What to Wear in Rome?

Known as the capital and the biggest city of Italy, Rome is also the center of the Renaissance and the birthplace of the continental legal system. Here, numerous historical museums and landmark buildings fascinate historians and also attract tourists from all over the world. Therefore, today, tourism has become one of the most important industries in Rome.

Even if you have never been here before, you are sure to have learned about this ancient city with a history of thousands of years from textbooks. The Trojan War, the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine... All these well-known historical events and relics have cast a mysterious and charming luster on this city. It would be a great pity if you don't come to a world-class civilized city like Rome once in your life. If you’re planning a trip to Rome soon, then this blog is for you! To learn more tips on what to wear in Rome, keep reading!

Climate Features in Rome

The first factor that determines what clothes you need to pack for your trip is the weather conditions at your destination. If you are not sure when you will have time to travel to Rome, that is OK, we will introduce you to all the climate characteristics of Rome throughout the year.

Located in the central-western part of the Apennine Peninsula, close to the Mediterranean Sea, Rome has a typical Mediterranean climate, with mild rainy winters and hot dry summers. But overall, the annual temperature difference in Rome is relatively small, with the annual average temperature around 15 degrees Celsius. In most years, even in the hottest time in summer, the average temperature is around 25 degrees. But in some extreme years, such as in 2023, the summer temperature in Rome once exceeded 40 degrees.

In terms of precipitation, Rome's average annual precipitation is about 800-900 mm. Although snowfall is rare, it still occurs every few years. Moreover, precipitation is concentrated in winter. The reason is that in winter, under the influence of the westerly belt from the Atlantic Ocean, warm and humid air currents bring rainfall.

Therefore, affected by the climate, winter is the off-season for tourism in Rome, while summer, spring and autumn are relatively more crowded with tourists. However, different tourism projects are suitable for different seasons. For example, in summer, there is plenty of sunshine, but sometimes the heat is oppressive, so it is very suitable to go to the seaside beach for a vacation and enjoy the cool sea breeze and sunbathing. Spring and autumn are neither as hot as summer nor as rainy as winter, so they are more suitable for visiting outdoor cultural relics and historical sites. In winter, although it is often cloudy and rainy, there will be no problems to visit some indoor museums and other attractions.

In short, if you come to Rome in the summer, you need to pay attention to heatstroke prevention and cooling. If you come to Rome in the winter, you need to bring rain gear.

Is There Any Dressing Code in Rome?

All religious occasions in Rome are very particular about “modesty”. Temples or churches such as the Pantheon and the Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano are very impressive and well-known attractions that you are unlikely to miss. In order to visit these attractions, you may need to follow stricter dressing codes. These religious sites require visitors, both men and women, to cover their shoulders, knees and chest, which means that you need to wear long pants, and off the shoulder tops or low-cut tops are not allowed.

Also, in Rome, being barefoot is usually not allowed, even on the beach where it seems normal to walk barefoot. This is because in the Middle Ages, there were a large population and poor sanitary conditions in Rome, so the streets were very dirty and filled with garbage, feces, broken glass, etc. So walking barefoot on such dirty streets is not only unclean but also prone to injury. To this day, walking barefoot in Rome is still considered unclean. If you feel hot, you can wear sandals, but you can't wash your feet and sandals in the fountains on the streets.

The Romans took dress modesty more seriously than you might imagine. Not to mention formal business occasions, even in the opera house, they will dress quite formally. For example, women will wear high heels and dresses, and avoid jeans and other casual clothes. Although as a tourist, you don't have to pay as much attention to formal dress as the locals, in order to show respect for local dressing customs, it is best not to dress too casually when going outside. For example, if you are very afraid of heat, you can wear shorter shorts and skirts outdoors, but don't go out in your pajamas.

If you are a fan of cosplay, you need to be aware that cosplay and filming at real historical sites may be seen as disrespectful to history. For example, you can try to dress like an ancient Roman when visiting the city streets, but avoid that when visiting historical sites such as the Colosseum.

What Are Traditional Roman Costumes?

Although it is not recommended that you dress like an ancient Roman when visiting real historical sites, it is fine if you just want to experience it and take a photo as a souvenir. The traditional speciality costumes of Roman women was mainly characterized by good drape, exquisite embroidery and understated yet luxurious style.

In ancient Roman times, from 509 BC to 476 AD, there was a strict distinction between the clothing of married and unmarried women. Married women wore the stola, a long, draped wool or linen robe with a belt under the chest and at the waist respectively. Unmarried noble women wore the tunica, which consisted of a silk dress as an undergarment, a robe over it, and a belt. Unmarried working women wore tunica with shorter robes to facilitate their work.

During the Middle Ages, the tunic evolved into the Dalmatian, with a higher collar and embroidery on the neckline and cuffs. In addition, during this period, a new fashion trend was introduced among noble women, which was a combination of a corset and a high waist long skirt with multiple layers of pleats. More high-quality fabrics such as velvet and brocade were also introduced. The neckline and cuffs were decorated with pearls and gemstones.

The clothing of rural women around Rome in early modern times can refer to the Lazio folk costumes. The typical combination is a linen shirt with embroidery on the collar and cuffs and a multi-layered puffy skirt decorated with lace and tassels. Unmarried women can wear white lace headscarves, while married women need to wear black headscarves.

Although modern Roman women's clothing has incorporated more fashion elements, the influence of traditional clothing can still be traced. On the one hand, they still love clothes with smooth cuts, simple styles and a sense of drape. On the other hand, the embroidery patterns of traditional Lazio folk costumes also inspire modern designers.

Outfit Ideas for Female Tourists in Rome

A decent outfit for religious sites: a white satin shirt + a black maxi cotton skirt + a pair of Mary Janes

When visiting religious sites, we may be faced with more restricted dressing codes, but that doesn’t mean our outfits can’t be both decent and stylish. A white satin shirt is formal and drapes well, which is what the locals love. A black maxi skirt and Mary Jane shoes are also elegant. If the weather is cold, you can also wear a black cardigan over the shirt.

A retro outfit for relics: a puff sleeve top + a floral printed skirt + a pair of sunglasses

Although we don't encourage you to cosplay at historical sites, this doesn't mean that even retro-style clothing should be banned. On the contrary, the retro-style clothing and the scenes of historical relics sites match perfectly. You do not need too many flashy fashion items, just a puff sleeve top and a floral printed skirt can show your sweetness. In addition, a pair of sunglasses can further complete this outfit and make it both sweet and cool.

A classic and elegant outfit for opera: a black linen shirt dress + a pair of loafers.

The opera house in Rome is a place that needs to be both formal and fashionable. How can you dress to look formal and decent at the same time of being elegant? You can refer to the famous movie Roman Holiday. A black shirt dress made of linen is a good choice to show your respect to the actors actresses as well as your fashion tastes. There are no need for other fancy accessories, a pair of loafers is enough to complete this outfit.

A artistic and literary outfit for museums: a white shirt + a grey cardigan + a pair of suit pants

If you are a fan of Roman history, then you should not miss the various historical museums on this trip! How can you dress like a historian who is doing research? You need a combination that is both formal and simple! A pair of glasses can further enhance your literary temperament!