Rome in February - what to wear?

[Luckystar1]

Hello. I'm going to Rome next month and I'm very excited.

I'd love please, any tips on what to wear. Ideally, I'd love to look very stylish and fashionable (you know like the image I have of me in my head....!!)

Any tips would be gratefully received.

Oh I'm going for 3 nights, we'll be doing the sights during the day and then out for dinners.

I'm 27 if that helps?

Thank you!

A down jacket and your warmest clothes and boots.

Thanks frugal! That's what I thought. Despite my visions of me looking super 'italian'!!!

You'll look super Italian in a down jacket. Also, be prepared for rain. Italians don't go out when it rains so if you do you can be the trendsetter

Frugal & Lucky, what should one buy when in Italy? I am going in May.

I went at the end of January a couple of years ago, packed all winter clothes and it was really warm! Like properly sunny!

Warm and waterproof stuff to go over fabby indoors clothes.

We went a few years ago in January and I had NO IDEA how cold and wet it was going to be. I cried pretty much the whole time like a spoiled brat

O interesting stuff! Ok warm seems to be the general consensus... Does that mean I should buy the burberry wool coat I've been eyeing up.....?! Oh I think it does!!!

I went last Feb and we were very lucky in that it was three days of perfect winters weather as in cold but sunny with clear blue skies. Someone else I know went a day after we got back and it rained constantly the whole time.

So I was fine with a very warm jacket (I’d say jacket rather than coat as it’s easier to carry when you take it off) as even though it could be warm in the sun, the narrow streets and tall buildings meant it stayed cold.
And very comfortable flat boots, you will walk miles and climb stairs; my legs ached every morning so this is a must. Oh and fabulous sunglasses of course.

Take a hat, scarf and gloves (in fact take three different ones so you don’t look the same in the pictures every day) especially if you do the bus tours (would recommend as there’s loads to see and it’s a good way of getting to the coliseum) as it’s very cold on there.

All the Italian blokes had these very stylish earmuff thingies on, they were grey or black and were like discs that covered their ears and wrapped around the base of their head / neck. You hardly noticed them as they had coats with tall collars on so were kind of hidden / blended in. Weirdly I saw some in Primark before Christmas.

My two big tips for Rome is that eating and drinking doesn’t have to be as expensive as it’s feared. Obviously bars and restaurants next to the main sites are, but just walk one street back. For lunch go to the ‘snack bars’ they are thin little shops which sell focaccia and coffee. Two huge filled breads and a hot drink each cost us 10Euro and we’d just sit on the nearest fountain and watch the world go by. Why waste half the day in a restaurant, save this for the evening.

When visiting the Coliseum, go in via The Roman Forum, it’s just up the road and you can buy a ticket for both. There can be huge queues for the Coliseum where as there is less at the Forum and you get great views of the former as you walk through.

Oh mimi what great tips thank you!! I have earmuffs, so I must bring them. I can't wait now!!

Wow Mimi I read this for the style tips but now I want to go to Rome too. What a beautiful picture you paint!

You're welcome. Definitely ear muffs, I was nearly wrapping my scarf around my head on the buses.

Marylou. I would wholeheartedly recommend it, I really loved it. The Italians were so much friendlier than I thought they'd be. My Italian just about gets me a wine / coffee but they were really friendly and interested in our stay. Maybe because we tried to go to the local places.

I've just thought of another tip. We didn't go in the Vatican because it's huge and we felt it would be a waste of a whole day (in our opinion) when we only had 3, but we went in St Paul's so I would recommend going to the top of the dome (entrance just to the right of St Paul's). Definitely pay to go up in the lift (it's a lot of stairs) it only takes you half way but it saves your knees and you end up stood on the dome at the very top of the dome on top of St Paul's and can see all of Rome.
When you come back down you end up inside St Paul's and so again you miss the bigger queue.

The only downside to Rome are the pushy flower sellers, just strongly say no and refuse to be given a rose, they'll soon leave you alone.

Doh by St Paul's I meant St Peters. wrong city

I went early March and it was very spring like apart from the 1 day of torrential rain.

The only 2 things I would add to the above is don't bother with heels at all even at night, you will be doing lots of walking on uneven or cobbled streets. Luckily I had packed my flat smart black riding style boots which were perfect.

Secondly, when you go to the Vatican pay the extra and find a tour guide in St peters square first as they miss all the queues to get in, show you all the best bits and explain things beautifully (3d tapestrys, a snake biting a willy in the mural in the sistine chapel etc) Loved our guide worth every penny and then they take you into the side entrance of St Peters so you dont have to queue there either.

I loved Rome and cant wait to go back. Have fun.

MimiSunshine thats what we thought, people say you can spend days walking round the Vatican, someone mentioned the guide as a must and it was brilliant, we spent 4 hours in total including St Peters.

The guide took us to all the historically important bits and also lots of quirky bits that are great, but you would never find on your own.

I am total Atheist, but the vatican blew my mind the 3d / magic tapestry on the way to the sistine chapel was so amazing. Most people just walk down thinking "yeah yeah a tapestry" missing out on this bizarre thing.

Can you tell how much I liked it!

Hi, I went to Rome last Jan, when I was 27. I wore a mac, with river island coloured skinnies(dark purple & black.) river island black ankle boots(biker style). Long sleeve plain coloured tops Black/white (oasis) with cropped cardigans (top shop)etc. Black Chanel style bag worn across Mac.

For evening, I wore black jersey dress with white spots(top shop), red blazer(river island), tights and heels. Black jeans, blue sleeveless top(top shop), red blazer.

It was clear blue skies most days. It was cooler in the morning and evenings. In the mid morning afternoon it was fine.

Have fun, I sure did

wow thank you everyone!! I'll defo go to the Vatican (Irish Catholic, it's a prerequisite!!)

Great, great tips. Thank you all.

round if only I had a chanel handbag!!