<p>I got lots of good advice form CC as to stylish walking shoes for my upcoming trip to Italy. I bought a pair of Hush Puppy flats, which I am super happy with. Several people mentioned that they had been to Italy, so here is another clothing dilemma: I understand that proper dress is strictly required for visits to churches. But, what exactly is the proper skirt length? I have read that below the knee is appropriate… but I have also read that ankle length is required. Will black tights and a knee length skirt work? How about leggings under a knee length dress? Any first hand experience?? CC has such a wealth of information.</p>
<p>Shoulders and knees should be covered. You cover you shoulders with a large scarf/wrap. The folks at the tripadvisor.com Italy forum are extremely knowledgable. </p>
<p>[Italy</a> Forum, Travel Discussion for Italy - TripAdvisor](<a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g187768-i20-Italy.html]Italy”>http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g187768-i20-Italy.html)</p>
<p>For adults, women have to wear skirts that fall below the knee and shoulders must be covered. Men must wear long pants. For children, long shorts and covered shoulders are fine. My daughter had on a sleeveless shirt and in order to walk through the Vatican, she had to cover her shoulders with the long pants we brought with us for our son in case they would not accept his long shorts. She looked strange, but they let her in.</p>
<p>You don’t have to wear a skirt. I am not a skirt or dress wearer and have never had a problem going into churches in Italy wearing Capris or long pants.</p>
<p>^Me, neither. Though I did see a man turned away from the Vatican for wearing shorts. Dress modestly and you should be fine.</p>
<p>Agreed you don’t need to wear a skirt. I wore jeans/sweater on one November trip, and khakis/mid sleeves on a summer trip to the Vatican and all other churches. In warmer weather women need to cover their shoulders (vendors sell shawls right outside the Vatican that will suffice). Men can’t wear shorts. If you wear a skirt it shouldn’t be a super mini but otherwise this isn’t going to be an issue.</p>
<p>As long as you don’t dress like Snooki and her ilk in Italy, you should be fine…</p>
<p>Seriously, when I went in my 20’s, I wore skirts which were mid calf length (my preferred length, probably due to my Yeshivah upbringing) but I would think that pants would be ok. I just never wear pants in public.</p>
<p>Pants or a knee-length skirt is fine. Make sure your shoulders are covered, which should not be a problem if it is not summertime. Most churches don’t have someone stationed at the door to check apparel, but you may find a basket of shawls that can be use to cover the shoulders. It’s really not a big deal and not as strict as you’ve probably heard.</p>
<p>No shorts. Long pants or capri pants are okay. I’ve seen some very short skirts. Shoulders are definitely an issue (no tank tops). A wide scarf over your shoulders is sufficient.</p>
<p>I always think of it as “show some respect” which is what my mother (an atheist) always said as we walked into any church.</p>
<p>Wow, this is news to me. I’ve traveled all over Italy and visited many churches, and I’ve never seen/noticed any kind of dress code. Or even shawls. I have seen ladies, usually older with head coverings/shawls, but many not. The Vatican may be different, since I’ve never been there. I wear almost exclusively jeans, and I just attended a wedding in Italy on a super hot day where there were some very bare shoulders and short skirts. Unless you’re wearing something very revealing, I wouldn’t worry about it. In the more popular churches, there are often backpacking tourists in hiking-type clothes, shorts, etc. Again, the Vatican may be more formal.</p>
<p>Hey, do they still put the “underclothed” in plastic raincoats in the Vatican? </p>
<p>That’s what they used to do – I was one of the underclothed told to wear a coat as a teenager traveling in Italy in 1976…</p>
<p>^^ As long as Silvio Berlusconi can take Ruby Rubacuori around the town, you should be fine…@:)@</p>
<p>We were in Venice in august, and the dress code in St. mark’s was being pretty strictly enforced.
The girl in line in front of us had on a sleeveless top and shorts that ended mid thigh. She was taken aside when she entered the church and told she couldn’t go in without covering her shoulders and knees.
However, there was a gentleman selling coverups right in the entrance that she was able to buy. Very enterprising 
This was the only church that we saw enforcing a dress code, but enforce it they did.
Another girl on line also was wearing short shorts, but she whipped out a scarf and wrapped it like a sarong and was able to enter with no difficulties.</p>
<p>Jeans are perfectly ok, even at St. Peter’s. The last time that I was there, sleeveless tops were not permitted, though–you had to have something on your shoulders. A friend who was otherwise ok stuck Kleenexes just inside a sleeveless top at the shoulders (to make a kind of cap sleeve), and was admitted. Children are permitted to wear shorts. I believe the general rule is that your knees and shoulders need to be covered, so I would think that leggings under a knee-length dress would be fine.</p>
<p>Just got back from a tour of Venice, Florence & Rome last weekend. Our tour guide gave us the following guidelines: No shorts or bare shoulders in St. Mark’s Basilica, or St. Peter’s Basilica. Skirts were not required, any kind of pants were fine. We went on a private, after-hours tour of the Vatican and I wore a skirt that was just to the knee with tights. Climbed the 463 steps of the Duomo in Florence in a knee-length dress, bare legs, and was fine. I did not see anyone get turned away for inappropriate dress anywhere we went. If you are going in the near future, it is getting cooler now. Dress comfortably! Cardigan is the perfect accessory.</p>