Well, now that we are committed, I will reveal the depth of our greenhorn-ness. The guide books I have started to read say the Italians are very fashion conscious. As laid-back Californians, clue us in on the proper dress (ie, hubby's "uniform" here is collared knit shirt and Dockers). Also, October weather looks like it is pretty mild, 70's in day, and cooler evenings. Do you need to pack heavier outerwear, raincoat, etc? Also, telephone stuff. So our regular cells won't work there, right? Since we aren't frequent travelers, is the best bet to get some kind of phone card in advance to use over there? We just need to call home a few times, and be available in case of emergency.
Is it ok to ask these types of questions here, or stick to rentals, restaurants, etc?
Thanks, Carol
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Posts: 26602 | Location: Santa Fe, NM | Registered: 15 June 2001
We are also going in October, and we have yet to solve the "fashion" situation. However, there is another thread with several phone options. I know that we ordered a cell phone through AutoEurope when we booked our car. They will mail the phone to us (already programmed for Italy) before we leave and we simply mail it back when we return. They had a deal going at the time, but I think now it is about $60 a week. We don't plan on using it that much, but we will feel more secure just knowing it is there for emergencies. Because the phone will be mailed to us, we will be able to leave the number with family before we leave, which is imporant to me.
Good luck. And if you see someone in Italy who is breaking all the fashion rules, that will be me!
Posts: 135 | Location: Wisconsin | Registered: 18 June 2001
Jean, if we are going to have a worst-dressed in Italy contest, I think I will be the winner hands down!! I dress much better in Italy than I do at home. At home it is strictly jeans and t-shirts. Jeans shorts for the summer!! We are not known for dressing well in Santa Fe!!
I always wear, black, brown and beige. That way I blend in!!!!! Anything really goes. No matter what you wear, Italians spend a great deal of money on their clothes and the latest fashions so I think it is impossible to keep up with them!!!
In cooler weather, I usually bring a couple of sweater sets in the above-mentioned "colors", a three-quarter length gabardine jacket with zip-out lining, brown low heel boots, black low heel boots, and dress pants in black and brown. Everything I bring mixes and matches...
Have absolutely no idea if this has been helpful or not!!! I never ever wear sneakers...... I hear bowling shoes are big in Italy this year... Of all things.....
Regards,
Leslie
Posts: 715 | Location: Atlanta Metro Area | Registered: 01 July 2001
Very helpful! Thanks everyone, for your responses. Keep them coming, this is very interesting reading to me. Pauline, I enjoyed the thread references too!
I'm also in the black/tan camp. However, I noticed when in Florence last month that many of the local women were decked out in bright red. Store windows were filled with red purses, shoes, dresses, etc. Even the housedresses in the weekly markets were red. Of course, given how fast fashion moves, this trend may be already gone!
Posts: 8197 | Location: Newton (outside Boston), MA | Registered: 17 June 2001
"Bowling Shoes" are big in the cities all over this year. We live in Toronto and they are everywhere and we saw them all over in New York recently. "Camper" brand are really big. Our fall stuff is in the stores and bowling shoes in black and brown or black and beige are just about the only flats you can buy. They look great with pants and the urban-type nylon skirts. BONUS -they are comfie!
Phones...if you need to be contacted at a moment's notice then you can rent, before you leave, a European phone which will be FedEx'd to you prior to departure. You will be able to share the number with all interested parties. For our three week vacation it was about $100 in conjunction with a car rental.
If you just need to call home a few times buy a phone card AFTER you arrive in Italy or check with your US long distance carrier for their European toll free connection numbers. I can call home on my MCI card very easily but it is not cheap.
Also internet cafes are not hard to find and easy to use if that helps your "connectivity" situation.
Clothing...What would you wear if you were going to spend a day tromping around San Francisco in October? Wear that. Collared shirts and dockers are fine for guys although a jacket or sweater could be useful. I bought a pair of Timberland brown leather, low, hiking shoes that did double duty and were sufficiently tasteful and dark as to not offend any maitre d's.
This whole clothing thing brings forth all sorts of generalizations. I don't think the working people in downtown Florence dress much better or worse than working people in Manhattan or Chicago...but remember you're not working and they're not hiking around all day in all types of weather. If they were on vacation they'd probably look like you. A lot of clothing suggestions are age and body type related. I didn't pack for my 20 year old, nor did I let him pack for me. We simply tried not to embarass each other too badly.
Unless you plan on something really wild, no one will take any notice of what you're wearing. Don't expect to look as good as the best dressed nor as bad as the worst.
Jack
Posts: 94 | Location: Westfield, IN | Registered: 06 July 2001
MCI has cheap rates calling from anywhere in Europe to anywhere in the US only if you are on their International plan - about $3/month. I am on it always because I have friends and relatives in Canada and this gives me good rates. Still, from what I read, it is just as cheap to buy an Italian phone card and call home using it. Everything changes every year with phone rates. I usually go with a couple of ways to make calls. I bring a pre-paid phone card (find out what rate it will charge) and my MCI calling card. I usually research all the rates just before I leave.
Posts: 26602 | Location: Santa Fe, NM | Registered: 15 June 2001
A friend taught me long ago that black tennis shoes/walking shoes/sneakers blend in SO much better than white or light colored ones do. She was so right. With black footwear for walking, you somehow look more nicely dressed than with glaring white, and this enables you to feel more apporpriately attired for nicer cafes or shops.
OK? What about walking sandals? I am most comfortable with these. Will they look out of place? But then--my philosphy is that no one really pays attention to what I look like (and they don't really care) as long as I am neat, clean and have colors that don't clash. I pretty much go with this concept and have found it to work just about all over Europe. Of course, I do take a little more care for nights out and the occasional fancy place. The main key is to pack light!!!!!!!!!!!! That makes a trip so much more enjoyable.
Topic Closed
