Traveling to Italy soon? Don’t know what to wear? Luck for you, you have come to the right place! We know you probably want to fit in with the locals while on your daily excursions, and of course each culture portrays style a little differently. You will be doing a lot of walking, sightseeing, oh and of course eating so you will want to be comfortable, while still keeping your sense of style. Let’s face it, when in Rome do as the Romans do. Of course style is personal, but these are just a few of our style tips on how to dress like an Italian!
1. Wear Comfortable Shoes | How to Dress While in Italy
Most likely, you will be on your feet from the time you wake up until the time you go to sleep. The best way to explore Italy is by foot, after all, you want to be able to enjoy all that pasta! Since you will be walking nonstop, it is in your best interest to invest in a fashionable, but comfortable pair of sneakers. Some of the popular brands that we love include Adidas, Converse, Supergas, and Allbirds. All of these brands offer a basic sneaker, that can go with all of your favorite outfits and are very reasonably priced. Yes, we know you want to wear your trendy ballet flats or sandals, but sometimes that’s not the best option when walking over 10,000 steps in Florence. On the plus side, the sneakers we mentioned are trendy, affordable and great for walking!
2. Appropriate Clothing When Sightseeing | How to Dress While in Italy
There is one thing to keep in mind when getting dressed for the day… will you be going to Vatican City? Out of respect, they ask visitors to cover their knees and shoulders, so mini skirts, shorts, and sleeveless shirts are not the best options on the day you visit there. You don’t want to miss out on seeing the beautiful Sistine Chapel and St. Peters Basilica so we suggest you come prepared! Depending on when you go, it may be tough to follow this dress code as it can get very hot in the summer. We recommend wearing a maxi dress and a light sweater to cover your shoulders… it will be worth it, we promise! The Vatican is not the only place that requests you cover up, so if you are interested in seeing other churches make sure to dress appropriately.
3. Dresses Are A Good Go-To | How to Dress While in Italy
The Italians idea of being casual is our idea of being dressed up, so make sure to keep that in mind when packing. After a day of walking around, you will notice Italians generally do not wear sweatshirts or sweatpants outside of their houses. An easy option when choosing what to wear is to pack your favorite dresses, either mini or maxi. Dresses are an easy way to look more dressed up and they are comfortable, truly the best of both worlds. They are light and airy for the hot weather and if it gets cold you can throw on a jacket with boots. You are on vacation, so have fun with it!
4. Prepare for the Weather | How to Dress While in Italy
When you are left without your raincoat or umbrella, late afternoon showers can be a sneaky surprise. Be sure to check the weather app on your phone before heading out for the day because you never know what you are going to get. We highly suggest packing a small umbrella or buying an inexpensive one while you are there, hey better safe than sorry right? Rain boots are not a must, but if you brought your favorite pair of shoes and don’t want to ruin them, pack a pair of rain boots or a second pair of shoes that you don’t mind getting a little wet.
5. Stick with Neutral Colors | How to Dress While in Italy
If you are trying not to stand out like a sore thumb, we suggest sticking to neutral colors. Italians might be flashy with their style, but not with their color choices. They tend toward a lot of navy and black combined with other neutral tones. Their clothes are always tailored to their figure providing the Italian sleek look you know so well. Packing basic colors will make mixing and matching much easier with the added bonus of fitting right in.
6. Nothing Wrong with Rewearing Clothes | How to Dress While in Italy
The best thing about wearing neutral colors is that you can rewear your clothes and no one will remember. Neutral colors allow you to accessorize with bright square neck scarves, statement jewelry and bags. Accessories can completely change the dynamic of an outfit and you can wear your favorite white shirt with a jean skirt, floral pants or plain old jeans.
7. Layer Up! | How to Dress While in Italy
The weather is very sporadic in Italy, the temperature could be in the 40’s in the morning and later in the day it can be in the 60’s. We highly suggest you wear layers! When the sun is out and shining it can feel very warm, until you walk down the cobblestone side streets where it becomes very shady and much cooler. If you don’t have a jean jacket, make sure to get one because it will become your best friend. It is easy to tie around your waist and it goes with everything. We also suggest bringing your favorite leather jacket as leather goes with everything.
Now that you will be the most stylish “Italian” traveling the country, it’s time to plan a trip! Contact us at info@chloejohnston.com to plan your very own fashion week in Italy.