Marbie,<BR>I just returned from Italy last weekend and I saw a lot of Italian children as they were on spring break and everywhere in tour groups. Most of them wore sneakers, but they were usually sneakers of different colors, not white. As for adults wearing sneakers, my parents wore white sneakers almost every day while we were in Italy and no one cared. No one will ridicule you. It just identifies you as a tourist. Wear what you are comfortable in.

&lt;&lt;Wearing sneakers in Italy is an affront to the Italians. They do not wear sneakers&gt;&gt;<BR> <BR>I'm going to the US board to tell Europeans not to wear socks with sandals when they come to the US. We Americans don't do it and it's an affront to me.

Unless they visit in Oregon. Then its okay to wear your birks with thick wool socks. In other states, be sure to check with the fashion police before attempting this style - it could be dorky!

Yes, John, I guess I am calling you dorky. I just think honking-white sneakers are an American thing that's not exactly necessary on a vacation in Europe - or necessary anywhere but in a gym for that matter. It's one thing if you're planning to jog in Paris or if you have some exercise routine that requires you to don white sneakers, but as normal, everyday footwear that you might wear in a museum or caf�, sorry, I find that if not unacceptable at least unnecessary, as there are so many other types of footwear that are equally comfortable and better suited to touring in Europe.<BR>Kids can get away with wearing anything. <BR>Alice may be Italian, but I doubt she's scrutinized Italian feet as carefully as I have in an attempt to decide the sneaker question over the past several years. I actually sat in a caf� in rome two years ago after one of these Fodors fights about footwear and took pictures of people's feet! Italians do NOT wear white sneakers as a general rule - if they do, they are marvelously chic, enormous bowling-type white sneakers designed to make an Italian fashion statement. But for the most part, if Italians wear sneakers they are stylish, colorful &quot;variations&quot; on sneakers in my experience.<BR>And no, I'm not afraid to be singled out as an American, though as an EU citizen as well as an American citizen who speaks a few European languages I blend into the European populace fairly well, but it has been my observation over the past few weeks on this board that MANY people are concerned about not giving away their nationality if they are Americans (apparently some are considering pretending they are Canadian, which I find reprehensible), so for those people I would definitely say, don't walk around Europe with those dorky white sneakers. If you are concerned you'll be taken for Americans (and again, this is not a personal concern of mine - I'm happy to be known as an American), then leave the white sneakers and fanny packs and infamous pink jogging suits home this year. <BR>You can't have it both ways - you can't be freaked out about your safety in Europe and then insist that wearing white sneakers is your personal right. I'm not suggesting that was the point of your post, John - that's just a general comment.

<BR>Trickledown Town :) <BR><BR>The woman wearing fine custom-made Italian shoes looks with disdain at a man wearing casual loafers, and the man wearing casual loafers doesn't notice because he's busy looking with disdain at a woman wearing white sneakers, and the woman wearing white sneakers doesn't notice because she's busy looking with disdain at a man wearing wool socks and sandals, and the man wearing wool socks and sandals doesn't notice because he's busy looking with disdain at a woman wearing bathroom slippers, and the woman wearing bathroom slippers doesn't notice because she's busy looking with disdain at a man who's barefoot...

I am usually in Europe for a running event like the marathon. Since there are thousands of runners in town at that time, of course everyone is wearing running shoes (primarily white). So if that's the case, you'll blend in............

Yes, John, I guess I am calling you dorky. I just think honking-white sneakers are an American thing that's not exactly necessary on a vacation in Europe - or necessary anywhere but in a gym for that matter. It's one thing if you're planning to jog in Paris or if you have some exercise routine that requires you to don white sneakers, but as normal, everyday footwear that you might wear in a museum or caf&eacute;, sorry, I find that if not unacceptable at least unnecessary, as there are so many other types of footwear that are equally comfortable and better suited to touring in Europe.<BR>Kids can get away with wearing anything. <BR>Alice may be Italian, but I doubt she's scrutinized Italian feet as carefully as I have in an attempt to decide the sneaker question over the past several years. I actually sat in a caf&eacute; in rome two years ago after one of these Fodors fights about footwear and took pictures of people's feet! Italians do NOT wear white sneakers as a general rule - if they do, they are marvelously chic, enormous bowling-type white sneakers designed to make an Italian fashion statement. But for the most part, if Italians wear sneakers they are stylish, colorful &quot;variations&quot; on sneakers in my experience.<BR>And no, I'm not afraid to be singled out as an American, though as an EU citizen as well as an American citizen who speaks a few European languages I blend into the European populace fairly well, but it has been my observation over the past few weeks on this board that MANY people are concerned about not giving away their nationality if they are Americans (apparently some are considering pretending they are Canadian, which I find reprehensible), so for those people I would definitely say, don't walk around Europe with those dorky white sneakers. If you are concerned you'll be taken for Americans (and again, this is not a personal concern of mine - I'm happy to be known as an American), then leave the white sneakers and fanny packs and infamous pink jogging suits home this year. <BR>You can't have it both ways - you can't be freaked out about your safety in Europe and then insist that wearing white sneakers is your personal right. I'm not suggesting that was the point of your post, John - that's just a general comment.

All these controversies about shoes and clothes just make me think that perhaps the threads are commenced by bored trolls.<BR><BR>Hey, StCirq, haven't you heard that the European Fashion Police have been disbanded? Europeans wear what they want. Americans should wear what they want. <BR><BR>People who are vacationing are not obliged to look like locals going to work. I even--horrors!--caught an overweight FRENCH woman wearing shorts and a t-shirt the last time I was there. I wonder if the French are going to take her citizenship away because she was not wearing black. The woman informed me that French people often dress casually on vaction. I guess when they disbanded the Fashion Police things sort of degraded over there.<BR><BR>And Americans with Irish passports based on grandparents born there, who go over to France for maybe 6-8 weeks a year (at most) are not EU residents or citizens. They just have Irish passports and don't know anymore than anyone else.<BR><BR>So nice to see you on fodors, StCirq.

<BR>WOW!! Taking pictures of feet?<BR>Must have a foot fetish.<BR>I WILL wear what I want when I want too. Dork or not!!<BR><BR>So there you have it miss mighty stcirq.

Go with the flow, John. Whatever makes you happy. I could care less.

That's it, my decision is made, I wouldn't have to offend any Italians, or American, or Russian, or French or English or Ralph Lauren or Yves St Laurent or Gucci....I'm going barefoot the whole time!!!!

Maybe we should all stay home for fear of offending someone. I really think Americans are more obsessed with what they wear in Europe than the Europeans are. After all, many in the tourist areas are glad to see Americans coming because they need the business. They will not turn you away for looking--well, even &quot;dorky&quot;.<BR><BR>And, when I encounter foreign tourists in Washington, DC, they are generally &quot;lost&quot; because they can't find the Metro or some tourist site. I help them out. I don't take inventory of what they are wearing.<BR><BR>I think it is pretty much the same for tourists in Europe, no matter what members of the Fodors Wipe Out White Sneakers movement mavens think.<BR><BR>It's your vacation. Wear what you want.

<BR>Very well said LaurensKahn.<BR>

<BR><BR><BR>WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Based on a tip from an alert American citizen, special agents from the new Department of Homeland Security have commenced an investigation of a group called the &quot;Wipe Out Whitey Sneakers Movement.&quot; <BR><BR>&quot;It's a group we haven't heard of before,&quot; admitted agent Ken Thompson, &quot;but these days you just never know.&quot; Added agent Janet Hofstra, &quot;I'm very concerned that these 'Sneakers', whoever they are, might be trying to do what their name says, 'Wipe Out Whitey', so it's a group we really have to take a look at.&quot;

CAPO,<BR><BR>You made me laugh so hard, I almost peed in my pants!

White sneakers on adults is not always nerdy, where I live in So Cal near beach towns there are some pretty good looking, anything-but-nerdy guys who look really great in their white sneakers. I think it is the ambiance of where they are seen that makes a difference, they are casual, not dressy, but not always nerdy.<BR><BR>Come on over, StCirq, and have a look.

StCirq.,<BR><BR>You may believe what you want but I too live in Italy although not Milano (fashion city) and I see sneakers every day on Italians. They wear jeans and shorts too. Sneakers can be of any color including white and flourescent fucsia. <BR><BR>Children wear sneakers as well so for the OP, don't worry just have a great trip.

This white sneaker thing drives me crazy-I don't know who started it (hating white tennis shoes) a few years ago (probably someone with either too much time on their hands or someone who just never did wear sneakers/tennis shoes....)but I am so glad to see that some sanity has appeared on this European board again! <BR>White tennis shoes are white tennis shoes-they are worn everywhere, are comfortable and are here to stay! And, read:Europeans wear them!!!<BR>Get over it people!<BR>Shadow<BR>

St Cirq: Geee! I'll have to tell my grandfather, my partner, my father in law, a couple of friends, my mom and myself too that we all look American!!! By the way, there's nothing wrong with looking American, it's just unexpected from a bunch of Europeans. Oh, this morning I have bought a brand new pair of Superga sneakers. White.

Oh, I forgot, the above post is (obviously) supposed to be ^____^ and ;-P.