Concerns about appropriate attire on a RS Best of Italy 17-day tour

You'll be fine.

I try to be comfortable in my regular clothes rather than going out and buying special travel clothes that never seem to work out. I always say, just don't bring clothes you would wear on a camping trip. Unless you are hiking in the Alps you should just have comfortable clothes that work in a city. In the last few years I see a lot of people including locals who do wear nice fashionable athletic shoes.

Agreed with the advice above. Rick's packing list encourages you to bring a variety of options that all work together, preferably in colors and patterns that don't show dirt and in fabrics that don't make you worry about wrinkles and ironing.

He is not mandating style and our tour groups tend to be pretty casual. As stated on some other recent threads, many of us will change into a cleaner, drier shirt before dinner and ladies will throw on a scarf or necklace. Jackets and ties never expected.

I think long-sleeve shirts are recommended because they are more versatile, and sometimes evenings are chilly. They don't have to be dressy.

My husband seems to travel the world in dri-fit polos and plain Tommy Bahamas-style ( basically a Hawaiian shirt without the flowers) shirts. I am not sure what time of year you're going, so maybe something long-sleeve if it's cool.

I think the dri-fit polos make a lot of sense as they are light, quick drying and with the perspiration one will be ineluctably producing, able to shed it on the outside.

I hope T-shirts are too much of a no-no, as I'm more comfortable in a no-collar top, but on the other hand, I'm not sure if they are frowned on in Italy, especially at dinner time. But as someone mentioned, looking as if one just come from a backpacking expedition is probably not a good idea.

But I'll be at least one long sleeve and one short sleeve short (working on that right now, to find a quickly drying ones.

The dates are April 10-26. I think 50-60 degree weather should be the norm, based on the charts I've looked at.

Put a tie in your bag and wear a sport coat and khakis on the airplane. They'll still know you're an American, but a jacket and tie work wonders!

Generally speaking 99% of Italians won't notice or care what you're wearing. You probably wouldn't go into a high end restaurant or a formal gathering wearing your Zeppelin 77 tour tshirt and camo shorts here in the states so follow the same there. Neat and simple like you said along with what's comfortable for you is fine.

"I know the Italians pay much more attention to attire and style than Americans do"

I'd say that they pay more attention, but not "much more" attention. The idea that they all dress, all the time, as though they just stepped off a fashion show runway, is an American fantasy. As long as you're not wearing overtly soiled, torn, or ill-fitting clothes, you'll be fine.

I agree, go for your regular knit shirts and Tee shirts. You will probably be overdressed for the rest of the RS group in a tie and jacket! I don't recall on any of my RS tours, in Italy or not, that any of the guys wore a tie. I've had 2 male tour guides, one for Ireland and one for Best of Europe and neither wore a tie ever. The Irish guide usually wore a tweed blazer but that was his jacket. On the BOE the guide wore a casual jacket when he needed some warmth.

When you say "pullovers" do you mean like a pullover sweater? If so, your thermoball and rain jacket will be more than enough without the need for sweaters.

i'd think regular polo shirts would be a good idea, especially if you plan on taking a limited amount and plan on doing some washing. I see a lot of places have washing machines but they may not have dryers, so you should look to hang wash that dries overnight.