Fashionista Alert! Just back from 10 days in Paris, what I saw..
Jun 3rd, 2005, 04:01 AM
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Fashionista Alert! Just back from 10 days in Paris, what I saw..
This is what I saw on Parisians...
-Sneakers on everyone, not running shoes, but the thin soled type w/stripes. Red seemed especially popular w/the men.
-Jeans on everyone, even on the chic matrons in the 7th where we stayed. Hip huggers on the women, regular cut for the most part on the men.
-Capri pants on men of all ages, very popular for walking the dog, neighborhood shopping, and weekend casual wear.
-Shorts on men, mainly khaki, often cargo, mostly below the knee, and usually on the under 40 crowd.
-The women are famous for keeping a "look" well into middle age, but the men seemed to look a little kippered...
More on trip later.
-Sneakers on everyone, not running shoes, but the thin soled type w/stripes. Red seemed especially popular w/the men.
-Jeans on everyone, even on the chic matrons in the 7th where we stayed. Hip huggers on the women, regular cut for the most part on the men.
-Capri pants on men of all ages, very popular for walking the dog, neighborhood shopping, and weekend casual wear.
-Shorts on men, mainly khaki, often cargo, mostly below the knee, and usually on the under 40 crowd.
-The women are famous for keeping a "look" well into middle age, but the men seemed to look a little kippered...
More on trip later.
Jun 3rd, 2005, 05:25 AM
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Capri Pants
Capri pants — essentially pants that somehow lost their nerve on the way to becoming shorts — are a riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped inside a 24" inseam. Ending somewhere before the topmost part of the shin and the ankle, they have one major effect: to make the wearer's legs look shorter and squatter. This is not usually viewed as a positive change. But day after shopping day, women pay for the privilege of looking like they washed pants that they were supposed to dryclean.
<b>http://flakmag.com/misc/capri.html</b>
Capri pants — essentially pants that somehow lost their nerve on the way to becoming shorts — are a riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped inside a 24" inseam. Ending somewhere before the topmost part of the shin and the ankle, they have one major effect: to make the wearer's legs look shorter and squatter. This is not usually viewed as a positive change. But day after shopping day, women pay for the privilege of looking like they washed pants that they were supposed to dryclean.
<b>http://flakmag.com/misc/capri.html</b>
Jun 3rd, 2005, 05:28 AM
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Are the women doing any of the thin layered t-shirts? Any long scarves worn anywhere? Are any women wearing any types of skirts? Going in a week and don't want to stand out but like to be more dressed than jeans & sport shoes.
Jun 3rd, 2005, 05:42 AM
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Kate-I find it difficult to believe that you don't know what Capris are, since I see them all over the place in London in the warmer months. I wouldn't think of going anywhere in summer without them, in addition to my 15-odd pair of flip-flops-for-every-occasion of course.
And Alan- I very much like the expression you used "kippered" to describe the men-as in herring, I presume? (smile)
And Alan- I very much like the expression you used "kippered" to describe the men-as in herring, I presume? (smile)
Jun 3rd, 2005, 05:43 AM
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Dear Vetty,
There were a lot of scarves at the beginning of the trip, but thay all vanished when the weather hit the high 70's/low 80's, though they would reappear at night if it was cooler. Lots of skirts, casual, light weight, not short.
BTW, you could spot the American men (just a comment, not a judgement)in their sandals (older guys)and LOTS of flip flops (younger guys, filthy feet). You really didn't see the French men in sandals often.
There were a lot of scarves at the beginning of the trip, but thay all vanished when the weather hit the high 70's/low 80's, though they would reappear at night if it was cooler. Lots of skirts, casual, light weight, not short.
BTW, you could spot the American men (just a comment, not a judgement)in their sandals (older guys)and LOTS of flip flops (younger guys, filthy feet). You really didn't see the French men in sandals often.
Jun 3rd, 2005, 05:59 AM
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Alan: How dare you suggest that Parisians wear sneakers, shorts and/or jeans. That is sacrilege on this board! I'm counting the minutes until this thread is censored! 
Is there a difference b/t clam diggers and capris?
Is there a difference b/t clam diggers and capris?
Jun 3rd, 2005, 06:05 AM
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Dear Bitter,
I have hoping for reaction and or, even better, censorship....it seems "they" are all on vacation....
It was all I could do not to post this while still in Paris.
I have hoping for reaction and or, even better, censorship....it seems "they" are all on vacation....
It was all I could do not to post this while still in Paris.
Jun 3rd, 2005, 06:08 AM
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Alan, thank you for your service to society. We leave the week after next, and I'm still in a bit of a quandry re: what clothes to take. I was thinking of skirts, primarily, but it's still a bit chilly in our part of the world and my mind (and legs) aren't quite in skirt mode. But it sounds like I should be packing a few.
And capris, pedal pushers, clam diggers, cropped pants, whathaveyou will not be seen on my body, nor, I suspect, my husband's (although he has been known to wear those surfer-length shorts, which have just a few inches on--or off--capris).
And capris, pedal pushers, clam diggers, cropped pants, whathaveyou will not be seen on my body, nor, I suspect, my husband's (although he has been known to wear those surfer-length shorts, which have just a few inches on--or off--capris).
Jun 3rd, 2005, 06:55 AM
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I was just in Paris in May and concurr with AlanM1's observations.
The jeans thing is so true. I am a 30-something, but I swear everyone is wearing jeans. Great jeans, perfectly fitting jeans, but still jeans. The shoes really seem to determine the look. If you're going out at night, the pointy-toed flat or heel look is still going strong.
To Vetty: I saw a lot of those crazy tiered skirts in windows everywhere. I don't know what you'd call them exactly - prairie skirts? peasant skirts? Anyway, there is an Old Navy commercial on the air right now that features these skirts. The only difference I noticed in France is that they are made of a more crisp fabric, sometimes with tulle (netting) underneath. Somehow they seemed a bit more formal than the ones I've seen here, but generally they are all the same thing.
The question about the layered shirts - this is very in at all times in Paris, as far as I've seen. My French friend saw me wearing one of these and went nuts over it. I didn't want to tell her I got it for $3 at Marshalls on clearance! A lot of the ones I've seen here and there have rouching (gathers and scrunching of the fabric at seams, etc.).
As for jackets, when I was there in May it was this weird inbetween weather. Nobody wanted to wear their winter coat, but little spring coats just weren't getting it done (it was windy). My friend had a smart-looking black coat, very fitted, tapered at the waist, about knee length -- similar style to much of the winter coat looks, but just in a nice cotton, I think.
The jeans thing is so true. I am a 30-something, but I swear everyone is wearing jeans. Great jeans, perfectly fitting jeans, but still jeans. The shoes really seem to determine the look. If you're going out at night, the pointy-toed flat or heel look is still going strong.
To Vetty: I saw a lot of those crazy tiered skirts in windows everywhere. I don't know what you'd call them exactly - prairie skirts? peasant skirts? Anyway, there is an Old Navy commercial on the air right now that features these skirts. The only difference I noticed in France is that they are made of a more crisp fabric, sometimes with tulle (netting) underneath. Somehow they seemed a bit more formal than the ones I've seen here, but generally they are all the same thing.
The question about the layered shirts - this is very in at all times in Paris, as far as I've seen. My French friend saw me wearing one of these and went nuts over it. I didn't want to tell her I got it for $3 at Marshalls on clearance! A lot of the ones I've seen here and there have rouching (gathers and scrunching of the fabric at seams, etc.).
As for jackets, when I was there in May it was this weird inbetween weather. Nobody wanted to wear their winter coat, but little spring coats just weren't getting it done (it was windy). My friend had a smart-looking black coat, very fitted, tapered at the waist, about knee length -- similar style to much of the winter coat looks, but just in a nice cotton, I think.
