Dress Code in Paris
 

Going to Paris in a week. Our typical summer attire in the US is jean shorts, t-shirts, and tennis shoes. I hear Paris is pickier. Will I be kept out of places in this attire? We're probably not going to lose the tennis shoes as they will be the only comfortable walking shoes we have. Will tennis shoes, long shorts/jean long pants, and non t-shirt shirts be good enough?

please read the numerous lenghty posts about what to wear in paris. They number in the thousands and it would be nice not to have to restart yet another one.

There are a million postings on this subject at Fodor's. It would be a good idea to use the search box above. Your ballpark American casuals will mark you on the streets of Paris. Change the whole outfit, especially the tennies.

You need:

Black trousers, stripy breton fisherman's shirt, beret , three day stubble and a string of onions.

Then you'll fit right in (Ignore any advice to the contrary).

Oh and by the way - you have to communicate by the medium of mime - it's what the locals do.

Hi L,

You will find the dress code posted on the front door of the Hotel de Ville, in three langauages.

((I))

The Hotel De Ville is also about the best hotel in each town - hence the name.

I was just in Paris, and I think that no matter what you wear, Americans stand out as Americans. Plus, there are so, so, so many people, that no one cares what you are wearing! Wear what you are comfortable in, and don't worry what others think!

I don't think there is anything wrong with looking like an American. Its looking like a hillbilly or a yee ha that is the problem. No matter where you are.

Wear what you want. Be comfortable. You are a tourist. You will look like a tourist even if you try not to. They are happy you are visiting and happy to get your euros.

Did anyone see Rita Wilson on Regis & Kelly talking about living in Paris while Tom was shooting the Da Vinci Code? She tried SO hard to look like a local. She's put on high heeled shoes to go to the market and then take them off as soon as she got in the car. :-)

A local's point of view on all those concerned about dress codes in Paris :

- No one cares about what you wear in Paris. No one will blink an eye, even you visit Notre Dame dressed as for spring break in Fort Lauderdale,

- Do not bother about "blending in". There is not much to "blend into" around the Eiffel Tower, Saint Germain, the Marais and Notre Dame, as those places are already packed with tourists. Visitors in the popular sights are 70-80 % non-French,

- To those worried about standing out as X- ian : you'll be where all the X-ians and Y-ians are. Whatever you wear, your size, complexion, body language, mannerisms will tell your foreignness. So what?

- the dress code in a high-end restaurant will be the same as in your home country.

david...you're on fire today.

Just wondering Chicago *Lori* -- what is "hillbilly" attire? And what should I do if I am a "hillbilly?"

<<Whatever you wear, your size, complexion, body language, mannerisms will tell your foreignness. So what? >>

That is so totally bogus. Anyone with half a brain who travels in Europe and who wants to "blend in" (and we can debate the merits of that in a separate argument) can do so relatively easily. Witness all the posters on this board, myself included, who regularly get stopped by locals in various European locations and asked for directions and other sorts of help. Not to mention that some of us Americans actually speak foreign languages fluently enough to be taken for Europeans. We're not all baseball cap and Hawaiian print-wearing loud English-only ignoramuses, you know, though there are plenty of those out and about in any European city.

To answer the original poster, I personally wouldn't choose your clothing options for touring Europe, but I don't think you'll be ostracized for wearing those items. Parisians will recognize you as a tourist for sure, but that doesn't mean they'll treat you badly. I wouldn't wear shorts of any kind to a restaurant, though, personally.

Personally, I have been reading these posts for years about attire and how crappy we Americans look, and I used to believe it, what with the well-placed scarves and classic styles. The last few trips though, specifically to France, Germany (this past March) and Italy (last summer), the WOMEN looked sloppy and unkempt. Every woman I saw had some strange color orangy-red hair dye and ill-fitting clothes. The MEN were absolutely beautiful--nice hair, crisp, clean outfits and well-groomed. Maybe it was a freak year or something, but where have the stylish European women gone?!

I can't imagine that an adult would ask what the dress code is. Where what make you feel best.

Ditto St Cirq's comments. Forget worrying about blending in - clothing is just one aspect of how you are perceived, and if you have to work that hard at it chances are other characteristics will spill the beans about your nationality. But perhaps most importantly, unless your dress is way "out there" it won't really affect how you are treated by most Parisians. They are well accustomed to tourists from all over the world and have accommodated to the reality that they are an important economic force. More important to assure pleasant interactions is observing customs such as always beginning with a courteous greeting "Bonjour monsieur/madame" and departing with "Merci, au revoir".
BTW, a recent article in the IHT reported that Americans will soon be overshadowed as the most frequent visitors to Paris - by the Chinese.

We're not all baseball cap and Hawaiian print-wearing loud English-only ignoramuses, you know, though there are plenty of those out and about in any European city.

Says who?

We got style and flair and we don't care. We wear what we want and do what we want cause we is free, free to be me. Wild and wachy is what we is. We don't know no other way and don't give a hoot to boot. Yeah, man, and we are coming to sit right next to you at some fine fancy restaurant and ruin your meal!

I think you should dress your part.

If you want to be treated well in high end shops, restaurants and hotels, good grooming and expensive clothes will yield results. They may, on the other hand, close doors in hipper, more casual quarters.

Otrherwise, follow David West's and Ira's excellent advice.

Another vote for StCirq. I can't tell you how many people have asked me in the local lingo for directions or the time of day, and then stood there with mouth ajar when I answered in my midwestern voice "What did you say?" I have been admitted to average bars and restaurants when the person ahead of me in tennies and/or jeans was refused. When you are dressed well, "business casual" is sufficient, you are treated better everywhere you go. If you are dressed like you just came from Dogpatch that is your statement.

was it the movie "pretty in pink" where a girl that perceived herself as "low class" and poor was going to the ball with a boy that she perceived as "high class". she was very self conscious about her dress and behaviour? She tried so hard to fit in with him and his high class friends and she was so afraid of embarassing herself and being caught out as not belonging with all of these "classy" people. she was embarrassed and tried to hide association with her peers...especially when they didn't act as she was trying so hard to act.

is it just me or is this exactly how some of these american europhiles act? i really don't understand why. i can only imagine that is is a deep problem with perceiving yourself as inferior. serious comment...not trying to offend anyone.

also, if you travel to places like china or japan, do you do the same thing or do you take on a completely different attitude (i.e. have more confidence in who you really are)?

thank you in advance for your self-inspective comments.