What do men wear in Europe in the summer? Are shorts acceptable?

[Sigyn]

What is the typical outfit for men in the summer in Europe? We will be in Barcelona, Rome, Florence, Naples, Sicily, Provence and Palma de Mallorca.

 

Are shorts acceptable, except when visiting churches that require that knees and shoulders be covered?

 

I don't want to stand out as a tacky tourist. If my 40-something husband wears cargo shorts or golf shorts and a polo shirt, will that look appropriate? Or should he wear loose linen pants with perhaps a linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up, or a polo?

 

As for shoes, he doesn't wear flip-flops, thank goodness, but with all the walking, he needs comfortable shoes. What about sperry dock shoes vs. brown leather sandals vs. stylish Nike athletic shoes?

[SadieN]

DH wears a pair of Keen walking shoes.

 

DD lives in Rome. The locals wear more 'formal' clothes than tourists. Slacks and a dress-type shirt, sleeves rolled up. College age will wear polos or Ts with khakis or jeans.

Edited August 10, 2016 by SadieN

[MommaBear55]

You will see the same variation of clothing in Europe you see in the states, but percentages will be different. You will see more woven shirts than knit shirts and very few logo t shirts. You will see more men wearing socks with their sandals and you will see manpris (capris for men). Business men in Europe dress much more formally than business men in the US. Although to be politically correct I should say business people, as the women also are more dressed up as well. I am always extremely impressed to see women wearing very high heels on cobblestones as I managed to break a foot bone while wearing sandals.

 

OP, it sounds like your husband will be fine with any of the clothes and shoes you mentioned. Loose cotton woven clothes are cooler than knits or blends...

Edited August 10, 2016 by MommaBear55

[Lou33]

 

Are shorts acceptable, except when visiting churches that require that knees and shoulders be covered?

 

I wore long cargo type shorts all the time while in Barcelona and Italy. They are acceptable in churches, if they are long enough to cover your knees. I didn't feel out of place at all.

[OzKiwiJJ]

It may sound strange but he'll probably feel cooler in the linen pants and shirt.

[waterbug123]

What is the typical outfit for men in the summer in Europe? We will be in Barcelona, Rome, Florence, Naples, Sicily, Provence and Palma de Mallorca.

 

Are shorts acceptable, except when visiting churches that require that knees and shoulders be covered?

 

I don't want to stand out as a tacky tourist. If my 40-something husband wears cargo shorts or golf shorts and a polo shirt, will that look appropriate?

 

It will be perfectly appropriate, but it will be obvious that he's a tourist. Not necessarily a "tacky" one per se, but a tourist nonetheless. In my observations, European men tend to wear long pants and you'll see a lot of skinny pants on men. As someone said, you also see "manpris" and if you do see shorts on men, it will likely be long skinny shorts (not cargo shorts) on college-aged guys. You'll also see more fitted shirts, especially any t-shirts you see- they will be very fitted and worn with skinny pants. If you see someone in a loose baggy t-shirt or untucked golf shirt it's likely a tourist.;)

 

And you will almost never see a European wearing big chunky, thick-soled athletic shoes like Americans wear. Lots of younger guys will wear what would be considered an athletic shoe, but they are much lower profile and dressier (if that makes sense) than the average clunky athletic shoe worn as streetwear in the states.

 

None of this is meant to dissuade him from wearing what you suggested; most likely you'll be in heavy tourist areas so you'll see plenty of people dressed that way and it's fine. Just letting you know what's more common among European men since you asked.

Edited August 11, 2016 by waterbug123

[meldreth]

We (europeans) don't generally wear sports trainer type shoes unless actually going to the gym but that doesn't mean you can't wear them! I would say that city destinations will find men wearing long trousers (pants) but in holiday resorts i.e. Palma you would find men wearing shorts and T shirt or polo shirts. If you go into restaurants in the evening I would expect the men to be wearing long trousers and a shirt with short sleeves i.e with a collar, but not a polo.

Edited August 11, 2016 by meldreth

[NorthernLite]

I would not take chances on getting into St Peter's in Rome wearing cargo shorts. The Swiss Guards have the last word and they can be very strict. We've been back several times since living in Rome and shorts are just not seen in Rome. Unlike the majority of your other destinations Rome is a good 45 minutes from the coast. So if you are staying along the beaches, sure, shorts are great. But for downtown Rome I'd say khakis and a button down, short sleeve shirt. Walking shoes and sneakers we have seen more of on locals but they are nicer and as another said lower profile. Naples especially if going to Capri you can do nicer shorts and a polo.

Edited August 11, 2016 by NorthernLite

[cb at sea]

Unless you want to visit churches, shorts are fine. You will NEVER be taken for a "local"...locals don't go to the "tourist" spots!

[cruisemom42]

Unless you want to visit churches, shorts are fine. You will NEVER be taken for a "local"...locals don't go to the "tourist" spots!

 

Since you repeat this advice on virtually every thread asking about advice for travel in Europe, I'm curious if you could enlighten us with your own personal experience of this -- since you've stated elsewhere that you do not have a passport. :confused:

 

My own experience is more similar to what NorthernLite and meldreth have stated.

[slidergirl]

Unless you want to visit churches, shorts are fine. You will NEVER be taken for a "local"...locals don't go to the "tourist" spots!

 

You do know that Rome has it's "toorist" spots throughout the main city? Legislators must go past the Pantheon on the way to their meetings, go one or two blocks from there and you will find them all lunching. Priests and nuns are always walking from church to church through the historical areas. Businessmen and women are walking through all those areas on their way to work. Rome is not like Pompeii or Ephesus - it is a major metropolitan city.

 

Save the shorts for the ports where only tourists will be around or at the beach...

[waterbug123]

Unless you want to visit churches, shorts are fine. You will NEVER be taken for a "local"...locals don't go to the "tourist" spots!

 

That's a rather broad generalization, LOL. It's like saying you won't find Americans at the Washington Monument, Statue of Liberty or Grand Canyon. :rolleyes:

[Sigyn]

It will be perfectly appropriate, but it will be obvious that he's a tourist. Not necessarily a "tacky" one per se, but a tourist nonetheless. In my observations, European men tend to wear long pants and you'll see a lot of skinny pants on men. As someone said, you also see "manpris" and if you do see shorts on men, it will likely be long skinny shorts (not cargo shorts) on college-aged guys. You'll also see more fitted shirts, especially any t-shirts you see- they will be very fitted and worn with skinny pants. If you see someone in a loose baggy t-shirt or untucked golf shirt it's likely a tourist.;)

 

And you will almost never see a European wearing big chunky, thick-soled athletic shoes like Americans wear. Lots of younger guys will wear what would be considered an athletic shoe, but they are much lower profile and dressier (if that makes sense) than the average clunky athletic shoe worn as streetwear in the states.

 

None of this is meant to dissuade him from wearing what you suggested; most likely you'll be in heavy tourist areas so you'll see plenty of people dressed that way and it's fine. Just letting you know what's more common among European men since you asked.

 

Thanks, I appreciate the info.

 

He'll probably wear his woven leather sandals a lot, or his dock shoes. I couldn't get him to wear the super low athletic shoe that is in style, but I did convince him to buy these. Somewhere in between clunky and stylish:

 

[slidergirl]

Personally, I think the dock shoes will be a good choice. If he can take out the provided insole and put in a good, supportive insole, like from Superfeet, he'll be even more comfortable walking all around.

 

My feeling on dressing like a tourist: I've always felt that if one tried to dress more, well, like you are here for more than just doing the "highlights" and being escorted around in a mini bus and not really wanting to interact with the locals, you may still be noticed as a tourist, but as possibly a savvy tourist and will be less marked for rip offs and such as would some who wear what they would wear for a trip to the Caribbean - shorts, T-shirts, those ubiquitous and well-known PacSafe bags, baseball hats, sport shoes...

[NorthernLite]

You can tell you have been accepted as a non-permanent resident, for now, when your chosen restaurant gives you the normal menu price that they raise during the summer for tourists. In much of Italy a family or person has a regular place they eat. No you don't have to eat there everytime you go out. They understand we will order the way it should be done, course by course with half portions to maintain figures and maybe less wine that we water at lunch or in the 90°F heat we will pass out when it is time to leave. Locals in Rome do go to Harry's Bar. Not as often and normally just for after dinner coffee and a drink. And locals really mix it up at the street markets as everyone staying for any length of time go to them. I learned names and stories of all the vendors I bought from near the Vatican at the market all along Via Julio Cesare. Well, except the guys who only had razor clams for sale. I think they made their money on what was under the display.

 

Even without being totally fluent in any language but English and Czech I was often mistaken as a local in Germany, Italy, Austria and, once the wall fell, the Czech Republic. It is basically just taking on local customs of not only what they eat but how and when. Wearing clothing that made sense and not having 5 cheap sweaters when one fantastic sweater is plenty. And basically try to be a visitor to a new place not a tourist.