What to Wear in Madrid

What works in Madrid is set by two things: the weather you will actually be standing in, and how much of the day you spend around monuments, palaces and markets, where covered shoulders and knees are expected. Madrid has four real seasons — summers that can be hot, winters cold enough for a proper coat — so the month you travel decides what you pack far more than the city does.

The traditional wear recorded for Madrid is Chulapo & chulapa and Mantón de Manila. Worn in earnest at San Isidro in May and at the August verbenas of La Paloma and San Cayetano, by locals of every age. It is nineteenth-century working-class Madrid dress rather than a regional costume, and wearing it out of season reads as fancy dress.

Colours that photograph well here: Camel, Black, Navy and Grey. For everyday looks the A real winter coat and Smart layers options are the easiest starting point.

On footwear — closed leather boots.

Across the year: spring (Mar – May) — light layers — warm afternoons, cold mornings, comfortable walking shoes; summer (Jun – Aug) — light clothes, sunglasses and sun cream, breathable shoes or sandals; autumn (Sep – Nov) — mid-weight layers and something rainproof, closed shoes with grip; winter (Dec – Feb) — a proper winter coat, hat and gloves, insulated, waterproof shoes.