Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Dress in Italian style
• Method 2 of 3: Don't look like a tourist
• Method 3 of 3: Choose accessories like an Italian
• Tips

Are you traveling to Italy? Italians can be very fashion-conscious, so there are a few things you should know about dressing in Italy. There are no formal dress codes, but fashion is very important in Italian culture, and Italians often pay close attention to the clothes of others.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Dress in Italian style

1. Make sure everything you wear fits properly and has clean lines. Italians love a stylish look that emphasizes a person's strengths.
   • Capri pants are a good choice for women; Italians often only wear shorts on vacation. Men rarely wear shorts outside of the holidays.
   • If you're wearing a suit, include a tie. You better skip the tracksuit or sweatpants. It just looks too informal in Italy. Pack business casual clothes for your vacation (something you could wear to work).
   • Avoid baggy clothing. Italians have a preference for well-fitting clothing. So skip the wide shirt or baggy jeans. Italians do wear jeans, but then combine them with a neat top.
2. Wear nice shoes. Italians pay a lot of attention to shoes, and they like a stylish shoe without too much frills. Leave the flip flops, flashy sandals and Crocs at home.
   • Choose shoes with a high quality fabric or leather. Make sure your shoes are in good condition. Let them shine! However, also pay attention to comfort, if you are going to walk long distances to see sights.
   • Italians will recognize and appreciate brand labels in shoes and clothing. However, this doesn't mean you have to wear designer clothes to look good in Italy. As long as your clothes are stylish and neat, you're fine. Tennis shoes and cheap flip flops are not considered fancy shoes and will mark you as a tourist. As a woman you can choose simple ballet shoes or a nice stylish boot or sports shoe (such as Puma). However, you are always in the right place with beautiful leather shoes.
   • Wear high heels at night when dining out. Wedges are easier to walk in than stilettos. But if you're not in a city, you might be better off forgoing the high heels as you might be walking cobbled streets.
3. Change your clothes for the evening. Italians dress according to the time of day. You may want to consider changing as the day turns to evening. For example, choose long pants with a lighter fabric to take with you, for the warmer months.
   • It is uncommon for Italian men to wear shorts at night. It is considered more elegant not to wear shirts with collar buttons or breast pockets. If you are going out for dinner or in a nice hotel, you should dress more sophisticatedly. Don't walk around there in a tank top, shorts and flip flops.
   • If you wear jeans, dress them with a nice jacket. Make sure the pants fit well and are stylish, not sloppy and worn. A dress and skirt are a must to bring.
   • As a man, do not wear a short-sleeved shirt to formal occasions, and certainly not pair it with a tie at any time of the day or evening.
4. Wear classic colors. You will occasionally see Italians in bright, bold colors, but only occasionally; they tend more towards the elegance of classic colors than garish prints.
   • Stick to colors like dark blue, black, cream, white and brown. In the summer you can wear pastels such as lavender or salmon.
   • You can wear white, cream or light brown colors all year round in Italy. Brighter and lighter colors are very common in the spring. Italians like to wear light colors in the sun because they attract less heat in the often hot climate.
   • It's best to avoid the harshest or unnatural colors, such as mustard yellow, neon green, or lipstick pink.
5. Dress well for the Vatican. Many people who visit Italy want to see the Vatican. There are specific rules for dressing when visiting the Vatican. The same rules generally apply to any visit to a church or cathedral.
   • Vatican City is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. Avoid wearing tank tops or other clothing that leaves the shoulders bare when entering the Vatican or a church.
   • Don't try to wear anything too revealing as that could be interpreted as a sign of disrespect. Wearing mini skirts or shorts in the Vatican is disapproved. The south of Italy is more conservative and a scarf or wrap may be needed there.
   • If it's hot outside and you're wearing something sleeveless, you can buy a scarf to drape over your shoulders. Problem solved. Men should not wear tank tops or enter a church with bare arms.

Method 2 of 3: Don't look like a tourist

1. Do not wear socks with sandals. Italians rarely wear socks with sandals or white socks under pants. They usually wear socks with closed shoes. The color of the sock and shoe are almost always matched.
   • When Italians do wear socks, they are often very short socks (not knee or calf length socks). These socks are sometimes referred to as "fantasmi", which means invisible.
2. Avoid the most common tourist looks. This is especially important if you are in a big city where safety is important. Obviously appearing as a tourist can make you a target.
   • The best way to look like a tourist quickly? Wear a backpack or a money belt. This clearly indicates that you are walking around with money in your pocket.
   • You can also label a backpack as a tourist. Keep important documents and credit cards safely in an inner or front pocket to make pickpockets more difficult.
   • T-shirts, tennis shoes, and any shirt or sweatshirt with a slogan on it will probably make you look like a tourist. Untidy and worn out; appropriate and flawless in. Beautiful fabrics help you a lot in this regard.
3. Dress differently based on the region. Italian fashion sensibility varies depending on the part of the country. It is a mistake to think that there is only one way to dress in Italy.
   • The main geographic differences can be found between the south and the north of Italy. Don't forget that Milan is to the north, and a sophisticated city that is an important hub of the global fashion industry. The style is refined and relies on the designers' brands.
   • In the south, as in Rome, people are more dependent on local traditions and trends that are not so dependent on the fashion industry.Dress more formally if you are visiting a big city rather than a rural town.
   • Another difference is that in the north of Italy it can be quite cold in the winter, although it is warm in the summer months, while the south is quite warm all year round.
   • In summer, the temperature in Rome can reach 35 degrees Celsius. It can be difficult to predict spring weather, with chilly and warm temperatures of 15 to 28 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius at night. Keep an eye on the weather forecast.

Method 3 of 3: Choose accessories like an Italian

1. Wear sunglasses. One thing you will immediately notice when traveling in Italy is that the sun is very penetrating and seems very close.
   • It is important that you wear sunglasses. This is all the more true in the south of Italy and in the summer months, where the sunlight is very bright during the day.
   • During the spring and summer, you should also pack sunscreen to protect your skin, especially if you burn easily.
   • A straw brimmed hat is a great way to protect your skin and eyes and look chic for Italians, whether you're dressed for a formal or casual occasion.
2. Bring a jacket or sweater. You may need these items when you dress for the evening, when it can get colder, and also when eating at a nice restaurant. Men should have a nice fitted jacket with them.
   • A nice look in Italy is, for example, a white shirt, a black or navy blue blazer, and tight black trousers with nice shoes, and a silk scarf. And don't forget the sunglasses.
   • A light trench coat is often a perfect choice for unexpected weather changes. In the winter, in the north, you will need a warmer jacket, such as a quilted winter coat, and you will likely need warm gloves, a scarf, and a hat. You can mark a down jacket or vest as a tourist.
   • A pair of leather boots can also look elegant and keep your feet warm during the colder months. They are also comfortable to walk in.
3. Wear a scarf and carry a nice handbag. These two items do a great job in getting rid of the touristy feeling and enhancing your elegance and stylish appeal.
   • Dress up your style with accessories. An item that is always good with in Italy is a silk scarf. Italians often wear jewelry. and Italian women usually wear natural looking makeup, but don't wear anything too flashy, if safety is a concern.
   • Bring a nice handbag and an umbrella! Remember that Italians value clothes with elegant fabrics and clean lines, so avoid cluttered motifs.
   • Men can carry a messenger bag. This is a bag that can be considered masculine or also called a briefcase. Women (and men) take care of their nails and eyebrows.

Tips

• Choose a more formal dress if you are unsure of what to wear. Choose quality materials, brands and the complete look of an outfit.
• Understand that not all Italians dress the same or expect you to dress a certain way.
• Note that shorts are not suitable evening wear for both men and women, and Italian men in Italy usually do not wear shorts or socks with shorts.