What to wear in Italy

[Isabel]

This isn't about a DVC tour, but I haven't been able to find answers anywhere else. DisBoards have always been my go-to place for Disney advice, so I'm hoping you all can help me.

DH and I (we're in our mid-50s) are going to Italy next March and I was thinking of getting some Tencel knit travel outfits (like "Indispensible Knits" from LLBean or "Wearever Collection" from JJill). Will I really stand out as a tourist in these travel clothes? Are these as easy to care for as they advertise? I won't have alot of opportunities to do laundry in Italy so I need something that will wash and dry quickly.

 

[Isabel]

Sorry - I posted this in the wrong category - but any help would still be appreciated!

 

[dgaston]

I was in Rome on a faculty led art trip for one week in March, and found it to be closer to a New England April, than our March. I wore knit clothes, and they worked well, but I'm sure my crocs marked me as a tourist. I didn't care -- they are so comfortable. Enjoy your travels!

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

We were just in a few different Italian ports in June on the Disney med cruise, I think those travel clothes will be great. We saw alot of black pants, jeans and shorts in Rome, Naples, etc.. Hope that helps.

 

[wbl2745]

My wife and I, both in our mid-50s were in Italy in May on a Rick Steves' Tour. We found that the temperatures varied quite a bit from snow in the Dolomites to the 80s while in Rome. In between it varied from 60 to 70. Depending on where you are going I would be sure to bring layers so if the temperature drops you have something to wear that keeps you warm. (In the snow I was wearing several shirts, a sweater, and a wind breaker, but I was warm!)

Regarding standing out as a tourist, that is probably unavoidable. We usually wear things that have a subdued color rather than bright colors. (No Hawaiian shirts!) One thing that was pointed out to us is that many of the churches require modest clothing, meaning shoulders covered and no short pants for both men and women. At many large churches they have guards enforcing this. Make sure that you have appropriate clothes with you.

Regarding laundry, we brought clothes that could be washed out in our room. There was only one hotel that would launder clothes for us. Doing our own laundry in the room required having a clothes line since none of the hotels had that in the bathroom. There's one at the Rick Steves' web site that worked really well. You didn't need to bring clothes pins. Depending on the temperature and humidity some times it took two days for the clothes to dry. We also did a dry run at home, hand washing and drying all the clothes we intended to take.

Have fun! Eat LOTS of gelato!