THE ROMAN GUIDE TO DRESSING WARM
by Allison van Tilborgh
Rome has what meteorologists call a “mild climate.” The city experiences hot summers and cold, though not freezing, winters. To my student abroad colleagues from Minnesota, Oregon, and South Dakota, the weather in Rome must be splendid. (It’s 35-55° F)
To me, well, the prospect scared me a little. For the majority of my life, I’ve lived in sub-tropical Central Florida, notorious for barely having two seasons a year. Most years, the winter is a struggle between heat waves and cold fronts in succession. The weather is unpredictable, so part of my routine would always be to check the weather before getting dressed in the morning.
I was extremely paranoid about not packing enough warm clothes for Rome. I packed mostly long-sleeved shirts, jeans, and three different jackets. I felt it’s better to be overprepared than underprepared.
Boy, do the Romans outdo me on this feat.
Something I didn’t expect at all about the Romans is how layered up they get daily, regardless of the weather: boots, knee-lengthed trenchcoats, hats, and scarves. It’s as if they’re trying to tell the world, “I don’t care if it’s 60 degrees today, it’s winter!” Winter time calls for winter clothes.
One day it was particularly beautiful, so I decided to wear a short jean jacket to an event in Monti (I usually wear a thinker jacket to fit in a little more). I hoped no one would say anything, but the woman I was meeting promptly commented on how ‘cold’ I was dressing. She donned the most elaborate ensemble I had seen yet: winter hiking boots, a puffy below-the-knee jacket, and this massive cream fur hat that must’ve stood a foot tall. It was 55 degrees outside.
Even when I make the 20+ floor hike up the Gianicolo hill for school, I’ve yet to see a fellow Roman climber take off their jacket. I find I can make it 6 or 7 flights before I’m burning up on the inside, sweating from the physical activity. Instead, the near-elderly ladies with their giant coats and groceries in hand, zoom past me on the stairs without a second thought.
I’m not sure if the local winter dress makes Romans superhuman or ultrasensitive. I suppose the jury is still out for that. The weather may be mild, but the people here are hardcore. Don’t mess with Romans; once they commit to an idea, there is no way to change their minds.