I'll be going to Paris, Provence, and Venice in August. Unfortuantely, I'm an idiot and broke my foot a few weeks ago. My doctor initially told me I had to wear a boot cast for 2-3 months. Luckily my injury is healing nicely and he hesitantly agreed to me not wearing my cast in Europe if I wear a very sturdy pair of tennis shoes. I have no restrictions on how much I can walk, which is good as well.

The tennis shoes I bought aren't fancy by any means and are slightly bulky - but mainly they are white with a bit of blue and look just like running shoes - not fancy at all. Since I'm trying to pack light, my original plan was to take lots of skirts and a pair of walking sandals, since the skirts don't take up much space. But now that isn't much of an option.

Does anyone have any other ideas of what I can wear? I'll probably wear jeans some of the time but it will be hot there. Maybe a light-colored pair of capris? I've read posts saying that shorts are not ok in Europe - how true is this? Any ideas for anything I can wear for slightly nicer places?

Thank you!

Last summer we saw capri pants on just about everybody, so I would go with that. I would buy some really low socks - athletic ankle socks - to wear with the tennis shoes so that they don't stick up too far over your shoes.

As for shorts, I think they aren't very common in cities, not that they aren't ok, just uncommon. In coastal or mountain areas, shorts are more common.

Provence is pretty casual, and it will likely be very hot. So I wouldn't worry about your clothes there so much, whatever you think goes. I wouldn't wear shorts out in the evening anywhere myself, but you could even do that in some really casual place.

Have you thought about a better pair of shoes? Whatever your doctor is recommending, I would think some sturdy walking shoes would suit the purpose just as much as tennis shoes. I broke my foot once myself, although I didn't have a cast (I broke a metatarsel), just a removeable brace-type thing. My doctor didn't tell me what kind of shoes to wear, I just had to get something that would fit over that, so I did wear tennis shoes a lot, but any shoe that was big enough would work. The main goal was just that I wasn't supposed to twist my ankle, and the brace prevented that. I know a cast is bulkier. I also could walk with no problems, as my broken bone was under my arch and didn't get weight on it much, but I didn't have to wear it three months, I thought bones healed quicker than that.

I think there are lots of pants that aren't tight at the ankle (which isn't in style much now, anyway) that might work, or is that impossible -- you know, boot cut or just some fuller linen pants or something. If you can wear jeans, you can wear other pants, probably easier.

I would go with capri pants and a couple pair of knee length shorts. Those low socks that don't show over the top of the sneakers. I would take two pair of shoes for sure, so you can switch back and forth. I would never travel with jeans in August, way to heavy and hot.

I broke a bone on the outside of the foot one May, had to wear 'das boot' from May until late August. Had to elevate every day, sometimes propped foot up in a chair at my desk. Used the bag of frozen peas for swelling. Not a fun summer.

We were supposed to go to Rome that October but instead I opted for Paris, because I knew how far apart places were, and knew how to offset too much walking. Even by October, my foot would still swell after being on it and I had to limit my usual 'sightseeing death march' to about 70% of normal (for me).

So you can go and enjoy your trip but you should probably not expect to cover as much ground as you originally planned. Don't be adverse to taking a walking stick (aka 'cane') to help out.

Why can't you wear the skirts you originally planned with tennis shoes ? I find skirts the most comfortable thing for trudging round hot cities all day.

I am not exactly a fashion pro, but I have worn skirts with sneakers. I second Caroline's idea that skirts are the coolest, most comfortable things for walking around cities and towns. I only wear trousers when doing heavy duty hiking.

How about picking up some of the skorts that are around this summer, they should look ok with tennis. Tennis shoes and longer skirts are just kind of clunky looking but really it's true, no one around you is going to care what you are wearing.

I've had to wear the lovely "blue foot boot" so can sympathize with you. Rather than tennis shoes, can you get a Euopean style trainer shoe, which isn't white, to fit your foot?? Good luck finding something to suit your foot and your fashion style Deborah

Are you sure you wouldn't want to take the cast along? Especially since you say your doctor was hesitant that you don't. Rushing a broken foot into touring around Europe sounds like it has the potential for disaster worse than bad fashion (sneakers & skirts) imo.

I would not take jeans to Europe in August, waaaaaaaaay too hot plus they will take forever to dry (especially in Venice.) I like to wear cool, flowy skirts when traveling in summer (even with tennies, LOL.)

Someone mentioned a walking stick/cane which is a great idea.

Would you consider a darker walking shoe than the white tennies? Ecco, Mephisto and even New Balance make them and they could work with dark slacks for evening outings without being too conspicuous. They could serve the purpose of good support and protection and blend in well.

Either dark or light shoes could work with khaki slacks, capris, or divided skirts/skorts. I second the suggestion to get the low socks the tops of which sit low and close to the top of the shoe.

Consider bringing the boot and/or the walking stick if only to signal others in crowds that you particularly need not to have your foot stepped on.

I had two badly broken toes and then acquired serious blistering on the backs of both feet in New Zealand a while back and the only shoes I could wear had straps across the top of the foot. It was a nuisance, but I still got around.

I realize I made a mistake upon re-reading the original post, and the doctor said she had to wear sturdy tennis shoes, but the cast will be off.

Well, I think your doctor is odd, myself, having had a broken foot. As I said, the issue was not to twist and reinjure your foot, and the walking brace I had (which had some metal flat pieces up each side of the ankle, and was just a plastic/cloth contraption attached with velcro straps) was really important for that purpose. So I just had to have larger shoes that could fit over that as it added a little size (and of course, I mainly wore pants as I thought skirts looked dopey with it). But the brace provided the structure and safety, so I couldn't accidentally twist my foot and come down on it the wrong way.

I realize my foot was probably broken in a different way and you may have to stabilize something different, but I don't get why your doctor insists that it has to be only tennis shoes or what that's all about. I could walk on my foot okay, but I really wouldn't have embarked on a major walking vacation to Europe like that.

I agree you can wear skirts, as planned, why not? At first I thought it was the fashion thing (and I agree, ugly bulky white and blue sneakers with a skirt will not be a pretty picture), but I think some very casual skirts will be okay -- you know you aren't going to be a fashion plate any way you look at it. I have on a blue and white slub linen casual skirt today at work, drawstring waist, with white stitching that sort of emulates jeans-style, and it stops a few inches above my ankles. I'm wearing navy blue leather sandals. That could easily work in your case and not look awful.

I really would not wear jeans in those places in August, either, I didn't understand why you could wear jeans but not other pants, which at least you could get more loose and lighter-weight.