"As far as linen goes who wears that anymore" Says Who?

Just get over the wrinkle factor. Linen and linen blends are marvelous and comfortable and quick-drying.

We had no trouble getting into any churches, including the Vatican, with my husband and son wearing knee-length shorts. Definitely women need to have their shoulders covered.

As an alternative to linen, you might want to try something like tencel. It's just as light weight but I think it's softer and flows better. Take a tiny bottle of dewrinkle spray (really it's just fabric softener diluted in water) and hang up your clothes the night before. Otherwise a spritz and hang in the bathroom while you shower and the wrinkles just fall out.

I would highly suggest against dark colors, simply because they're hot. :) Neutrals are good because you can easily mix and match. Khaki colors on the bottom work well because they don't show wear/dirt very quickly like a bright color or very pale color would. Personally, I prefer jeans but that's just me being wierd and not generally suggested.

One suggestion for your husband, and you too actually, would be zip off pants. They're pretty light weight and comfy. He could wear shorts most of the time but zip on the lower legs for going into the Vatican and churches. The main idea is simply respect. Shorts don't seem respectful of the place of worship so aren't allowed in the Vatican and are frowned upon in many other churches. Getting in depends on the guard on duty sometimes. When I was at the Vatican I saw an older man turned away because he was wearing shorts. Cferrb's husband and son were allowed in. I wouldn't take the risk of not getting in simply to wear shorts.

To be honest, I think light weight pants are much cooler than shorts any day. Keeping the sun off of your skin does a lot to keep you cool and with a light weight fabric you can still get a breeze.

I bring a mix of my nicest summer dress/casual clothes. Patterns and dark colors work well because of not showing dirt, I think that is why that is sometimes suggested. I prefer to use brown or olive green as my "neutral" instead of black. I bring a mix of knee length shorts, capris, palazzo pants (in cotton, rayon, linen) and various styles and weights of cotton, linen, silk tops. Some women prefer dresses or skirts (but they aren't my style). Most important is comfortable footwear, and I take sneakers and 2 pair nice looking but comfortable sandals, flip flops.

Your husband can wear shorts if he wants to, just realize there are a few places that he wouldn't be let inside (if you don't plan to tour churches and cathedrals, doesn't matter). And hopefully he'll wear knee length decent looking ones, not gym shorts!

Yes, wear whatever you would wear at home and yes it is ungodly hot especially in August. Just throw a scarf that can go around your shoulders if bare in your bag for the duomos/churches. Seriously flip flops are fine, sneakers are fine, shorts are fine, and yes, the Italians wear them too, they also wear scarfs and boots with their shorts or sundresses in 100 degrees, I still can't figure that out, maybe it's the whole troppo aria ( catching the draft) thing they attribute almost all illnesses to. Just pack for warm weather and no pun intended ( well maybe just a little) "Don't Sweat It! "

Husband needs long pants in order to be CERTAIN he will get into any church he visits in Italy. Yes, I know there are churches that you can just walk into and no one will notice. The Vatican is not one of those, but he can always buy a paper shawl (from the vendors who know that people get it wrong) and put it around his legs or wait. We were even turned away at an abbey, not fully realizing that of course this contained a church as well. We had to go back to our hotel to put on long pants. My husband wore shorts in smaller towns and at the beach, but both husband and son wore long pants in the big cities with the big cathedrals. And no tank tops either.

Same goes for the women - you are required to have your shoulders and knees covered. So a mini skirt and camisole top is not allowed. I wore knee length skirts or capris and carried a sweater or scarf to wear around my tank top. I was as cool as I expected to be in 100 degree heat.

My experiences in Italy have all been during the summer and I was always surprised at how many people were wearing bright summer colors or lots of white clothing. Not that I would take a white skirt myself, but I purposefully take more colorful clothing to Italy than to other countries because I like not feeling so dowdy and hotter with all the black as well!

I thought it was very cold during the summer when I went to Italy. That might just be because I've been living in Doha and Dubai for so long!

My only oppinion on this matter is that for guys - light weight pants, linen pants and light jeans work perfectly. To sum up - Smart Casual and you'll have no problem going anywhere!

Actually, now that chazz brought it up - we did have colder rainy days in Venice one year when we visited in July. In that case the longer pants (and skirt) came in handy because it was chilly. And of course Dolomite region was a welcome relief from the hotter places. So I guess it will depend on where all you are going - Rome and Florence were both VERY hot, even when we went in June.

Yeah, I don't know about the knee covering thing, shoulders definitely but I have been up and down Italy numerous times seeing both men and woman from all kinds of places visiting churches and duomos with uncovered knees.Even in the "big" cities. In fact I'm pretty sure I'm one of them and have only been asked to cover shoulders which is why I carry a scarf in my bag.

It appears that it's been a while since anyone posted to this, but I have a question about shoes in the Vatican and other churches. I had heard open-toed shoes were not allowed, but it doesn't seem to be an issue. Can anyone confirm this?

Hello soccer, I have never ever heard that open-toed shoes are not allowed in churches in Italy. In fact I am sure when I have visited the Vatican I have always had on sandals of some kind. It is just the the shoulders and knees need to be covered and in some other churches that is true also. If there is any change about shoes styles at the Vatican I hope someone will respond. May I ask where you heard that open-toed shoes are not acceptable at the Vatican and some other churches?

I just got back from Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice) and it was HOT! I brought skirts but wish I had brought dresses instead. Most women had light weight dresses and linen pants/capris. I took both cotton tops and poly mix....glad I did because the hotels do not offer irons. You can have laundry press clothing for you at 3.5 EU each. I didn't do that. Open toed shoes were fine. I did see some women get turned away from St. Peter's due to their hemline being too short. As for bare soulders a light scarf does the trick. My husband had nice cotton (Docker type) pants and polo shirts for the nicer areas we visited. Otherwise, he wore nice shorts and colorful T-shirts...again, it was HOT!