How bold is too bold — in color (for shirts/tanks/tops)?

ANY OTHER COMMENTS I WILL ACCEPT — PLEASE help!

Bella Vita My fiancee and I are going to Rome next year end of June 2011. We’re really concern about what to pack and what to wear while in Rome as we don’t want to look tourists. We’re taking the open bus tour (hop off and hop on) and we might do a bit of walking as well.

We both normally dress up here in our home country. We often dress up when we go out shopping for clothes or going out for a coffee, lunch or dinner except if we’re going to the beach or out to the country side. We normally wear shorts and sleeveless top or white short dress for beaches and my fiancee wears shorts and shirt to the beach. Sometimes I wear a nice summer dress or winter dress with my high heels appropriately when we go out for lunch or dinner. However most of the time I usually wear tight skinny jeans to pair up with my thick high heels and a nice tight top when we go out to shopping malls or going out for coffee and dinner.

My question is: Is it okay to wear tight skinny jeans with thick heels and a nice tight top with my big over shoulder bag? I was hoping to put my dslr camera on my normal medium over shoulder bag as I don’t want to carry a camera bag.

I also would like to wear a nice summer dress just above my knees.. (not very short) while walking on the streets with my white tennis shoes or flat sandals, is this ok?? I don’t want people to know that I’m a tourist.

I understand that we have to cover our shoulders, legs and arms going inside churches as I am a catholic woman that’s not a problem with me.

I hope you can help me with my queries. Feel free for everyone to write some tips for me regarding my queries.

Thanks a lot!

Ciao!! I look forward to hear from everyone

Magdalina

Sounds like you have the style to fit in well in the bel paese. Just be careful about the shoes you choose. If it were me, I’d rather look more like a tourist and be in good (comfortable) walking shoes than look stylish and kill my feet early in my vacation! Enjoy your trip and thanks for stopping by!

sally

Hi Sally. Check out Ciao Amalfi for some info on the Amalfi Coast.

Also, another good tip. Leave those bold prints at home.. Nothing says American Tourist louder than that.

I was JUST explaining that to someone this week! Great tips.

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Thank you, JP. I hope you have a fabulous time in Calabria. You are visiting at a great time of the year.

.-= JP´s last blog ..A ticket to Italy =-.

Hi there. It really depends on where you’ll be going in Italy at the end of September. Last year September was cool in Calabria, then it warmed back up-way up-in October.

Messenger bags are great (I assume that is what you are talking about and can be fashionable). I would avoid back packs as they are an easy target for pick pockets.

Regarding t-shirts, simple, plain cotton shirts are fine I think other comments are talking about wearing big oversized ones with slogans on them.

Capris are perfect as are longer shorts (bermuda).

Basically Italian/european cities are not as casual as we are in the States. Leave the jogging wear at home unless you are actually jogging. You can wear sneakers and lots of italian do but not the big clunky cross trainers. Nike, Adidas, Puma, timberland etc. make comfy shoes that are perfect for walking long distances. Break them in before you get here.

For visiting churches remember shoulder and knees must be covered. Some places like St. Peter’s Basilica are very strict about this. If you are wearing something sleeveless/strappy you can just cover your shoulders with a shawl.

Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for answering this! Great tips, as usual.
 

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BTW- I loved Texas!
 
Ha. That is funny. Austin is great, but I could see where they are more casual than the rest of us Texans!
 
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I’m almost 6 foot and blonde so no point trying to blend in. I live here so I dress however I want – if I look like a tourist so be it. The one thing I’ve stopped wearing is short shorts in the summer (too much harassment from gross septagenarians). Long shorts seem to be ok though. I even had a pair of maternity long shorts when I was 9 months pregnant which were from Oviesse.

I remember, though, that I went through culture shock when I first moved to a college town in the US from Australia. It was Saturday night and I was going out to I put on makeup and a dress. Everyone else at the party was wearing jeans, birkenstocks and no makeup.
 
Bumbag? Love it. Let’s call it what it is, right? Where did you move to in the states? I noticed a big change like that when I moved from Texas (where we dress up) to Orlando, Florida (where they didn’t.)
 
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I also love that the American language and the English language have so many little differences. For instance do you know what a ‘fanny’ is in English? LOL! I’d definitely be leaving my ‘fanny pack’ at home! amanda
 
That is so funny, Amanda. I am sure the name comes from that meaning, but isn’t it crazy how we say things and never think of why we say them?!?
 
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There is nothing wrong with being a tourist. We are tourists and most people can tell because we are walking around with maps or guide books. However, I agree with Jean, it’s the sloppy thing. I don’t get it. Why on the same long flight do the French and Italian tourists look put together at LAX but my fellow Americans are wearing oversized T-shirts, sweats, etc.

Comfort doesn’t have to mean sloppy.
 
You are right, comfort doesn’t have to mean sloppy. I even think fitted warm-ups would look nicer than big, baggy tees. Ironically, my Italian husband LOVES how casual we are in America, so we should be proud of that … I guess.
 
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Ha. That is funny. I often think the same thing. But do you really think Americans are louder than Italians? Mamma mia they are loud!
 
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