Traveling to Italy

[Adam2001]

I'm getting ready to take a trip to Italy for the first time since graduating college and was wondering what the generally-accepted attire is these days? We won't be spending much time in large cities (no Milan, only one day in each of Venice, Florence, and Rome), but will be in Verona, and Tuscany much of the time. Any tips for blending in and not looking like a yankee tourist?

Also, any advice available for clothing/leather shopping in Florence or elsewhere? The leather markets in Florence seemed great when I was 22, but I have a feeling there might be a large amount of low-quality goods.

Thanks.

 

[Nicola]

I can't really tell when you're coming.

Jeans and jacket will cover most situations. Focus on quality more then anything else.

To be honest it's the number of stops that will make you seem the yankee tourist. You're going to spend more time packing and traveling then you will in Venice,Rome and Florence. Better to cut the number of stops down and waste less time enjoying the autostrade or the train stations.

 

[Adam2001]

There's not much traveling involved -- we're in Venice only because we're landing there; in Rome only because we're flying out. Lions share of the time is spent in Verona and Siena. But thanks.

 

[ohm]

Originally Posted by Adam2001

There's not much traveling involved -- we're in Venice only because we're landing there; in Rome only because we're flying out. Lions share of the time is spent in Verona and Siena. But thanks.

I was recently in italy and it seemed like a much larger proportion of the men there wore suits. That said, I was in Milan and Venice so Verona and Siena may be different.

 

[summej2]

In spring and summer travel in rural and smaller-town Italy I wear cotton pants or gray worsteds (mostly incotex or other slim types), buttondown shirts, and Tod's or other casual leather shoes (tan brogue oxfords) with a light sweater in the evening or a jacket for a nicer dinner. It's served me well.

 

[lasbar]

Advice from an outsider to avoid to look like a Yankee tourist:
-Do not wear any University/college sweat shirt/tee-shirt.
No Abercrombie or Ralph lauren massive logos on display...
For the ladies: No trainers with anything dressy...Please...

 

[GPeabody]

Originally Posted by lasbar

[...]
No Abercrombie or Ralph lauren massive logos on display... [...]

They should be avoided all the time!
My suggestion: focus on the fit.

 

[lasbar]

Guys ,they're irritating especially on post pubescent teenager without any muscles...
Abercrombie is just near Savile row and everytime I'm going around it I want to strangle anyone getting out of that stupid shop...
Avoid also anything for Hilfinger with big American flags on it ...Not everybody is pro-American around the world even if since Obama you will get a better response...

 

[DrPat]

Originally Posted by lasbar

Advice from an outsider to avoid to look like a Yankee tourist:
-Do not wear any University/college sweat shirt/tee-shirt.
No Abercrombie or Ralph lauren massive logos on display...
For the ladies: No trainers with anything dressy...Please...

+1

Other things to avoid: baggy khakis with pleats, polos with company logos, anything with a logo of an American sports team, backwards baseball hats, crocs, white sneakers. Also boat shoes, although this one may be more to my personal dislike of them.

 

[Wicky]

Originally Posted by DrPat

+1

backwards baseball hats.

NO BASEBALL CAPS PERIOD!

 

[blackplatano]

Leather jackets in Florence left me cold. You might feel the same, however, I saw a friend who did get something and was impressed with the leather. Made me think I should have looked harder.

Anyways,

It depends on your circle of friends, I suppose. If you go clubbing in Florence for example, you'll see a bunch on white jeans, contrast collar shirts and lame shoes. BTW, Italy is the tacky jean capital of the world. The fit most men wear is pretty slim, but not always skinny.

Venice is very dandy-ish and very fashion conscious in a MC forum kind of way. You will see a lot of pieces meant to show that said person belongs to the baller class. A lot of exotic skins, tailored clothing, designer stuff. The style here is generally more formal, in the loose sense of the word, then other places I've been to in Italy.

From what I noticed, Rome has a little of everything and is very varied as far as Italy goes.

Italy in general likes the slimmer fits, flashy details and is not a afraid to dress it up.

 

[chobochobo]

Brown or tan shoes are a must.

 

[culverwood]

No Coca Cola with your meal.

 

[Zegnamtl]

Adam, Italy is a wonderful country, you will have a great time. Leather shoes at all time unless climbing a dirt path up a mountain. No Spectators! The average Italian man would wear something along these lines where a NA male would wear Nike. (quick example only) http://www.allenedmonds.com/aeonline...val=&Widthval= You do not mention the month that you will be traveling in or where (as in a possible dress code or not for dinner) you will be staying, but late April and early May are very good seasons as the tourist wave is not yet in full swing and you will not need more than a sport jacket at night if you live the northern 1/3 of the US. Generally, Italian men dress FAR better than we do here in NA. At very least, good sport jackets and dress shirts with leather shoes, I always bring at least one suit. How long are you staying? Rome can be hot and muggy in the heat of summer, and linen shirts and pants are great to have along if you are going closer to June/July. Siena is a great town, but it is a walled city and the outskirts are overloaded with tour buses. I hope you are there early in the season, it is a much more enjoyable spot then. There are few nice to spots to see withn an hours drive of Siena if you wish to make a little day trip. Tuscany and Umbria are very nice. Tuscany gets the glory, but Umbria can be very nice too. There is a great shop in Venice called Black Watch, skip shopping in Florence and save your cash for Black Watch.

PS: Venice has been ruined by tourism, it is little more than a mall within historic buildings. Don't get your hopes up to high for the Venice leg of the trip. But if you forget you runners, don't worry, there is even a Foot Locker store. Sorry, but better warned now if you have not been there in 20 plus years, you are in for shock.

Originally Posted by Adam2001

I'm getting ready to take a trip to Italy for the first time since graduating college and was wondering what the generally-accepted attire is these days? We won't be spending much time in large cities (no Milan, only one day in each of Venice, Florence, and Rome), but will be in Verona, and Tuscany much of the time. Any tips for blending in and not looking like a yankee tourist? Also, any advice available for clothing/leather shopping in Florence or elsewhere? The leather markets in Florence seemed great when I was 22, but I have a feeling there might be a large amount of low-quality goods. Thanks.

 

[radicaldog]

And if you must wear a baseball cap, remove it when indoors. When I was a TA in an American university I could barely restrain myself from yelling at the students who sat in the back rows with their caps on. I'm Italian, btw.