Our family is visiting Italy this summer and we really want to fit in and dress like the locals. Our 2 children, ages 11 and 14 will be with us. Aside from avoiding white sneakers, shorts, and obvious tourist gear, how should we dress? Should the children wear demin and dress like American teenagers? Should I wear dresses/skirts or will casual pants do? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
There isn't that huge a difference between the clothing available here or there, the difference is that most people take the trouble to look good. Therefore very few mature women would wear shorts and tanks on the street. That being said I did see a family of Italian tourists who were dressed like the stereotypical US tourist last year! The teens of course have their own style, much pink streaking of hair, low slung pants and tops that don't reach the waist and everything very tight. I also noticed that Italian women don't wear hats, but the strong sun makes it necessary for me since I am so fair. In cities people tend to wear extremely well-cared for shoes. Most women wear pants a lot, but they wear them much tighter than other women do, even if they would really look better in something that didn't reveal so much. People here do a lot of ironing. Anyway, if you avoid beachwear and look put together here you shouldn't worry further. You will never look Italian.
Posts: 2733 | Location: Umbria | Registered: 13 September 2001
I tend to dress in a "nice casual" manner when visiting Europe. By not wearing jeans or very casual clothes, I feel comfortable that I'm dressed appropriately if I go from a day of touring straight out to dinner, if necessary.
By wearing shirts/tops that cover your shoulders (and pants or skirts that cover knees), you don't have to worry about being turned away from churches you might want to visit. (An alternative to clothes that cover shoulders is to carry a large scarf to wrap around you when you enter a church.)
Pants for women are fine; don't feel that you need to wear skirts or dresses. That said, depending on the weather where you're headed, a skirt may be cooler than pants. A quick note about denim jeans - denim gets hot if worn in the sun, weighs a lot when packed, and takes forever to dry if they need to be washed. If you can convince your kids that khakis or chinos are a better choice, I think you'll all be happier.
My #1 travel tip: PACK LIGHT! #2: Wear COMFORTABLE shoes! #3: Don't forget to pack your sense of adventure!
Bobena- Welcome to Slowtrav and I hope we can answer your questions. As far what your kids wear in Italy- just let them wear what they want! One of the things I love about Italy is the acceptance of kids, no matter what they look like or (within some limits!) what they do. Your kids are your best ice-breakers, if there's any ice to break.
And as far as how the 'adults' dress, I always think 'nicer is better', but you need to go with what you are comfortable with. I usually suggest to my friends 'wear work clothes.' But if you are comfortable wearing shorts and sneakers, then wear them. Even in the US, I don't wear jeans or sneakers (which makes me kind of weird here, if anyone ever noticed- and I don't think anyone ever has! Although I am highly respected for my knowledge of the art of ironing- I actually use both starch and sizing, and appropriately, I like to think!)
My latest guideline for advice on how to dress is a wonderful thought from David Sedaris' book "Me talk pretty one day," which I can't quote directly, but the idea is "It's just not nice to go to someone else's country looking like you've come to mow the lawn."
So, I'm sure you'll look fine if you're dressed comfortably, and wearing nice shoes.
Hope this has been a little helpful!!
Maureen
Posts: 4720 | Location: Boston or Florence | Registered: 07 July 2001
To go back thru previous threads, use those little page numbers that appear at the top and bottom (on the right) of a thread. We have threads going back over 6 months. Or click on search on the top right of the screen and search on a word or two - a list of threads with these words in them appears. I am going to try to find a few of our really good threads about what to wear in Italy and copy them to the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) forum where we keep things so we can easily refer to them.
About what to wear - things seem to get more casual in Italy each time we go there. 10 years ago you did not see people wearing jeans, but now you do. I take jeans with me, but Colleen is right they take forever to dry hanging on the line and are bulky. Still, I am a jeans kind of person. I do not wear big running shoe type running or walking shoes, but instead comfortable leather walking shoes - I feel they look nicer, but you see Italians wearing running shoes now - especially in the country.
David (another moderator) even wears shorts in the summer - nice walking shorts I think - but still shorts.
Just dress a little better than usual if you are a casual kind of dresser.
Posts: 26617 | Location: Santa Fe, NM | Registered: 15 June 2001
quote:David (another moderator) even wears shorts in the summer - nice walking shorts I think - but still shorts.
Ooh!!! So true! Comfort is where it's at for me. If it's August and 92 degrees in Florence, my knees are going to have some air, that is if I'm not planning to go somewhere where I'll need long slacks. Although I probably wouldn't be caught dead mowing anyone's lawn in those same shorts! Thanks, Maureen, for the David Sedaris quote. Always welcome, in my book. Last year if we were going to be out all day and evening we often took some long pants along in the trunk of the car and changed. Yes, I was that guy outside of Monteriggioni trying to pull his khaki slacks on while sitting in the driver's seat with the driving wheel getting in the way!
Posts: 4784 | Location: New York City | Registered: 15 June 2001
Yes comfort is the most important issue,and great walking shoes are completely essential ( be sure to break them in before you go)! As far as the kids are concerned this is what I always do, before we leave we check out the old closet and see what's good enough to travel in ( no lawn mowing for my kids!) Loved that quote too, Thanks Maureen we just started our day here with a good laugh! Anyways then we head to the stores and they pick out a few essentials to travel in. Since you are going in the summer, think loose flowing dresses ( or maybe the boys might protest some ) or little skorts with tshirts. My kids always have a light back pack to put in their light sweaters for getting into duomos etc. I would not recommend taking jeans in the summer, none of us have the past 3 trips to Europe in the summer, you will be roasting in them!
BTW- I had the opportunity to see David's legs in Volterra and they are kinda cute. My husband also packs along longer "no iron" linen walking shorts as well and he was lucky enough to get in every duomo with them ( but we always have a pair of long pants either in the car or backpack just in case )
I always carry along a big silk shawl, this takes up no space in my bag and can also double as a pareo for around the pool.
I actually had the most fun just checking out all the Italians,(especially in Florence,Rome and Siena) and the great flair they had. I guess it is a combination of their wonderfully made clothes and the way they carry themselves. But my favorite fashion spotting has to be the nonnas sitting in a row chatting ( you'll see them in every town ) They all seem to have on these classic frocks from the 50's and 60's, I love them and I look for them on every trip, somehow seeing them makes me feel completely sentimental and in a way reminds me of my mom and all those Beaver Cleaver dresses that she wore.
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