We all know that traveling can be extremely pleasant but also very energy-consuming — when you are on a trip, the last thing you want to think about is what to wear on that particular day. It is perfectly reasonable to pay less attention to the dress code while on vacation, but let us just say that travel to Italy allows for a few exceptions.
Italians are famous all over the world for having a certain flair for fashion and elegance, and how could it be otherwise for people from the country of Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Gucci? This is the reason why, when traveling in Italy, you should definitely pay a little more attention to what you put on in the morning (at least if you don’t want to be recognized as a tourist from the very moment you step out of your hotel).
Here are a few tips on how to dress in Italy during summer, so you won’t be looked at with that “Oh-my-God-another-tourist” eye…
Avoid Beach Clothes
Italy is the Land of Sun, and in summertime it is almost always very hot and sunny, but this does not mean that you are at the beach and can dress as you would do in Cancun. Especially when you are visiting big cities like Florence or Rome, or locations not right on the shore, shorts, crop tops, short skirts and flip flops are definitely not the proper outfit for the day.
“Here comes the tourist”
When packing for a trip to Italy, it can be hard to leave behind the favorites from your baseball cap collection, but bringing along Hawaiian shirts or very eye-catching clothes might not be the greatest thing to do. Try to leave your beloved Knicks t-shirt, safari hats, multi-pocket jackets and your beautiful yellow and green backpack in the closet back home. Attempt, instead, to observe the Italian style and try to dress in an elegant and understated way. And if you are planning on wearing sandals, don’t even think about pairing them with knee-high white (or, even worse, striped) socks! Please…just don’t do it.
Decent Clothing
Of course summer in Italy can be hot and the temptation to go around the cities in shorts and skimpy clothes is high but, as you probably know, Italy is full of religious sites and churches that are a big part of a trip’s must-sees. You need to be aware that you won’t be allowed in any of these places without decent clothing — “decent” means you should have your shoulders and knees covered and not wear anything excessively showy. The Vatican is definitely worth a jacket, trust us!
Go Classy
Italy is the place where the world’s most famous designers were born and get their inspiration so there is no doubt that when it comes to clothing, Italians do it better. If you really want to camouflage yourself and dress as the Italians do, but without spending all your money in Gucci and Prada boutiques, you are in the right place. In general, Italians have a natural tendency towards elegance so you will find classy and fashionable apparel in almost every shop in Italy.
We hope our suggestions on clothing have inspired you, but in case you still need some help, you can’t go wrong with our shopping tour of Milan!