Our group leaves in 6 weeks for our first trip to Italy. The men always travel with a blazer and one tie (wore the tie once last year for birthday cocktails at the Ritz in Paris where others were dressed in jeans.)
Here's the question: Can the men leave there tie and loafers at home and wear Topsiders the whole time? We're determined to pack lighter this year!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Posts: 242 | Location: Brevard, NC, USA | Registered: 21 January 2003
We always traveled with a jacket and tie for Steve, but stopped a couple of trips ago because we never need them. Instead I pack him a couple of shirts for when we are going out for dinner.
This trip I took my sportscoat and some dressier shirts figuring I would wear them to the opera. Due to the heat, I passed on them. If it had been cooler, however, I would have probably worn the coat to several dinners and the opera, but I would ahve never felt out of place if I didn't ahve it.
On th shoes front, I had a pair of dress shoes which I wore numerous times at night. After tramping all around during the day, my casual shoes wound up very dusty and dirty. I preferred to have an alternate pair for diner etc.
Italy is a very good place to buy ties if you need one in an emergency. I always look on the bright side though and generally pack one nice one for Ricardo with a white linen jacket and both have been used...!
Wendy
Posts: 2747 | Location: Lightwater Surrey U K | Registered: 30 March 2003
Steve wears Doc Martins and they worked well for the trip - but we have running shoe/walking shoes that he wears sometimes during the day. I think it is a good idea to bring two pairs of shoes. In case one pair get soaking wet. I always bring two pairs of pants for a similar reason - in case something gets spilled and for laundry day.
I'm one of the most informal of people; but always pack a full suit, in addition to a blazer. Somewhere in the course of a 3-month stay, I wind up wearing both suit and, more frequently, blazer. Church services, special occasions, dinners at the house of Italian hosts, and scholarly conferences (including one mildly amusing occasion in Spello, where the suit was de rigueur).
We had a unusual need for a suit for my husband and son during this past June during our trip to Italy. Italy is the only place we take suits and ties for them because we have two members of the family in convents and that is one place where visitors still dress in their Sunday best for visits. While in Rome we were offered the opportunity for a private guided tour of the House of Deputies but our contact indicated that we probably couldn't go because the men in the family needed suit and tie. Aha, we said, we have suits and ties because we are going to the convent! Needless to say it was a great opportunity and since we are all interested in government a very interesting comparison.
Posts: 11 | Location: Gloucester, MA, USA | Registered: 23 February 2003
Maybe there should be a webcam for these elegant men? There are so many delicious ways here for a man to cut the bella figura, but my heart does go pittipat for a hunk in a suit.
Posts: 2774 | Location: Umbria | Registered: 13 September 2001
Thank you very much Maureen. I would never have guessed that they were footwear. In the uK we call them deck shoes or loafers or sometimes even boating shoes!! I am convinced that they also have a much classier name over here but I cannot remember what that is as I write !! We are going to the Lake District on Sat so lets hope I've remembered by then as they will be spotted in abundance. Wellington boots will also be spotted I feel as it is, as usual rather wet up there! www.vivat.org.uk Church Brow Cottage
Wendy
Posts: 2747 | Location: Lightwater Surrey U K | Registered: 30 March 2003
Topic Closed
