Dress etiquette

Dress etiquette in Rome

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Are you going to work in Italy and do you need some piece of advice on what to wear for an interview? Forget your worn jeans and your gym shoes, you should appear polished and original in order to leave your mark. If you are scruffy, dowdy, shabby make an effort to enhance your look. You can chose a shirt and a pair of trousers without holes…A sports jacket is not a bad idea. Avoid a too sober or classic dress: you have to distinguish between applicants.

Women should avoid close-fitting or too low-naked t-shirts, trousers or skirts. You don’t need giant-sized clothing naturally even though a suit is the most frequent choice: it can be versatile, elegant, formal or casual. It depends on accessories such as belts or necklaces. It can be either a full skirt and jacket that jacket and trousers. In your office the skirt has to be straight on the knee or longuette, never use miniskirts or skirts with excessive plackets. In winter it will be made of wool, tweed, velvet and cotton in spring. Trousers should be black, gray or dark blue. Banned excessively high heels and pointed shoes and red garments.

Attention to details is also advisable: clean hands and nails, well shaved beard for men and not too much makeup for women.
Even the body language has its role: smile, speak loud and clear, do not whisper.
Italian love to match colours, accessories and clothing.

At wedding ceremonies women have to avoid black and white dresses - white competes with the bride - hats and gloves are optional even though quite unpopular in Italy. If the wedding ceremony is in the morning a cocktail dress or a short suit are appropriate, in the evening women can wear long dresses with stole in spring or summer in order to cover shoulders. Men can chose an elegant dark suit and tie in winter, pastel colours in summertime. Bow ties are considered extravagant for this occasion.

Common sense and personal style are at the base of everyday life: at schools Italian students don’t wear a uniform – only at primary school parents and teachers can chose it – so they are quite free from this point of view even though girls and boys should avoid tight-fitting clothes, sun tops and trousers that uncover the navel or the back for decent reasons. Recently dress etiquette at school has been a topic of discussion between headmasters and teenagers.

The same rule applies for churches or hospitals. In Rome you can’t visit St. Peter’s if you wear armholes or shorts.
As regards parties, informal meetings, if you are going out for an aperitif or a night in an Italian pub, a club or at the disco you can wear anything you prefer: Italians like to personalize without exceeding.

We advise against violet colour if you are an artist: in shows and perfermances it brings bad luck. Instead if you are going to celebrate the New Year’s Day in Italy red underwear could be a lucky charm for women and men!

 

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