Though the heat and humidity leave you wanting to wear as little as you can, skimpy clothing is frowned upon in many European cities. Even in beach destinations, it’s better to remain covered until you arrive at the beach. If you are comfortable breaking cultural norms and want to wear shorts and tank tops anyway, you won't be admitted to many of Europe’s top attractions: the stunning basilicas and frescoed churches.
Leave the jeans (too hot) and the shorts (too gauche) at home. Take a few pairs of linen or cotton trousers instead. Rick Steves advises that a simple pair of slacks can function in most dress-up occasions during summer tourist season. Khakis work fine, but black pants are ideal because they hide stains and match everything. If you think you will be too hot in pants, look for a pair of "manpris," calf-length pants like women’s capris, in breathable high-tech fabrics at your local outdoor outfitter.
Linen or jersey dresses and skirts and loose button-down shirts or jersey tees are ideal. Loose dresses are the best way to look and feel appropriately cool. Pack chunky jewelry and scarves to spice things up. Silk scarves serve three important purposes. If you are showing too much skin to enter a church, drape the scarf around your shoulders. On especially smoldering days, tie your hair off your face using the scarf as a headband. And if you find yourself dining outdoors on the coast at night with an unseasonably chilly breeze, use your scarf as a wrap.
Shoe culture in Europe has changed in the last decade, and sneakers are now more trendy than trashy. But if you want to wear sneakers or other similarly sporty walking shoes in European cities, make sure they are sleek, colorful and impeccably clean. Sandals and other open shoes are frowned upon because, given that people freely throw trash and let their dogs do their business on the streets, such footwear is considered not so hygienic. Blazers for both men and women go a long way in Europe. Even throwing on a blazer over a T-shirt and jeans can suddenly make the look appropriate for a nice restaurant or club.
