I will be going to the Amalfi Coast in late May. Our hotel is on a beach and I would like to know what to wear to fit in. I hear shoes are a must, but I also read if I wesr sandles on the beach I will look American. Topless or not?? Should I bring a cover up or will that look out of place? I really want to blend any other fashion mistakes.

Hi J,

>if I wesr sandles on the beach I will look American.

You will look American regardless of what you wear.

>Topless or not??

Please send a picture of you topless. I will then be able to advise you better.

You can always take your top off, if you wish to.

>Should I bring a cover up or will that look out of place?

I would suggest doing so. It can get chilly.

Enjoy your visit.

I go topless on beaches, but I stick around only long enough to have a swim.

And I wear practical swimwear -- the sort that Americans like to call speedos.

If you don't want to look American, be sure to wear a bikini. 95% of the Italians do. I have seen plenty of Europeans with slip on sandals for the beach, and with coverups - usually the kind that don't really cover you up, but more fashionable ones.

Thanks I'll buy a fashion cover up. I did purchase a bikini so now I'll bring it.

If you are really set on blending in, these are the kind of sandals I've seen at European beaches, and worn by Europeans at pools:


http://www.shopadidas.com/family/ind...039765.2019615

Here is a video of Amalfi beach:

http://www.aldimarvp.com/videos_listing.cfm

(The video is titled "Town of Amalfi..." and the beach section is in the second half.)

German Male on Italian Beach - speedo, beer belly hanging out, the awful pool shoes ekscrunchy put up.

Italian Male on Italian Beach - speedo, beer belly hanging out, the awful pool shoes ekscrunchy put up (plus gold chains and a hairy back)

German Woman on Italian Beach - saggy tits, saggy bikini bottoms, no wax job, birkenstocks.

Italian Woman on Italian Beach - black swimsuit, big shades, lots of jewellery, cigarettes, high wedge sandals, leopardskin print see through coverup thingy.

Without knowing your age or figure it's hard to give advice. Seriously ;-) Of course you should bring a cover up or wear something over your bathing suit, you wouldn't ever walk around town or a hotel, going to and from the beach in only a bikini and nothing else. I'd go with Lawchick's Italian females fashion checklist for myself!

Lawchick, I love your description. ;-)

Lawchick.

Perfect!

I go to some resorts in Mexico where their are tons of Italians and Germans, and don't understand why someone would advise you not to wear sandals on the beach, nor a coverup. What else are you supposed to wear walking to/from the beach, if not sandals? Also, you wouldn't be walking around town to/from the beach topless and with no coverup, that doesn't make sense.

German women love to take off their clothes at the drop of a hat, regardless of their age and figure, it seems to me. It is amazing to me what I've seen on those beaches, which would be better left covered. I asked my German friend what that is all about and she said it is just vanity, that German women don't want tan lines, so that's why they go topless. I don't go topless because I have no desire to, and because I don't care about tan lines (as I don't want to tan anyway, I cannot, my skin is too sensitive and it's unhealthy). So, I always put on sunscreen anyway to avoid tanning. I think it would not be that healthy to expose skin to the sun that rarely sees it, in any case, sometimes I wonder how that works out in terms of sunburn and discomfort when I look at those women with everything hanging out.

I'm not a prude, I don't personally care what they wear in public in that regard, I just think it's unattractive for the most part and not that healthy. Now when I was in a French beach resort in the Caribbean with mostly French people, some young ladies would go topless (and almost bottomless, just a thong), but there seemed to be a little better common sense regarding age etc. in doing that at that resort. I don't see a lot of overweight and/or older French women doing that.

The younger Italian women at the resorts I've been to went topless some, but weren't as noticeable as the Germans.

I think it's true European women like bikinis a lot, even when they are older and maybe not so slim.

I will advise any German friends, male or female to stay away from Fodor's today: for those who are so quick to take offence at American tourist stereo-types, don't you think this thread has turned a tad unfunny?

No, it's generally a sense of humour that's lacking here.

I'm actually here with a German friend who is on the floor laughing at the moment.

And...I'm not American, not to mention stereotypical. So, go stick that in your pipe.

Thanks for some great suggestions. Ekscrunchy, I would have never bought sandles so simple but I will pick some up. Travller 1959 the video was great,I can't wait to show my husband. As far as body type I'm a very fit 46 year old women. I would not ask about bikini's if I couldn't wear one.

Re Sandals - Just wear ordinary flip flops - the let the sand in and out.

And as for the topless question, Italians don't really do it anymore. Modesty is much more the fasion these days.

Well, here is the German reading the thread.

We will find the opportunity to take revenge...

...what about the American lady wearing pink pyjamas in Fondation Maeght?

(Of course Lawchick hit the nail on the head.)

Entschuldigung,es tut mir leid.

I thought I was being restrained. I didn't even mention the "sunbeds".

Here's another German who is on the floor laughing. Our sense of humour can cope with this thread very well!