I have stopped telling my husband what to wear, except for that torn and dirty old leather jacket that he wanted to take to Barcelona because when he looked at it he still saw what it looked like when it was new. Just like his old Volvo. And oh yeah, in the summer when we're going to be outdoors, I do remind him to take a hat because of sunburn.

And thank goodness he has never been moved to tell me what to wear.

My suggestion is that suze1's husband wear his baseball hat if he wants to. When he gets to Paris, if he feels out of place in it, he can see what other types of headwear interest him and that can be his Paris souvenir. Unless he doesn't care.

Nikki, I have a leather jacket like that, and Herself hates to see me wear it. But I like it, and often wear it when I am out without her. It has character (perhaps it compensates for my deficiencies).

I think OP is broadly correct in suggesting that people in Paris do not wear baseball caps. There are some young men, as d_claude_bear describes, who affect American style. I view them with a cautious eye, as I would view any group that wears what might be gang colours.

Should OP's husband wear a baseball cap? I don't see any reason why he shouldn't. The fact that I don't like baseball caps as urban wear is totally irrelevant.

I am bald, fair-skinned, and have had basal carcinomas removed from my head. So of course I wore (and will wear) caps in Paris (and elsewhere) for protection. But not baseball caps - no way! I have French style caps (NOT berets) that not only look local, but also look much better than baseball caps which IMO look horribly crass and - dare I say it - American!

Oh, a ballcap is sooo unfashionable. Instead, he should choose from this selection of designer hats:

http://manolomen.com/category/hats/

I have a great idea..let it all hang out...wear the baseball cap backwards...tell the world I'm American and don't give a damn.

Now what's wrong with that?

>>Author: kerouac
Date: 05/28/2008, 01:05 am

A baseball cap is fine in Paris. Parisians are more tolerant than Fodorites.

Haha Kerouac- well said!

Wear the cap. It's no fun getting sunburned on the top of your head. If the fashion police on this board are offended by your selection, all the better. None of the Parisians will care.

Didn't Clark W. Griswold buy his whole family berets for their trip to Paris so they wouldn't look like tourists?

My father 85 bought himself a dashing Breton ship master's cap for visiting France which he wear's with aplomb, while I tend towards an Irish Felt hat (like a Texan only more conservative and in felt) from the finest hatter in Yorkshire.

Any way in France he blends in and I just look Irish so I suggest lose the baseball cap and buy a nice french hat

Does anyone in Paris wear berets, these days?!!!

I'm a proud baldy and wouldn't be seen dead in a baseball cap. But that's because I'm 43 not 12. It's the same reason I don't wear caps with propellers on.

I have never had a problem with sunburn etc in Paris - just put the same gunk on the top of your head as the rest of your exposed bits.

Failing that there are hats that are acceptable if you want to wear one. But surely you wouldn't wear one inside?

I only wear one to play cricket and believe me, if I wore that in the street people would assume I was a care in the community case.

I do like the hot dog hat -- and how American is that!

If I were your husband, I'd be less concerned about looking like a tourist (because you'll be one of millions anyway) than just how I look in general. I like men in hats (I also like bald men -- but they have to have all their own teeth) and there are so many nice hats and caps these days that would serve the same purposes as the b'ball cap and look a little more grown-up and sophisticated.

We just got back from Paris and were surprised to see a good number of baseball hats (NYY mostly-I think it is a fashion statement) on alot of young Parisian men.

(I also like bald men -- but they have to have all their own teeth)>>>

Hey. How you doin'?

Joey? Is that you?

Time to stop beating the dead horse.

Yes, many many baseball caps are seen in Paris, mostly on two groups of people:

1. Young men from the rougher suburbs, also wearing sweatpants and 200€ white sneakers.
2. Older tourist men, usually American but not always.

Does it look good? Is that really relevant to the issue? As concerns the older tourist men, take off their baseball cap and they will still be wearing the same sky blue or tan permanent press slacks, the plaid shirt and the Scotchguard treated windbreaker. Will they blend in with the Parisians? Not by a long shot. Does it matter? Absolutely not!

goddesstogo wrote: "I also like bald men -- but they have to have all their own teeth"

My teeth are my own: I bought them.

That's ok, Pad. I have Crazy Glue. :-D

I have several berets from Motsch Fils (now Hermes) which I wear outside the US. If I had the guts, I would wear a John Deere cap; green is "in" these days!

This whole post is silly.Caps are OK.