How to Dress Like a Local in Italy

The catwalks of Milan are perhaps the most fashion-forward in the world. Italians, it’s fair to say, know how to dress. For those fashion-conscious traveling through Italy this can create quite the dilemma – how do you dress like an Italian?

How you dress depends on where you’re at. Southern Italy tends to be more traditionally Italian, and you must adhere to strict dress codes when visiting the Vatican. But if you’re going to Milan, locals ooze fashion and aren’t afraid to stand out with their outfits. And somewhere like Venice, it’s more important to dress for the weather.

At the end of the day, what you wear on your trip comes down to knowing how to balance fashion and what works best with your personal style. To help you out, here are a few dos and don’ts for women and men so you know how to dress like a local in Italy.

Dos and Don'ts for Women

Italian women love natural style. In general, stick to neutral colors, beautiful fabrics that can withstand some wear and tear (you’ll be walking a lot), and understated accessories. If in doubt, follow these dos and don’ts for your trip.

Dos

1. Keep Makeup Light

Women in Italy prefer to wear their makeup naturally rather than use bright colors or bold eyeliners. Bring concealer and foundation that matches your skin tone so it blends in well. Use muted tones for your eyeshadow that match your hair.

For natural eyeliner, use a pencil on the top eyelid. You can use a liquid eyeliner pen, but make sure it doesn’t look too dark. Finish up with some mascara and blush that highlights your cheek’s natural colors. Light lip gloss or lipstick is acceptable, but nothing unnatural or too flashy.

2. Ensure Your Outfit Matches

When on your trip, it’s best to bring a capsule wardrobe with you. That means every piece looks good together, so you can mix and match with ease. Italians tend to consider how all the clothes in their wardrobe work together and they don’t typically wear statement pieces that can't be paired with multiple looks.

3. Wear Discreet Designer Labels

Italians dislike anything extremely flashy but respect a quality piece. So, if you have something designer, bring it as long as the label isn’t too large. A well-made leather purse with a small designer label is acceptable but leave behind a white t-shirt with a huge logo on the front.

4. Pack for the Weather

The rain can be a bit unpredictable in Italy, so be sure to pack a sturdy raincoat that complements your wardrobe. If you bring an umbrella, make sure the spokes curve down around your body so that you don’t poke people in a large crowd.

5. Be Prepared for Lots of Walking

The cities in Italy are quite walkable, so Italians wear footwear for that purpose. Superga sneakers are popular in Italy and work great for long days on your feet. If you’d rather wear a shoe that better protects against the elements, you can’t go wrong with a simple pair of leather boots.

6. Change Your Outfit for the Evening

Italians change their outfits depending on the time of day. Daytime is more casual, so people wear comfortable skirts, nice jeans, and tops, with sneakers or other comfortable walking shoes.

People get dressier in the evenings and wear long dresses, skirts, or fitted trousers paired with a blazer.

7. Wear Polarized Sunglasses

You’ll be out in the sun often, so you must protect your eyes from UV rays and glare that can lead to headaches or discomfort while on your trip. An understated, timeless yet on-trend pair of round polarized sunglasses like WMP Eyewear’s Nevada offers polarization and 100% UV protection. As an added bonus, they look good on practically all face shapes.

Choose the Nevada black or gold frames with black lenses for your Italy trip — remember, bright colors are a no-no.

Don'ts

1. Overdo the Perfume

Italian women usually wear little to no perfume. Think the idea of less is more: if you have a scent you love, put some on at the hotel and ask your travel companion if it’s too much. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and not bringing your perfume is one less thing to put in your bag on your trip.

2. Bare Your Shoulders in Church

Many Italians deeply respect religion, so wear clothes that are appropriate if you visit the Vatican or another Italian place of worship. Your shorts or dress should not end above the knee, do not wear a hat, and make sure your shirt fully covers your shoulders and is not low-cut.

Wear flat, closed-toed shoes. Cover up your tattoos and leave your jewelry at the hotel or stowed in your bag.

3. Wear Bright or Flashy Items

Don’t wear neon or unnatural colors, or anything with flashy branding. This will make you look like a tourist above all else. Keep to a neutral color palette and skip the huge logos.

4. Bring Large Backpacks or Fanny Packs

As with any tourist destination, pickpocketing can be an issue in Italy. To avoid pickpocketers and fashion faux pas, don’t wear a large backpack or fanny pack. Instead, choose a smaller bag that you can wear zipped up close to the front of your body.

5. Wear High Heels

Italian women wear high heels but that’s because they’re used to walking on cobblestones. If you aren’t (hint: that’s most Americans), walking in stilettos on cobblestones is an easy way to twist your ankle and put you in pain for the rest of your trip. If you want some height, wear understated wedges, chunky heels, or platform dress shoes instead.

Dos and Don'ts for Men

Italian men typically dress in neutral colors with relaxed, unstructured tailoring. When Italian men don a jacket, it tends to be free of padding or lining, so it lays looser on their frames. When in doubt about your vacation outfits, follow these dos and don’ts for men.

Dos

1. Wear Well-Fitted Jeans

It’s okay to wear jeans on your trip, as long as they’re in good condition and fit you well. Pair them during the day with a comfortable top, blazer, and close-toed shoes. Never wear jeans with a tie.

2. Choose a Simpler Shirt

Avoid shirts with a lot of busy patterns or embellishments. The simpler the shirt, the better in Italy. Men in Italy tend to wear cotton or linen, and it should look fitted but not so tight that it’s a muscle tee.

3. Wear Tailored Clothes

Italian men favor a tailored aesthetic. So while 90s cargo pants may be in style in the states right now, that’s a no-go in Italy. Instead, get your trousers tailored so they fit you perfectly before your trip, and opt for a fitted jacket instead of an oversized sweatshirt.

4. Don’t Forget Socks

Italian men (and women, usually) always wear socks with closed-toe shoes. Your feet will thank you as well after a long day looking at the beautiful sights of Italy. If you wear moccasins or boat shoes, it’s okay to wear low-cut socks.

5. Wear a Long Sleeve Shirt at Night

In the evenings, forgo the short sleeves and wear a long-sleeved shirt instead. Italians tend to dress more formally in the evenings. If you choose to wear jeans at night, then you should wear a long sleeve and fitted blazer or coat with them.

6. Choose Understated Sunglasses That Match Your Skin Tone

Wear a pair of fashionable sunglasses that goes well with your skin tone. For men, you can’t go wrong with a classic pair like Emerson from WMP Eyewear. These polarized modern aviators come in six different colors, so there’s an option for everyone.

Don’ts

1. Wear Activewear Unless You’re Working Out

You can dress comfortably on your trip, but leave the workout clothes for the gym. Don’t wear running shorts or tights anywhere except at the gym or on an actual run. If you plan to run to a location, bring a change of clothes with you.

2. Don Shorts or Flip-Flops in the Evening

Unless you’re on the beach, a trouser and closed shoe combination is a must for men. Nothing looks tackier than sporting flip-flops for a nice dinner.

3. Bring Only White Socks

Only wear white socks if you’re working out or playing a sport. If not, your socks should be as discreet as possible. Make sure your socks match the colors of your outfit and avoid bold prints or colors.

4. Wear Baseball Hats Inside

While you can wear a baseball hat outside, they aren’t as common in Italy and will make you stand out as a tourist. To look more stylish, choose to bring something like a fedora on your trip.

But if you can’t bear to be on a trip without a baseball hat, just never wear it indoors while in Italy.

Remember, Italy is a particularly fashion-forward country, which means almost anything is possible, and this list is intended to be a basic guide. But for those who want to stay within the bounds of good taste and don’t want to challenge the status quo, this list will help to ensure that you look at home on the streets of Rome and Milan.

Additionally, this list will change depending on what your environment requires. A lazy Sunday at a beach resort will allow you to break many of these rules, while a formal dinner will require many of these dos and don’ts be closely adhered to. But as long as you use common fashion sense, there’s nothing to fear when choosing an outfit for your next Italian holiday.