels, for the evenings. Don't know a thing about golf attire!

What are these "conflicting stories" you have heard?

If you're planning on doing upscale restaurants, the opera etc - I would plan on having some more sophisticated clothing with you (not formal but sophisticated - ie suit or nice blazer with turtlneck for hubby and silk pants outfit or dress and pumps for you). If you are going mostly casual or moderate places business casual should be fine.

The theatre in London is fairly casual. Suze's "business casual" suggestion works just fine. You'll see everything, including jeans and t-shirts.

Wear whatever is comfortable for sightseeing. Just be sure to layer. You're likely to have some cool weather in early May.

I always, always pack a black skirt. It's very easy to dress up or down and works almost everywhere.

If your husband can afford to play the Old Course (are you sure he has a booking?), he can afford to let you buy whatever you want. Nobody is going to care two hoots what you wear.

I have gotten conflicting stories too. I have packed business casual for evenings, that should be fine since we are traveling with our teenage son. Jeans seem to be an issue, are they not worn in London ? Our son (14 years old) won't have a problem with dress clothes for dinner and the theater but for sightseeing....that might be a problem for him.

Jeans are worn in London. Your teenage son will look just like all the other teenagers if he wears them.

Jeans are worn everywhere in London by teens and young adults. However, a 50 something going out to dinner in a 3* restaurant and to nice seats at the opera make get some stares.

These days nothing is out of place. With great fitting jeans everyone is wearing dressier tops with dressy shoes.
But a dress is aalways my choice.
Everyone of those cities mentioned dress the same way.

I'm still a firm believer in dressing well, even though half of Europe is wearing Levis these days, especially the younger set. Let the hoi polloi do as they will. I get treated better by wait staff.

Slacks, turtle neck shirt, and sports coat with a raincoat in tow will do for your husband in early May. For you, something similar but feminine. If not wearing a turtleneck, bring scarves. For both, comfortable rubber soled shoes.

Jeans won't make you stand out, but I think big white tennis shoes do. Think brown or black leather when it comes to footwear.

I've worn capris and sandals in the warmer climates. A sundress and sandals is nice too. I wore black pants and comfy black shoes in Ireland since it was only 65 degrees and rainy in July.

Shock everyone, go naked. But bring antibiotics, you will catch pneumonia. xx

Black skirt, pants, flexible jacket, a range of tops, dark but comfortable shoes for sightseeing; pumps for eves (again comfy--Paul Green, easy spirit, or whatever fits you well) or easy-to-pack ballet style; 3/4 dark or neutral raincoat, a cashmere sweater, a travel umbrella.

What to wear in Paris:
http://www.pbase.com/beatchick/sunda...5th&page=2

In all three cities, you can wear jeans for casual lunches and sightseeing but for dinner and theater do dress up, a simple shift or a good quality sweather and skirt. As ekscrunchy has said, as you would in any big city like New York.

be comfortable...that is the key. you are on vacation. and for dinners go back if possible and change to something that suits you more.

I wore jeans for lunch and sight seeing with a nice top and for dinner and music, a simple crushed velvet skirt with a dressier cashmere sweater. These are things that pack well without wrinkles.

We're in our 50's. We pack all black bottoms (with the addition of a black skirt and, maybe, black dress for me). Sometimes a pair or two of khaki (in the warmer weather). Then, white/ivory tops/shirts and a few nice sweaters in beautiful colors (I favor twin sets for myself, with an extra white shell/tee) of various warmth (for the variable temps). Then the most comfortable pair of walking shoes imaginable (we wear on the plane), along with a pair of dressy (but comfortable, in case your others happen to get soaked, shoes). We each pack a dressy wool blazer and raincoat with hood (usually precludes the need to haul an umbrella all about). Add a nice pair of earrings, pearls or gold chain, dressy belt (for me), and a tie for my husband, and we can dress for any place. Lately, my husband favors a fine sweater under the sport jacket, rather than dress shirt and tie, which looks very, very nice and just as dressy. And, you can actually find black shoes for walking that are far more comfortable than sneakers.

With the variable weather (especially in May), we usually dress for the day, then add a sweater, or blazer, or raincoat, or two of the three or all three. (Layers are essential.) Often we find ourselves adding and removing all the day and night. Silk and cashmere are fantastic fabrics (maximum comfort, minimum weight, for a broad range of temps).

It really doesn't matter what you wear during the day sightseeing, or evenings at casual restaurants or even the theater. You'll see anything and everything on others.

To maximize "freshness", if we change for dinner, we start of the next day in the same outfits (with the walking shoes).