What to wear in a cruise... when you hate dresses/skirts with a passion?

[Chandra]

No, it's not that I'm not feminine at all, it's just that I have not wear a dress/skirt since my wedding day and I don't want to spoil my record. Not that I think that I would make it for the Guinness Book of Records (although nearly there...) but, I have a problem with my feet that prevent me from using high heels unless I want to be tripping with my own feet or end up with a broken ankle, besides I have relatively thick ankles which don't look very pleasant in more delicate shoes needed for a dress.

I'm fairly tall 5'8", a size 14 from waist up and a 16 for trousers (this to illustrate my main problem are my hips

This is my first time in a cruise, so...any suggestions about what to wear during the day in a relatively expensive italian cruise and what to wear for a dress up night?

Wonder why I didn't choose an informal cruise instead....argh!!!!

my aunt goes on 2 or 3 cruises a year and practically gets her entire wardrobe for them from

\link{http://www.kaleidoscope.co.uk/web/main/CruisewearCollection.asp?N=382&LP=Collection\here}

she particularly likes their wide leg trousers

wide legged linen trousers for day - are all over the shops at the mo (this summer's nautical look etc etc). I have some from Gap's sale, but have seen in white (not sure) and indigo (BUY BUY BUY) in Dorothy Perkins. Monsson or East of you're posher and/or flusher.

something similar in silk for evenings with cleavage-boosting top?

hmmm... a cruise?

incontinence knickers?

H&M's linen stuff is cheap and not just in silly (ie small) sizes

I think wide-leg, silky trousers would be great for evening, with a matching, belted tunic-top. For daytime I think most things would be ok so long as it's not jeans/tracksuit/shorts.

If most of the other passengers are Italian then make sure you have good shoes (they'll be looking).

They are sure to have some lovely shops on board to purchase things......:o

Thanks for that! :)

Nailpolish, that web is a fantastic reference. I love wide leg trousers, even my jeans have that shape, sadly I have to search long and hard to find each of them. Glad to hear about this website, I would set myself to order a few things toninght :)

Badger, thank you. I will go and have a look tomorrow. I love East, I used to dress that way all the time before moving to Britain, sadly being a tropical type I manage to freeze even in summer

H&M mmmhm, wonder if they have opened the store by now, they have been advertising they are opening one locally since 2 years ago!

ARGHHH The shoes!!! Bran... could you point me in any direction about what kind of shoes would go best with wide leg trousers. (Am i clueless or what??? )

Sunchowder, I'm sure about that.... I must be careful not to spend my budget before leaving, I believe one of the biggest pleasures of travelling is... shopping.

OK. Managed to make it to Dorothy Perkins today, found the trousers, loved them, but they didn't have my size! , I will try another Dorothy Perkins tonight.

Have ordered some things from Kaleidoscope.

Now... any suggestions for my dear, complicated and shop hating husband?

linen suit!

even if it's cheap it looks expensive, and every man should have one. (DH has one from Next to Nothing, my dad's is actually from primark )

wear with linen shortsleeved shirts, or cotton button-downs, a Panama and nice leather flip flops. Or boat shoes.
NB remember all Italian men wear Speedos - he may or may not want to join them but he should be prepared to be the only chap in baggies!

Thanks for that MrsBadger. Oh no! about speedos.... have just bought a "baggie" for DH!

Have you been to a Italian Cruise? if so, who did you go with?

I would say go for a wide leg trouser with some of those gorgeous sparkly flat sandals and a kaftan/tunic type top.

During the day I don't think it really matters as you'll be out and about when the ship docks so you need to be comfortable if your off for the day.

I'm sure you have mentioned where you are before Chandra and if I'm not mixing you up with someone else then yes the H&M has opened.

Never been on a cruise but do spend a certain amount of time at summer events that require Dressing With Pretension! See you all at Henley...

Ooops, I didn't check back on this thread, so didn't see your question Chandra. I'm really bad with shoes I'm afraid, I'll always go for comfort over glamour and have quite wide feet so it's often difficult to get shoes at all. I only mention it because I used to work with a load of Italians and they were obsessed with the awfulness of people's shoes in the UK.

Thanks NBG, if you are right you have saved us a trip to Leeds :)

I know Bran... they never fail to notice and comment on my Camper Shoes (for some strange reason is seems all italian love them). Sadly, most Camper shoes look dreadful with summer fabric wide leg troussers! I have got two pair of nice sandals which look great but definitively not good for excursions.... ARGH!!!

Badger, Henley?

I was visiting my parents for a few days a couple of weeks back and we had a trip to town.
I had to get my mum to physically restrain me from going in otherwise I spend too much

Chandra - less said the better. Like a riverside picnic but with blazers, hats and unsuitable shoes. Also strawberries, champagne and lashings of rah.

Dress up nights on the cruise I went on for my honeymoon were pretty compulsorily dresses, especially with an invite to the captains table (free champers- yum!), but I wore mainly linen trousers / tops by day as it can get breezy at sea. Everyone else seemed to wear gross metallic sandals, due to average age being about sixty but if you're going on day trips comfort is the key, it really is.

Do remember most cruise liners have shops, as do all ports.

OT seemed to be they key if you were willing to play, I wasn't- I had only delivered ds1 a few weeks before and was still ill, so just did my best.

Thank you all. Preparation is well underway, although any suggestions and comments are very welcomed :)