We are leaving for our tour of Italy mid to end of May. Are there any suggestions for daytime and evening wear (restaurants)? Are sneakers with laces and sandals tabu in Italy? That's what I'm hearing. Thank you all.
Posted by
Austin TX after living in Boulder CO for 25 years
1175 posts
Don't listen to what you are hearing ! Yes, sneakers and sandals are fine ! Your feet must be comfortable to walk 10 miles a day over cobblestone streets !
I have a travel capsule - look at travelfashiongirls and the viviennefiles. It's revised a bit from these sites because I am not thirtysomething, but the ideas are the same regarding mix and match. Use the search bar above to look at posts about clothing in Europe. My spring travel wardrobe consists of one black pant, 2 black capris, one black skort, one sundress, and a handful of tops. Italians love scarves - if it's too hot during the day, a nice scarf at night makes you feel a bit dressier.
The key is to pack light - every top should go with every bottom so you can rotate. And be comfortable.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16746 posts
A thumb up to Carla, and I'll just echo her good advice. My husband and I are VERY casual people and have only taken VERY casual clothes to Italy. Clean and tidy, for sure, but shoes we can walk in all day, jeans, polo shirts and unfussy tops. And we wear them everywhere. I never wear dresses or skirts on vacation (bit of a tomboy, me) but some women are more comfortable in those when it's hot, and capris would work as well.
It can make a difference if you want to eat in very upscale restaurants which may require more posh attire but as we prefer less fussy places, we haven't had to bother packing any. Most of the other diners around us have been dressed similarly or not much fancier.
Just don't try and dress so differently than you ordinarily would that you'd feel uncomfortable? You don't want your clothing to distract you from all of the interesting things you're going to see and do! Take easy-to-wear and easy-to-care-for fabrics that you feel good in and don't take ironing, constant cleaning (white capris, skirts or pants!) or other maintenance. And break in your shoes! A sturdy, comfortable shoe that can take miles of walking on hard surfaces, cobblestones, lots of stairs, etc. trumps high fashion any day.
Posted by
Austin TX after living in Boulder CO for 25 years
1175 posts
Kathy - I have heeded YOUR advice over the years !
Posted by
Rural Georgia
2216 posts
Go with clothes that are age appropriate, easy to mix and match and look nice.
My wife and I are in our '60's and chose to wear what could be best described as "business casual". We didn't take sneakers or jeans, although they would have been acceptable. I took only on pair of shoes, black Merrills, that are as comfortable as tennis shoes but look a little dressier. I didn't take jeans because they are bulky and heavy.
We took a Rhine River cruise last summer and most of our shipmates were nicely dressed. I few, however looked like trailer trash. You're going to visit some of the world's greatest cultural icons, not making a beer run to WalMart. I wish they had realized that.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16746 posts
Kathy - I have heeded YOUR advice over the years!
Carla, you're makin' me blush, doggone it. 😳
Posted by
Austin TX after living in Boulder CO for 25 years
1175 posts
Go ahead and blush ! You are a great advice giver and readers should take note !
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16746 posts
Aw, well, let's not leave Doug out, aye? A thumb for Doug too! 👍
Posted by
Rural Georgia
2216 posts
Aw, well, let's not leave Doug out, aye? A thumb for Doug too! 👍
Thanks!
Posted by
Austin TX after living in Boulder CO for 25 years
1175 posts
Two thumbs for Doug AND Kathy !