Non-Scientific Observations of Shoes Rome Termini

We need a video with Dicky Attenborough narrating!

And such discussion(s) on this forum about the "right" shoe to wear while traveling. I guess Europe is different than home for feet as well!

"Here we observe global travelers in their natural habitat...note the variety of footwear being worn by the adults of the species." lol

Ha, ha, TheOrdinaryRebecca. :)

Where most of the " trainers" white? That's what I saw last year in Germany and Austria. I am a shoe person, so this is important scientific research, almost as important as chocolate or gelato research. I happen to be a Hoka gal. Thank you for your sacrifices towards this important study.

I’ll be in Rome soon, in my black/white soled Ecco 720 sneakers and black Fluevog boots…no white sneakers for me! I always enjoy a good bout of people-watching with a focus on their shoes.

This is good info!!! Maybe I'll check out the shoes during my AMS layover in early May. I'm always willing to do a little work in the interest of shopping science! 🤣

This is so funny and yes, I could hear Attenborough’s voice, lol. I’ll take a look around tomorrow when I’m out and about. Or rather taking a sit break!

not David Attenborough?

Egad. I just spent the last decade talking my husband out of wearing his all white sneakers because they made him look like a middle aged boomer. He is literally just now breaking in his first multi colored trainers. Next you’ll tell me his 90’s Zoot suit is back in vogue. Crimony!

We were in Italy (Palermo, Rome, Sorrento). Lots of white, or light colored, trainers - I was surprised, tbh. Always think of Europe and Italy specifically as more of a black shoe place lol. Saw one older man with obviously brand new neon green sneakers - don't do this guys. I'm sure his family found it easy to find him in crowds, but still.

Sadly Dicky Attenborough has been dead nearly a decade.

I just bought some lime green Eccos at Winners (TJ Maxx to the Americans, I think). They're very comfy. I don't care what anyone thinks if I wear them here or in Europe, because one thing I've stopped wearing in my old age is the weight of other people's judgements. :)

Nearly 80 year old female here - have some gorgeous multi coloured Merrill sneakers and every time I wear them I get compliments or asked where I got them! Bonus is that they go with most of my wardrobe - green, purple, yellow, blue.

Lots of white, or light colored, trainers - I was surprised, tbh.

We have just spent 60 days in Spain and there were also lots of white sneakers/trainers, but mostly on the sub-30 years travellers. Locals seemed equally divided between platform Doc Martens and (for women) high heeled boots. Men "of a certain age" almost uniformly wore tan slip on leather shoes.

We were surprised to see crocs but my sister assured me that crocs have made a comeback and are now considered quite acceptable everyday footwear.

Slightly higher than footwear but slim fit pleather trousers were a staple for females of all ages during the cooler weather.

Stands to reason that the mentioned brands are not only large and globally recognized but, readily available across a variety of retailers, from athletic specialty, sporting goods, department store or, lifestyle specialty.

Rome tends not to have the 'hiker' in mind as the fashionably conscious like to show-off their sense of dress so, not as many trail shoes. I'd wager though, you fly into Zurich, Geneva or, Frankfurt, you're going to see quite a bit more hikers, not an overwhelming amount but, a bit more noticeable.

I don't understand why you ruled out briefcase carriers. I'd have thought that views on style in Rome would be more balanced if everybody was included, with perhaps a second count for children. Although Italian children can sometimes be well dressed too.

What time of day, and day of the week was the survey done?

As I see it. There are loud shoes and muted shoes. Loud shoes are the current crop of all kinds of sneakers that are so colored as to be obscene. That includes the all white shoe. Muted is all others in more earth tones.
Why is it that you cannot find the comfortable Hokas and such in a color that does not shout out?
Are we next to start wearing loud clothes? Maybe some neon pants.