Appropriate Dress In Paris?
 

We are leaving monday for our first trip to Paris and have been told that jeans and sneakers are not appropriate...any opinions?

There are a zillion posts on this, so if you do a search "dress in Paris" you'll come up with everyone's opinion (even mine)

Hi Sally - <BR> <BR>As Elvira says, do a search. There have been many posts about this subject. <BR> <BR>Meanwhile, dress depends alot on where you are staying and what you are doing. We don't travel fancy so we usually bring a pair of black slacks (docker type) and a pair of jeans. We do, however, stay away from the white sneakers. Our preference for shoes is black or brown (just make it dark) in a good walking brand. I like Mephisto and Clarks, he likes Mephisto and Docs. <BR> <BR>The shoe thing is very particular. Some people wouldn't be caught dead in white sneakers in Paris and others say "who cares! it's my vacation!" For us, we just like blending in a little more. We pefer to do more observing than have people observing us. Also, when it comes to being a target for pickpockets, it is best to stay away from the things that are generally thought of as American. And I say generally because we always see quite a few people wearing tennis shoes. I'm sure many are tourists but many are also locals. <BR> <BR>Most important, be comfortable. If you can't find any good walking shoes go for some black tennis shoes. Also, I would highly recommend mostly dark clothing. That way, if you spill something or get dirty somehow, it is less likely to show. <BR> <BR>Feel free to email me if you have any questions. I've been to Paris a couple of times and have lots of information at my finger tips. I'm still organizing trip stuff from our visit last month. <BR> <BR>:-)

During the day, visiting the sights and attractions, anything goes, and you'll want to be dressed as comfortably as possible with the most comfortable footwear you can find. You'll see everything imaginable on your fellow tourists. In the evenings, it all depends on your plans. It's best to change into something a bit dressier, but if you'll just be walking about, taking a boat tour, visiting outdoor cafes, jeans and sneakers are okay - you'll see them on lots of other folks.

<BR>As Elvira suggests do a Search and you will find many previous opinions, including hers and mine. <BR>Briefly there seem to be two schools of thought. <BR>One is: I want to be comfortable, I'm going to look like an (American) tourist anyway no matter what I wear, it's my vacation and I'll wear what I please, lots of people wear jeans and sneakers,etc. <BR>The other is: I'm going to a large sophisticated city, I'm going to be visiting or browsing in churches, cafes, and shops,and while it may be obvious that I am an American tourist, I'm not 17 years old, and I don't need to look like a bumpkin. I can wear casual,comfortable and easy-care skirts and pants, dress things up a bit with a scarf or accessory if the mood strikes, and wear shoes that are comfortable but are not huge white sneakers. Besides which jeans are heavy, and can't be rinsed out and dried on the shower rod in your hotel room.

I want to amend my last posting, my opinion came on way too strong,and I want to clarify. There are jeans and there are jeans. A neatly-dressed person in a nice pair of jeans with a <BR>neat sweater or blazer and a pair of comfortable shoes makes, in my opinion, an entirely different impression than <BR>someone in a logo-ed tee shirt, jeans, and large white sneakers. <BR>Obviously, of course you can wear whatever you want, and if impressions <BR>and appearances are not important to you, vive la difference! <BR>

I just came back from Paris two weeks ago- As an adult I would stay away from the tennis shoes, for the most part I only saw the kids and tourists wearing them. Blue Jeans are everywhere in Paris, but just like a previous post said, nice blue jeans should be worn- no holes, and not faded out to a point where they look like a shade of white. Black Leather coats were also surprisingly everywhere. Man, I love the way the Parisians dress- mostly 1st class conservative. Jackets and pants for both men and women. Most of the young parisians look like thin models- seriously, but you won't catch them smiling...

I have a "uniform" of black slacks, <BR>black deep v neck cardigan with colored <BR>embroidered neck, and bright knit shirts <BR>showing under. Parisians do stare at <BR>white athletic shoes and it labels you a <BR>tourist. I found my comfortable athletic shoes in white only and spray <BR>dyed them black. (with a long black <BR>raincoat (in early April) I even wore <BR>this uniform to the opera in Vienna.Black definitely makes one <BR>"fit in" when in Paris.

Frankly, who cares what you wear in Paris? The minute you open your mouth they will know you are a tourist. Just be yourself, don't try to be "one of them" - you're not!

Huh, it always kind of surprises me that people ask this, because I don't dress any differently as a tourist than I do when at home (for the same activities, anyway). I don't dress as sloppily as many Americans do, though, perhaps that's the problem, at least the ones I see around here--I live in Washington, DC and it's the same thing here: you can tell the tourists a mile away because they are wearing clothes in a major cosmopolitan city that look like they are on a picnic or visiting Disneyland. I personally don't wear sneakers or athletic shoes to go to a restaurant (except fast food) or museum, etc. at home, so I wouldn't do it as a tourist, either. On the other hand, I wear jeans a lot at home and I wear them a lot when traveling--Europe, Mideast, Africa, wherever. Jeans are worn all over the world, I don't understand why someone would tell you not to wear them. Unless it's a matter of taste like wearing spray-painted athletic shoes to the Vienna Opera. I do think this is unacceptable and very inappropriate; if you intend to go to the opera or something like that, I think you should have the common courtesy to dress half-way decently. I don't really see why it would be necessary to wear athletic shoes to the opera. I travel lighter than many people, but I always take a pair of simple black flats to wear at night; they take up very little packing room. I suppose someone would say it doesn't matter what anyone wears, but I find it unpleasant when people don't have the taste and consideration to look decent for nice events--like church, opera, theatre, etc. Anyway, I think the main thing that makes people look like tourists is not the jeans or sneakers--it's the various accoutrements like fanny packs, cameras around neck, water bottles, guide books, etc. that many tourists carry around in public. Oh, yeah, various kinds of strange hats, also (baseball caps, visors, etc.). American men seem to have a particular problem with not knowing how to dress casually--quite frequently they dress for sports (ie, golf or tennis shirts and pants, etc.) because that's the only casual clothes they own. I find this very strange; I mean, what do they wear to go to the movies at home? Golf or tennis clothes? There really is something in-between suits and athletic wear. I used to live in LA a long time before moving to DC, and California in general is one of the few places in the US where men know how to dress casually but with style and sophistication (e.g., linen-blend unconstructed shirts, Italian loafers, etc.). Men here in DC don't know how to, either, they don't own anything except navy blue pinstripe suits and the aforementioned car-washing/golf clothes. I agree that anyone will know you're a tourist anyway from your language, but I don't think that's the sole reason to dress half-way decently when traveling; as I said, I think it has to do with common courtesy and taste, and it also helps the ambience and enjoyment of the event for yourself, I would think. I know when I go to the ballet at the Opera Garnier and wear something nice, it is part of the memory and experience for myself, not just for others.

I personally agree with Christine. If you don't care, then you don't care and can wear whatever you like and that is ok. If you do care, then heed what Christine and many others have posted.

John - I don't quite understand the "caring" part of your message. I think alot of people are a little too hung up on what they wear while on vacation. Of course, one dresses appropriately for the occasion, that is not a matter of "caring", that is a matter of class. Either you have it or you don't, what you wear is not going to change that.

One reason to dress as the Parisians do is for your safety. If you stand out as a tourist, you are more likely to become a target for pickpockets or other crimes. Of course it can also lead to some interesting circumstances- (being American) I've had tourists come up to me and ask questions in broken French, and I've also had other encounters with some Parisians as well. I beleive the most important thing to enjoying Paris to its FULLEST is knowing the language, although you can ,of course, still enjoy it without knowing any French.

Ginny, I think you got it right!

Being in Paris is the greatest, no matter what you wear. As long as you are courteous, thoughtful, and exploratory, life there will be wonderful