My adult grandsons, ages 18 and 22 will be with me in Paris in August. They are in the habit of wearing shorts this time of year in the hot southern city in which we live and their tendency would be to do the same thing in Paris. What is the appropriate casual dress for males of this age on the streets of Paris. Are shorts inappropriate?

Betty James

I don't think it would be a problem considering a zillion other tourists ( of all ages) will be doing the same.
If they are going to restaurant for dinner, long pants would be more appropriate.

Will this set your mind at rest? http://tinyurl.com/d36vxo

Yes, it does help to have feedback. I understand that tourists dress any way they want to, but would a Parisian of the same age wear shorts in Paris? I speak the language and I guess I'd like for us not to immediately be tagged as foreigners.

Going to Paris in August will probably tag you more as tourist than any outfit.
Young adults wear the same stuff all over Europe (and get it from the same stores, by the way).

In Paris last week we didn't see many shorts, except on Americans and Germans (the latter surprised me). We saw more shorts in Dijon, but they tend to be long -- even those awful capri style things. Jeans seemed to be on everyone.

Hi Yett,

>...I'd like for us not to immediately be tagged as foreigners.<

Don't worry. Every single native you meet will recognize immediately that you are not from Paris even before you speak.

Business Casual for dinner.

Enjoy your visit.

A Parisian who lives in Paris may not be wandering the streets in mid-day going to tourist attractions. Everyone will know you are a foreigner, probably, no matter what you wear. Even if you speak fluent French with a Parisian accent, it sounds like your sons do not and whatever they wear may look foreign, anyway -- as well as what you are doing and what you are carrying.

If a Parisian has a job and is working, no they won't be wearing shorts on the street. However, if they are doing something casual on the weekend or on holiday and it is hot, yes, they may wear shorts, I've known some male Parisians who do.

oh, yes, of course males who wear shorts don't wear short-shorts (re the comment on long shorts on men). egads, they don't even do that in the US that I've seen. They all wear those about knee-length cargo shorts. Even BB players don't wear short shorts any more.

Why would anyone WANT to be taken for a Parisian?

In my teens, when my accent was better, I occasionally was. Only time in my life Parisians were horrid.

I'd have had a T shirt printed saying "Non, non, non. Je suis anglais", if they'd invented T shirt printing back then.

In my experience, most PARISIAN males do not wear shorts after the age of maybe 13. It seems like kids wear them all the time, but adults, not so much. But there will be plenty of tourists wearing shorts and you won't be mistaken for being French anyhow, so your kids should wear what they wish -- except to dinner. Long pants are much more appropriate at dinner.

Ditto danon