summer chicago attire

I will be in Chicago at the end of July for vacation and I%26#39;m trying to decide what type of clothes to pack. I%26#39;ll mainly be sighting and doing some shopping. Any suggestions on what to wear to avoid looking like a tourist, but still feel comfortable and cool. Obviously I will avoid the gym shorts and shirts. I%26#39;ll likley be in and out of stores and museums so I%26#39;m not sure if I want to do the shorts/t-shirts since I%26#39;ll likely be in places with AC most of the time. Any thoughts?

summer chicago attire

Chicago business dress style tends to lean more toward Boston or NY than LA. Keep that in mind, and err on the side of formality if you really want to blend in. That said, it may very well be HOT and HUMID, so light fabrics (i.e. weight, not color) are the way to go.

summer chicago attire

Assuming that you are not here for business, a polo shirt and khaki pants will get you in most anywhere you want to go. Go with sensible walking shoes (not tennis shoes). At least, that is what I normally wear when going downtown for stores/restaurants/museums in summer. You won%26#39;t look like a tourist and you won%26#39;t look too overdressed either. If it is blazing hot, many locals will even be in shorts. (Not me, because of my knobby knees.) Also, the AC isn%26#39;t always cranked up the way one would expect and I am often too warm in many places where I would expect to have AC.

When we visit each summer, it%26#39;s always very hot and humid, especially once you get a few blocks away from the lakeshore. Khaki shorts and a nice T-shirt will be fine for any of the tourist places that you want to go unless you care about not looking like a tourist. A nice polo or button down shirt will be fine for most casual restaurants. If you are going to someplace upscale, at least khakis or slacks and a nice shirt. For just a few places they prefer or require a jacket and/or tie. Call ahead if you are not sure. We tend to like to be casual when we go, especially in summer, and so we choose where we will go accordingly.

Enjoy.

I always laugh when people say they don%26#39;t want to look like a tourist...the places you visit will most likely have 3 tourists for every local and your camera, map and guidebook will probably give you away for a tourist anyway.

Unless you%26#39;re going to work or out for some nightlife (dinner, opera, bars), pretty much anything goes within reason. Normally the only shorts you%26#39;d see are khaki%26#39;s and decent t shirts are even fine.

For nightlife, men will want to wear stylish pants and a shirt with buttons on it (polos are even fine and would even be preferred to many short sleeve dress shirts...in my mind short sleeved dress shirt is an oxymoron, it can%26#39;t be a dress shirt if it%26#39;s short sleeved). Women should dress to the male equivalent. Shoes are what will really set you apart...I rarely wear tennis shoes unless I%26#39;m working out....but sandals are fine so long as they%26#39;re stylish. When I go to the more rural areas of Illinois, people always know I%26#39;m from Chicago cus I don%26#39;t wear tennis shoes...

Don%26#39;t know whether you%26#39;re male or female, but make sure your clothes don%26#39;t stick to you in 90% humidity. Other than that, I wouldn%26#39;t really worry - you see some sights walking down Michigan Ave, and if you look like a tourist, who cares? Just bring a rain slicker as those summer showers can strike at any time.

And yes, the AC is generally not freezing, like in the south.

i would also take along a light weight jacket. Chicago weather can change on a dime. I%26#39;ve been there in July and wore a longe sleeve shirt and jeans. Just check the weather and be prepared. I got snowed on at Wrigley Field in the middle of June on year.