What to Wear in Italy for Those Who Prefer a Masculine Look
/People who travel with us are often surprised that we don’t recommend just wearing what you would normally wear in the United States. We encourage travelers to think carefully about what they will wear during their experience in Italy because what they choose to wear has the power to CHANGE their experiences in sometimes dramatic ways for our whole group. Here are a few things to consider while planning what to pack:
You may get treated differently by the locals depending on how your dress impacts their perception of you. Italians tend to focus more on dressing fashionably than the typical American might. Consider dressing in a way that is more formal. It is rare to see Italian men out in cities wearing shorts, for instance. Additionally, everyone must have shoulders and knees covered in order to go into some sacred spaces. You may be thinking, “I’m not planning to go to church while there;” however, if you can’t get into sacred spaces, you’ll miss out on masterpieces like the Sistine Chapel, Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Theresa, and Caravaggio’s Calling of St. Matthew, not to mention architectural wonders like Michelangelo’s dome on San Pietro in Rome. Trade in your shorts for a nicer pair of pants, and you’ll get to see all these things, plus you may get treated with more respect by the locals you interact with.
Think about the typical weather during the time you’ll be there. What will help you to be comfortable? We are preparing to travel with a group in late June. We are expecting warm weather, so our travelers will want to be mindful of packing fabrics that will breathe. Jeans may seem like a good option when you can’t wear shorts, but denim will not feel light and comfortable when we are walking around the city on a hot day.
In the current geopolitical climate, being easily identifiable as an American may put you at risk. It is better to wear clothes that aren’t covered in English phrases, in Nike symbols, or in other indicators that you come from the United States. Baseball caps are a dead giveaway also, even though you might like to have the sun protection. We’ve already covered in a previous blog post how athletic shoes with thick soles are indicators that you are from the U.S.
So, what can you wear? Here are some of our best suggestions for choosing clothing that will make your trip even better:
Generally, Italians will wear tighter fitting styles that Americans might be used to. Stay away from wearing baggy things, and aim for more form-fitting shirts and pants.
Travel shirts that are quick drying and breathable. It’s great if they are a solid color or with a simple pattern that can allow you blend in more and make your culture less obvious.
Breathable three-quarter length (or convertible) pants are preferred by many on our trip. Not only will you see people of other cultures wearing them, but they offer a relatively cool option that won’t keep you out of churches or other places you’d like to visit. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing three-quarter length pants, getting some light weight long pants is a good idea.
For sun protection, particularly to protect nose, cheeks, ears, and back of the neck, plan to bring sunscreen that will be kind to your skin (e.g. Neutrogena). If you’ve never used a particular brand that you want to try out, test it BEFORE the trip, to be sure your skin doesn’t have a reaction to it. Additionally, consider a hat (that’s not a baseball cap) that has a brim to cover your face and back of your neck, particularly for days that we will be outside for extended periods of time (e.g. Pompeii, Ostia).
Some good sources for purchasing these clothes are Costco, REI, Travel Smith, Magellan, Aviator, Orvis, and Royal Robbins.
This type of shirt from Royal Robbins is great: https://www.royalrobbins.com/collections/mens-shirts/products/desert-pucker-dry-s-s
Or this Aviator travel tee:
https://aviatorusa.com/products/the-travel-t-shirt
Check out these great travel pants:
Royal Robbins Men’s Active Traveler Stretch Pant: https://www.royalrobbins.com/collections/mens/products/active-traveler-stretch-pant
Men’s Cotton Casual Capri Cargo Shorts:
Kuhl Air Pants:
https://www.rei.com/product/145244/kuhl-konfidant-air-pants-mens
Marmot Convertible Pants:
https://www.costco.com/Marmot-Men%27s-Convertible-Pant.product.100458338.html
Our travelers often ask if they can bring shorts. They are appropriate for days we are only visiting archaeological sites or when we might be doing some hiking. However, because of limited storage space in our lodging and because they aren’t useful for most days, we ask our students to only bring one pair of shorts along on the trip. We suggest trying to avoid athletic and cargo type shorts. Aim for nice looking, stylish dress shorts that would go well with a collared or even button-down shirt. It is important to focus on packing items that can be worn repeatedly in a variety of settings.
Although these recommendations may seem unnecessary, we guarantee that it will positively impact the quality of your trip and the interactions you have on it.