Who wears Short Shorts ,lol
 

I know, this has been in numerous subjects. SO, for a 24/m to wear shorts while travling in Italy and Paris is not proper???? I tihnk i would die if i couldnt wear shorts assuming the weather was nice.

Are tank tops considered trashy?
Also, for nightlife, will I need to bring black dress shoes, nice shirt?

I think im just going to pack supoer light and buy some clothing/shoes if needed.

Adults just don´t wear beach wear in cities.

When I was in Prague, young women wore tank tops (and the locals, often the exact same tank top 3 days in a row). Guys wearing tank tops? Well I laugh at that in the US, but if you want to wear a wifebeater and shorts I doubt anyone will really care unless you try to go into churches and nice hotels/restaurants. Although I generally would draw a line at a wifebeater.

I saw lots of tourists all over Europe wearing shorts. Chances are they will know you are a tourist (not necessarily an American one) but they will probably know that regardless. If it a major inconvenience to you, just wear shorts. I also think in general there are lower standards for male tourists.

As for clubs, you should probably dress nicely for the hipper places, I personally find myself mainly at bars so I just wear whatever (no shorts though, just not my style in the U.S. either).

Lots of Italian tourists in other countries wear shorts i notice but few do in the daily routine at home. I always wear shorts if warm enough and nobody thinks much of shorts anymore, except those .... Italian churches with Talibanesque moral police out front turning back immorally clad tourists in shorts and women showing too much skin or not covering their hair.
In some countries, like Italy, gorgeous women in tank tops may invite unwanted catcalls and whistles from immature macho men.

For daytime if it is hot, I wear long-ish shorts made out of printed rayon fabrics (similar to palazzo pants). The come to the top of my knees and almost look like a skirt. I do wear tank tops but put a lightweight blouse over them. Or I find sleeveless collar button cotton blouses are a bit dressier and even cooler.

suze, I think he is a man

For nighttime I think a tight short black knit skirt always works & takes virtually no room in your bag.

Yes, I am a man. I was just joking with the subject heading. I think that came from an old commerical. If im just siteseeing, I'd rather wear some shorts, sandals, and t-shirt/wifebeater.

Hi Adam, please don't take the other's advice!lol.

Shorts are fine for men, just not short shorts. Take some tank tops and see how you feel once you get there, otherwise tshirts, etc.

BTW, short shorts used to be a pop song many moons ago! The commercial is using it and bringing it back to life!

have fun

Long shorts are okay if it's warm.

You will not see men in tank tops in Italy or France. A short sleeved shirt would be a much better choice.

Have never seen a european man in a tank top. Have seen some workmen in white undershirts that look like tanktops - but they were distinctly laborers in the process of a job.

Shorts outside of a resort - to me make men look like little boys (like english public school shorts) but if you're comfortable you can walk around that way. You won;t be allowed in nice restaurants or clubs and may get stares/comments in churches.

(I think the difference is that in europe a 24 year old is considered and adult man - while in the US he's still a school kid.)

I think it's funny that adam thinks "who wears short shorts" originated with a commercial. (It's from an early-'60s bubble gum rock song.)

my florence guidebook says that shorts are not necessarily appreciated by either sex in religious buildings....they say you can be turned away if wearing shorts.

remember that shorts are super casual, almost anywear.

OOps, sorry, I guess the "Adam" should have tipped me off!

I wear short shorts when visiting places like Pompeii and Paestum. I wouldn't wear shorts in the evening or into a restaurant at any time of day. That is why linen skirts were invented :-))

Oops, I too just saw that Adam is a guy. In that case... don't make the shorts too short please! ;-)

I dunno, I bet Adam would look cute in the long black skirt :D

Adam , maybe not a tank top but I have seen men with tees under their shirts hanging out..like men do here..young'uns anyway..

Everything else sounds great, I love the idea of buying whatever you need when you get there..Have fun!!

And I read 24/m and immediately thought, "Hmm . . . 24 months. Sure, a toddler may wear shorts."

Sigh.

"(It's from an early-'60s bubble gum rock song.)"

"Short Shorts" was actually a song recorded by the Royal Teens that somehow became a hit in 1958.

((H))

I thought this was sort of a joke about all the posts who warn people not to wear short shorts -- and asking why people sy that, who on earth wears short-shorts, anyway? I don't know, but I think Germans do sometimes in certain circumstances (including those running nylong shorts), and believe it or not but I've seen Frenchmen wearing short shorts out in public to a restaurant down in Provence in the summer. Ugh.

So, I don't know about Italy, but you can certainly wear shorts in Paris in summer -- the usual male cargo pant, kind of knee length things are fairly common. I really dislike the term "wifebeater" and wish people wouldn't say that if they mean sleeveless undershirt (and who wears that in public, anyway). Tank tops are a different thing and I'll admit I don't think you see men wearing them much in a big city, even in summer. I hope not, that is really kind of gross.

Why not wear a lightweight Tshirt, or even short-sleeved cotton or linen shirt, that's what most men wear with shorts. I would think a male wearing a tank top is okay in very hot resort areas or walking along the boardwalk in Nice, for example.

I go to uni in Scotland and have friends from all over Europe (ages 18-26) and I've never seen any of my guy friends wear shorts unless its at the beach or its a backyard bbq. And I don't think any of them own anything sleeveless, I've certainly never seen them wear one. That said, wear shorts if that's what is comfortable for you, but know that some churches are pretty strict on having knees covered.

Italians and French people tend to dress nicely at all times of day, certainly out at night, people will be wearing nice shirt, slacks, and won't be wearing running shoes (though sandals like tevas or chacos in black would probably blend in).

One other reason not to wear tank tops.... It is likely that you'll be using public transportation while traveling.

I don't care if you've *just* taken a shower. I don't want your hairy armpit in my face on the Metro/bus/whatever. And neither does anyone else, especially on a hot day.

I've seen young Italian men in long shorts when it is hot and, anyway, Adam is a tourist, touring, he can wear long shorts if he wants to. I'm sure he knows about proper pants for good restaurants and night clubs and churches.

Boy, do I agree with Lesli about the hairy armpits on transportation!

You are right. No one will care if you wear short shorts and a tank top. However, no one will want to talk to you or be seen with you either.

And some guys wonder why they can't pick up chicks. It's the clothes, sweetie.

McQueen Queen.

I'm still picturing those hairy legs in that tight short black skirt I suggested above - yikes!

"Italian churches with Talibanesque moral police out front turning back immorally clad tourists in shorts and women showing too much skin or not covering their hair."

Talibanesque??? Italian churches??? Boy, that's a stretch.

Italians save shorts for the beaches.

Capris are big for men and look great, and I have never seen an Italian man in a tank top.

Leave the shorts at home.

It's "Talibanesque" to have a dress code for entry into a church? That shows an appalling lack of logic and intelligence, let alone respect.

I'm sorry, I change into shorts within 7 seconds of getting home from work, but I wouldn't dream of wearing shorts to ANY church, synagogue, temple, etc, let alone one in a country in which I am a guest. And a tank top? Please.

The Taliban was a government which bombed ancient and irreplaceable religious icons, and forbade women from showing virtually any portion of their body anywhere in public. What in God's name does that have to do with a church (or any person or entity for that matter) from requiring certain clothing when in that particular establishment or home?

PalQ, that comment is so stupid my brain hurts. Fortunately, yours is probably incapable of pain.

LOL suze! We have a couple of homeless men here in Portland that wear skirts all the time. And a handsome young man in a kilt ( with Doc Martens) so I am actually not taking second looks now if a guy in a skirt goes by :D

Yup, that kilt/doc martens look is a great one on the right man (seriously)!

Hey Adam,

I was just looking at my pictures from last year--most definitely there are guys wearing shorts and even tank tops in Rome. But as far as i can tell, they're all tourists. But you will be as well...(When I was in Paris, it was simply too cold for shorts; so none in my pics there)

I brought shorts on my trip last year but only wore them in Barcelona and Avignon, where I didn't go to any "holy churches" where I needed to have my knees covered...(which you could cover that by just wearing longer shorts)

Whatever you feel like wearing, go for it. Other backpackers really don't care, and you're most likely to stick out as a tourist anyhow.. so who cares? Be comfortable!

I'm curious about the dress shoes question. Maybe you want another posts that says you're a guy right off the batt?

Packing light an extra pair of shoes is a real pain. I wonder if there isn't some inbetween, not sneakers or tevas... but? what? that would do for nightclubbing but have other function too.

What about a shoe that could double for going out or walking/hiking?

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...S_CLOTHING_TOC

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...S_CLOTHING_TOC

OR, perhaps just a pair of chacos (since they can be worn to the beach, casually, as well as for hiking; though you wouldn't want them if the weather is quite cool) or something similar and a pair of dress shoes.