Three more sleeps until we leave for Italy! I'm finishing up my packing and trying to pack light and carry on for our 15 days. My question is what black pants to pack; all I have are black "leather" spanx leggings. I layer them with long button downs and a shacket or under tunic dresses. Are these appropriate for Italy? Gracie.
We will be in Venice 3 nights
Florence 5 nights (with a possible overnight to Vernazza which will mean 4 nights Florence)
Pienza 2 nights
Rome 5 nights
What fun! You must be so psyched!
I am an “elder Goth/dark academia” person, so I wear black pleather leggings a LOT. I’d think the only problem might be heat. It looks like Florence will be in the mid-seventies while you are there: will you be sweltering?
If you don’t have a problem with a little heat, but are worried about cultural appropriateness in a heavily Catholic country… well, I don’t think you will stand out or look “wrong” for most situations. I wore leggings a bunch last time I was in Italy, with no bad reactions at all.
Hope that helps (and that I am not an outlier).
Have a blast! :-)
I was just in Italy till the first week of October, Rome and south. Although the temps. weren't too high, the humidity really affected me.
We have been in Florence and Rome many times in October and I would melt in pants that were made of anything “leather”. Hopefully you have a pair that will be more comfortable in warmer, more humid weather.
What a great trip you have planned! I visited Italy the end of August through most of September. I always wear leggings when I travel because they pack light and small. Most are knit Spanx worn with tunics or long sun shirts. Humidity is not my friend so Venice in August was a little rough. But Florence had rain and Rome in late September was very comfortable.
Your “leather” Spanx will be fine; I saw women wearing them. I’d worry less about fashion and more about comfort. Good walking shoes are a must. As posted many times, no one cares what you wear. Wear what is comfortable for you.
Buon Viaggio!!
Catholic and Orthodox churches (and some mosques) are increasingly posting pictorial signs to educate visitors on what is acceptable attire. I don't think the rules have changed, just their way of communicating them. The signs vary, but at least some of them show leggings are not permitted. I suppose there wouldn't be an issue at all if they were worn with a really long tunic or dress.
I'm very much a seize-the-opportunity visitor. I would never start the day wearing clothing that wasn't church-appropriate, because if I encounter a church that might be interesting, I want to pop inside. I carry a headscarf as well if I'm visiting an area where I might want to enter an Orthodox church or mosque.
Setting aside the whole church visitation issue, you won't find yourself shunned for wearing leggings or yoga pants in most parts of Italy, as many of the local women wear them, too. Businessmen in Italy dress very elegantly, so I stood out like a redneck at the Metropolitan Opera.
Yes, lots of leggings worn as street attire.
