ballerina

Hi, Everyone!
I have a few questions for you experts (some really random), as I will be studying in Paris this summer for 6 glorious weeks! I'm sorry in advance that this is so long, I'm just really excited! The first thing I want to ask I know has been mentioned maybe too many times:
1. Is it okay for me to wear jeans sometimes? What about denim jackets (this is my staple item here in the US) and denim mini skirts (mine aren't ridiculously short)? I'm 20 years old, so this is pretty much my wardrobe, but then again I'm not opposed to doing some shopping.
2. I hear the Parisians are very plain and simple and find our American clothes "flashy." I don't think my clothes are flashy, but I'm American, so how do I know? Do they wear prints? I mean basic cutesy flowery prints, not like hawaiian prints!
3. This one is weird in advance: how conservative should I dress--can my bra straps show if I'm wearing a tank top? And by this, I mean when I go to my classes. Are thin cotton tank tops okay for this? And does anyone know if the whole tunic trend is in in France?
4. Le metro: Will I get my poor American butt kicked if I make eye contact with people? Should I leave my iPod at home?
5. Purses: What sizes do the Parisians wear? I am assuming not large, but is a medium sized one okay? Will I be safe carrying it around? (My mother insists I should wear a fanny pack... haha no way! I'm sorry, I just can't!)
6. Does anyone know about travelling by train from Paris to Cannes? I want to go to Cannes for Bastille Day, but the tickets cost like 100 euros each way!! Is there any way to get them cheaper? I know there are cards for students, but that might not be worth it since I don't plan to travel AT ALL outside of Paris other than this trip, and I will only be in Paris for 6 weeks.
7. I seriously can't smile at people??? This is impossible. I'm going to feel sooo mean!!
8. Just how small are Parisian appartments? How small is a water closet? Is it an actual closet? Can I at least smile at my host family when I meet them? Should I bring something for my host family when I meet them for the first time?
9. Shoes: I usually wear heels like everyday, but I think that would be a little difficult in Paris. Can I wear nice leather flip flops? And are cute little sneakers okay (not sporty ones), especially for touring? I am worried about making it through the Louvre in sandals. Are wedges and espadrilles also popular in France now?

Okay, thanks to everyone in advance and again, sorry if I got a little carried away!

cheribob

I am not an expert but I have visited friends in France a couple of times and I will try to answer your questions.

1. Yes, it is OK to wear jeans. But nice ones, no holes! I guess it's OK to wear a denim jacket. But the above applies - nice, no holes. Mini skirt Ok also.

2. I never heard that Parisians find American clothes "flashy". I do know they would rather buy one really nice item of clothing rather than a bunch of cheap items. Yes, of course they wear prints! But leave the sequins at home!

3. I don't know about the bra strap issue or the tunic trend (I am a little older). However, I think if you observe what other young people are wearing you will figure out pretty quickly what is acceptable.

4. I have ridden the metro plenty of times and made eye contact with people and smiled at them! You can bring your ipod. But keep in mind that when wearing the ipod you are less likely to meet and talk to people.

5. There are as many size purses as there are sizes of people. Use the one you are comfortable with.

6. Paris to Cannes is a long train ride. Would you stay in Cannes? I can't imagine going only for the day.

7. Of course you can smile at people! When ever you enter a shop you should wish the shop keeper "bon jour" and say "au revoir" when you leave.

8. My friends had typical 2 bedroom apartments. A water closet (W.C.) is a toilet. Somtimes the toilet is in a separate room from the bath. If there is only a toilet, then yes, it is the size of a closet. If there is a sink & tub then it is more the size of a regular bathroom. Yes, you should smile at your host family, often!! It would be very nice for you to bring them a gift. Something special from your town is always appreciated. Bring pictures of your house and perhaps some postcards of your town. Also bring pictures of your family. I found the French people to be very warm and friendly and very interested in what life is like in the States.

9. Shoes - wearing tennis shoes will ID you as American quicker than anything. I am not sure how to advise you on shoes. I wear the tennis shoes & look like a tourist when site seeing. But in the evening I change to a more dressy shoe. Last time I was in Europe I just wore my loafers. The time before that I wore my black suede high heel boots a lot. (very impractical for walking!)
So you should probably wear what you usually wear. Just make sure they are comfortable if you are planning on doing a lot of walking.

I hope this was a least a little helpful. Remember people are the same everywhere. Just smile and say hi, please & thank you and people will respond.

AnthonyGA

1. You can wear jeans all the time if you wish. Few occasions require anything more formal.

2. Parisians (like Europeans generally) prefer natural fabrics and relatively subdued colors, and they like black. They don't wear a lot of prints, but tasteful prints in moderation are fine. Tractor-pull t-shirts should be avoided.

3. Yes, your bra straps can show, although that fad seems to be less common in France. You can dress as you wish for class. Remember that it gets cold in Paris in winter.

4. You will not get your butt kicked, but be advised that French men interact with female strangers only if they take a sexual interest in them (as a general and reliable rule). You can bring your iPod, just don't flash it around any more than you would at home.

5. Medium-sized purses are okay. Large purses look odd. Fanny packs are a mark of the tourist. Backpacks are okay, particularly for students.

6. I can't answer this, but why do you want to be in Cannes on Bastille Day?

7. You can smile at people, but the plastic smile worn by many Americans when they look at strangers is considered insincere by French people (and rightly so), and they find it a bit suspect. Also, if you are anything other than an old hag, French men will consider a smile as an invitation to talk (and see my comments about French men above).

8. The smallest are 90 square feet, but typically they range from 250 square feet to about 450 square feet. Anything bigger is likely to be completely unaffordable for a student (unless your parents are wealthy and generous). Anything under 250 square feet tends to be very tight, although it will be cheaper.

9. Flip-flops mark you as an American. The locals almost never wear them except in very hot weather. They may wear open shoes, but flip-flops are the classic marker of the American girl (along with painted nails and stockings under pants or in the heat of summer). Sneakers are okay. I'm not sure of the exact popularity of the others, but at least then don't scream American as flip-flops do.

cheribob

I am not an expert but I have visited friends in France a couple of times and I will try to answer your questions.

1. Yes, it is OK to wear jeans. But nice ones, no holes! I guess it's OK to wear a denim jacket. But the above applies - nice, no holes. Mini skirt Ok also.

2. I never heard that Parisians find American clothes "flashy". I do know they would rather buy one really nice item of clothing rather than a bunch of cheap items. Yes, of course they wear prints! But leave the sequins at home!

3. I don't know about the bra strap issue or the tunic trend (I am a little older). However, I think if you observe what other young people are wearing you will figure out pretty quickly what is acceptable.

4. I have ridden the metro plenty of times and made eye contact with people and smiled at them! You can bring your ipod. But keep in mind that when wearing the ipod you are less likely to meet and talk to people.

5. There are as many size purses as there are sizes of people. Use the one you are comfortable with.

6. Paris to Cannes is a long train ride. Would you stay in Cannes? I can't imagine going only for the day.

7. Of course you can smile at people! When ever you enter a shop you should greet the shop keeper when you enter and say "au revoir" when you leave.

8. My friends had typical 2 bedroom apartments. A water closet (W.C.) is a toilet. Somtimes the toilet is in a separate room from the bath. If there is only a toilet, then yes, it is the size of a closet. If there is a sink & tub then it is more the size of a regular bathroom. Yes, you should smile at your host family, often!! It would be very nice for you to bring them a gift. Something special from your town is always appreciated. Bring pictures of your house and perhaps some postcards of your town. Also bring pictures of your family. I found the French people to be very warm and friendly and very interested in what life is like in the States.

9. Shoes - wearing tennis shoes will ID you as American quicker than anything. I am not sure how to advise you on shoes. I wear the tennis shoes & look like a tourist when site seeing. But in the evening I change to a more dressy shoe. Last time I was in Europe I just wore my loafers. The time before that I wore my black suede high heel boots a lot. (very impractical for walking!)
So you should probably wear what you usually wear. Just make sure they are comfortable if you are planning on doing a lot of walking.

I hope this was a least a little helpful. Remember people are the same everywhere. Just smile and say hi, please & thank you and people will respond.

hanl

Hi,
I'm not 20... but I am female and I was 25 when I moved to Paris (don't live there any more but go there a lot and still have many friends there) so hopefully I'm still qualified to reply!

1. Jeans are fine. All my French friends wear them. In fact just the other day I was at a Parisian friend's place for lunch and was amused because every single one of the guests was wearing jeans (I was the only non-French person there). And yes, I'm sure you can wear your denim jacket or denim skirt if you feel like it.
2. There are lots of prints in fashion in the moment, especially in black and white (paisley type, etc.). You'll see prints in most of the popular clothing stores in Paris (Zara, H&M, Mango, Kookai, Morgan, etc.)
3. Visible bra straps aren't a big deal if you're wearing a strappy top. Showing lots of cleavage and leg isn't advisable unless you enjoy being ogled and commented on in the street. Loads of people were wearing tunic type tops last summer, and I think they'll be around again this summer.
4. Sure you can make eye contact but avoid smiling at strange men on the metro or holding their gaze if they are staring at you. It's easy to feel that you are being rude by not being friendly or responding to guys who want to talk to you, but seriously they see this as a come on.
5. I don't know about purses - I just carry whatever size I need and have never thought twice about it. I don't think there's a hard and fast rule in Paris anyway.
6. Not sure about the Cannes thing. Remember that 14 July is a big national holiday and it falls on a Friday this year, so every man and his dog will be wanting to get away to the south of France/holiday resorts for a long weekend. Which means the trains will be busy and the cheap fares will sell out fast. If you are under 25 you can get a discount on rail fares without needing a special card (but there are only a certain number of discounted fares for each train), but you can get an extra discount (up to 50%)by getting a "Carte 12-25" which you purchase from the counter at any train station (you'll need to bring a couple of passport sized photos). It costs 49 euros. Depending on the ticket cost, the card may pay for itself.

7. Of course you can smile at people, but people don't smile randomly at strangers just to look friendly. It's better to come across as rude than to get yourself into a situation where a French man has taken your smile as some kind of an invitation.

8. AnthonyGA has given you good answers re. apartment size.

9. If you wear heels every day at home, then go ahead and wear them in Paris. Why not! Just avoid the short miniskirt and heels look (or you'll get a lot of men leering at you and making comments). I was in Paris at the weekend and so many women were wearing espadrilles and wedges. They are everywhere in the shops. And yes, wear your cute sneakers for touring.

HTH

Dave_in_Paris

Jeans, denim jacket, denim skirt are all O.K. in their place. Plenty of very colorful outfits and prints on display in shop windows. Since I mostly see less colorful attire (lots of black) being worn, I assume the more colorful attire is mainly for the evening.

Eye contact is O.K., staring is more acceptable than in America, for example. You can smile if you want, but expect to be approached by guys if you do. Expect that anyway, but more so if you smile.

Try the French rail site, SNCF.com. There may be low-cost PREM (advance purchase) tickets for Cannes. Using the SNCF site requires a PhD. Search this site for instructions.

Paris apartments come in all sizes. Water closets are small, like a walk-in closet.

hhildebrandt

hello ballerina,

an ISIC (International Student Identification Card) will give you access to some privileges and knockoffs for students.

They wear jeans in Paris as people do all over the world. But there might be a difference in style between those available in the us of a and the ones you get in Paris.

Paris people are not plain but sophisticated. Less can be more in some way.

Metro is a means of effective mass transportation. Paris people normally mind their own business, as they arent´t part of an animation program for foreign students. Do you outgrin strangers in a New York subway? If you have a question, it is considered as polite to greet the person you adress before asking, i.e.

hhildebrandt

pardon, wrong key.

When adressing French people, you greet first and ask then, as being polite is the key to much things there:

Bonjour, monsieur / madame, pourriez-vous me dire, ou se trouvent les Champs Elysees, s´il vous plait?

For the i-pod: they have i-pods and also cell phones in Paris, quite everybody has. They also have books, even pocket books. They call this livre de poche in Frech, and there is no regulation forbidding their lecture in public places as the metro.

Bastille Day is quite a thing in France, and mostly in Paris. You better stay there and enjoy the show.

And remember: People use to buy all the things they need there. So, you find a rich choice of almost everything and mybe also fitting to your needs.

ballerina

Thanks to everyone for replying! Your advice has been great, and it's made me very excited to go to France. I guess I was worrying too much about my clothes. I consider myself to be a relatively conversative dresser anyway when compared to the girls at my school! I'm sure I'll be fine.

To answer cheribob, I want to go to Cannes for Bastille Day weekend, mostly to relax. My friends who were in Paris last year said that they were quite disappointed because on Bastille Day there were only tourists left in Paris. They said it was a good opportunity for me to travel, and I've been to Cannes before. (and how could you not love it?)

And for those of you who said you never thought the French thought American clothes are flashy, I know, I didn't either! But I read it in one of those cultural differences books. I don't really know (or think, for that matter) that it's true.

Okay I thought of a few more questions! I know, you're all like, just shut up already! Sorry Just super-excited.

Is it cheaper to go to the laundromat or use a laundry service? (I plan to wash all of my underwear and thin shirts in the sink and let them air dry. Less money on laundry = more clothing I can buy in Paris.) I saw on another post that it's like 1 euro per 10 minutes of drying, which seems expensive! I really love doing laundry, so I don't mind doing it. But how much does it usually cost to get it done?

Should I buy a hairdryer in France, or buy a dual voltage one here? What would be cheaper?
Okay, that's all for now. Again, thank you guys so much!

AnthonyGA

A once-a-week trip to a laundromat will cost about six euro: one for detergent, four for the washing machine, and one for ten minutes of drying time. If you bring your own detergent and/or skip the dryer, you can get by for just a couple of euro. The machines in many laundromats do an excellent job of washing, much better than the tiny machines that you find in many apartments.

hhildebrandt

A laundromat is the proper place for your fashion show (denim mini skirts, bra straps, thin cotton tank top, heels like everyday, nice leather flip flops, sandals, wedges and espadrilles) and socializing (make eye contact with people, smile at people). Besides, a laundromat is larger then a water closet, even an actual closet.
Enjoy it, I´m sure you will like it.

ballerina

Thanks to Anthony, that was very helpful. To hhildebrant, thanks for the sarcasm I suppose. I don't think the laundromat is the place for fashion shows or socializing. And sorry I was curious about the water closet. I have never heard of one before, and wanted to know what it is. You could have just choosen not to read my posts or not to reply to me if I bother you. I'm going away to a foreign country for 6 weeks alone for the first time, it's kind of scary.

docdan

Bal: I took my three daughters to Paris this March and when I returned I made the following obersvation, which I will quote here;

"Which of the following truisms is are true or myth? When researching the trip I found two suggestions: don't wear jeans and try to learn and use a few French phrases. The jeans suggestion is complete garbage! Jeans were quite prevalent in Paris. I saw Frech Pariseans wearing jeans, non-French Pariseans wearing jeans, French domestic tourists wearing jeans, Europeans wearing jeans and Americans wearing jeans. That being said I think I will allow that it is true that the French are perceptive of fashion, so on the airliner, trains, and in nice restaurants and nice shops, one can percieve the slightest hint of deference to clientelle who are well dressed. So? that's true anywhere isn't it? I know that may be a significant departure from one's world view if you are from California or Texas, but for the rest of us in the civilized west this is a reality, only just slightly more so in Paris. But the wearing of jeans is very pervasive in Paris.
The language suggestion is just the opposite - _very_ true!. I don't know but maybe 50 french words but I did learn how to say "Excuse me, Can you help in English, please?" in French. When the Pariseans saw that I was making an effort to say something in their language _and_ I was making an effort to be polite, they fell over themselves trying to be helpful. Indeed, I think the issue of French rudeness is vastly overstated. The are actually very polite people, but if they percieve that you are being rude, they will see your unit of rudeness and raise you two more units. Well, needless to to say, one has no problem seeing Americans being rude, and the French being rude right back. But when you surprise them and demonstrate that Americans can, in fact, be polite also, they respond in kind with warmth and kindness."

So, be sure to learn how to introduce yourself and ask directions in French and you'll be OK. My daughters weren't the slightest bit intimidated by the experience. Also, when you go to museums, dress _comfortably_. You'll be on your feet alot. I think reasonably fashionable sneakers don't necessarily say, "tourist," but flip-flops may well say, "American."
AS to the train thing, if you are _sure_ that you will make only one trip, then purchasing the PREM fare on the internet is the way to go. However, please recognize that once there, you may be lured into seeing a few more things on day trips away from the city. If so, the Carte 12-25 pass is vastly preferable. It may be to your advantage to get that to keep your options open. But for sure 1) take extra passport-type photos of yourself for the Carte Orange metro card and 2) get the train thing straight as soon as you get to Paris. Also, a small token gift for your hosts is appropriate. They'll know you are on a budget, so skip the Shane Company, just something typical for where you come from is nice.
Oh, one final thing - on the above photo suggestion, just take a digital of yourself and print it off on glossy printer paper. That is sufficient for the passes and will save you a few photography bucks.

moldyhotelsaregross

I would suggest that you purchase an inexpensive hair dryer once you arrive in France. Check out someplace like Monoprix.

ballerina

Thanks to docdan for your great advice. I guess I should just dress as I do normally, with some minor changes. I think I have just been overanalyzing this whole wardrobe thing because I'm nervous. I am not sure I will have time to travel other than Bastille Day weekend because my classes will be very demanding, so I will just go to the sncf site and buy the tickets. I know it'll be great just to stay in Paris anyway. There's so much to do there. Do you know what PREM stands for by any chance? I saw that on the site last time and didn't know what it was. And what is the difference between first and second class? On a train from Rome to Venice, I sat in first class and it was awesome!! What is second class like (besides that it is worse than first class haha)? I don't mind the worst circumstances AT ALL; as long as I get to Cannes I'm happy!

And thanks to moldyhotelsaregross (and yeah, I agree they are!) for your suggestion of where to get a blowdryer in France. I'll put that on my to-do list! I really appreciate all the time everyone is taking to give me advice. It's very sweet and helpful!

5alive

Ballerina -- Your trip sounds great. I went to England on a study overseas program and remember some of your concerns.

Your mom is mistaken on the fanny pack. It will draw thieves' attention.

However, some travelers do like a very slim belt that goes under the clothes for just the passport and VISA card. This is a very low-profile item. Some on this board think those are silly; it is a personal preference. If you're intrigued, look for them at REI.com or Magellan various other travel item websites.

I know you did like Cannes, but you might consider trying a new city or region for a weekend getaway. I have lots of places I'd like to see in France that I would not want to repeat one for a long time.

Look on this Fodor's Website on the orange toolbar under "Destinations" and read through the different city posts. Get a tour book with lots of photos and just look through them.

If you have not seen Chartres, it is one of the most beloved cathedrals in all of Europe and it is maybe an hour from Paris by train.

Enjoy your time in France -- and be sure to post here afterward about your trip.

hhildebrandt

Beg your very pardon, ballerina, for having mistaken your post.

A laundromat is a place to wash your clothes, you are right, but therefore also a place to come in contact with people.

hanl

For a wide choice of electrical goods, including hairdryers, Darty is the big name store in France (www.darty.com). There are various branches in Paris.

Monoprix does stock some electrical goods but doesn't always have a lot of choice and can be a bit on the expensive side. The advantage of Monoprix, though, is that there are many branches all over the city.

hopscotch

I read your explanation of why you are going to Cannes on Bastille Day but I don't buy it. Paris on Bastille Day is capped off by the most fantastic fireworks display I have ever seen. It's at the Tour Eiffel. Go early since the metros are clogged for a while before it starts. I slept late and missed the parade, but I could hear the jets.

ira

Hi Bal,

A few points:

European women are somewhat more reserved than American women when dealing with strange men. For some reason, they think that men are interested only in sex.

Therefore, if a woman smiles at a stranger, it is taken as an indication that she is interested in a sexual advance.

Where what you would wear in the US.

The claim that only tourists are in Paris on Bastille Day is nonsense. Paris puts on a great day-long show.

You will have 5 - 6 weekends to visit outside Paris. Some suggestions for daytrips or overnights: Versailles, Chartres, Troyes, Malmaison, Fontainebleau, Auxerre, Dijon and Beaune, Normandy Beaches, Giverny.

PREMS are discount fares on French trains. They are available about 60 days in advance and can be purchased over the internet at www.voyages-sncf.com

You don't need an advanced degree to navigate the SNCF website. The French do it all of the time.

Laundermats are good places to meet people. There isn't much else to do while waiting for your clothes to dry.

A WC is what the Brits call what in the US is called a toilet.

I think that, as a rule, young people should go 2cl. It's more interesting, it's cheaper, it gives you something to look forward to when you get older.

With all that there is to see and do in France, are you sure that you want to spend time at an expensive, crowded beach?

Enjoy your visit.

Keep us up to date on your experiences.