MaddieAstrid

What about Roberto Cavalli? I wouldn’t trade my favorite pair for a lifetime supply of Chloe, and while I agree that jeans should speak for themselves, I sometimes worry mine are saying too much.

m_kingdom2

He's a bit bling for my tastes, but if you have the figure and look that can carry it, then fair enough.

SharonG

M Kingdom, I'd watch you. You're smart, witty and funny, a combination sorely lacking these days in most of the idiots on TV. So glad you're on Fodors!

tedgale

As we're all into personal observations and airing our idiosyncratic views:

1. Maddie Astrid writes and argues well: succinct, not defensive, confident. She is most welcome here.

2. I keep wondering if there really is a person or thing called Miu-Miu -- someone or something to whom or to which MK2 alone, in my experience, refers.

(I am aware of, indeed was fond of, the French actress Miou-Miou.)

3. I think jeans are great.

4. I think the French are such individualists that any personal style -- if it is indeed an expression of self, not slovenliness or camp-following -- is legit.

marigross

Is this the first time ever MK2 has conceded a fashion point???

Scarlett - LOL!!! If I could only get invited to places where tiaras could be worn....

cigalechanta

Miu-Miu is the younger line in the Prada Company.

Diane11

I don't want to join what sounds like a silly post,but I'd like to comment on the jeans for evening wear issue. As one email response stated - it's not the jeans,but what the body looks like in the jeans. I've watched fellow Americans deplaning in Paris wearing shorts, sweats, t-shirts and jeans, and have been disgusted. Many of them were 20-40(or more)pounds overweight, and those too casual clothes were often way too tight. Look around Paris and you won't see Parisians over 20 years old or so dressed like that, and very few who are obese. The French still have a bit of personal pride. Adults only wear shorts in their yard, on the beach, or on the tennis court. If they don't have the body for it, they generally aren't seen in it out in public.
If you have a good body, and dress in designer jeans, a fun and/or sexy top and good shoes, jeans are fine. If you're wearing a t-shirt(especially one with a slogan or logo)hanging out over a big belly,jeans,and flip flops or sandals with socks - then the glare is deserved.

Scarlett

LOL, Diane, but you did join a silly post!
The real question is, not if your belly hangs over your jeans but do you wear a Tiara when deplaning?
Believe me, there are plenty of Parisians who can use some personal styling..and plenty of older Parisians wear jeans. And shorts.

marigross

Scarlett, the problem with deplaning wearing the tiara is that the evening gown throughout the long flight must be quite uncomfortable. Unless you are Ms Universe and then you could wear the standard pantsuit and lots of diamonds. Maybe she could get away with designer jeans AND the tiara...She could still not wear the long fur coat without facing PETA!

Carrybean

HDM & kwsl, I SO agree with you. Maybe after a certain number of posts you're considered by some to have first class status while if you have under 50 you're in coach.

hdm

In my personal experience, it really slows up the security line when I try to get through the metal detector with my tiara on. And if you think I'm putting my prized Ms Walmart USA tiara in one of those smelly plastic boxes, well, you've got another think coming, Miss.

shelly59

Oh, dear.
I THOUGHT my tiara, diamante parure, Cavalli jeans, Prada clutch and "My Boyfriend Went to Ibiza and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt" top got some funny looks at the Orsay, but I assumed I was being too sensitive. ;-)

tedgale

"The French still have a bit of personal pride. ...if they don't have the body for it, they generally aren't seen in it out in public."

-- Hence the muscular, voluptuous and generally highly toned bodies on French beaches.

(OK, OK perhaps all those Speedo victims and topless grannies are German)

llamalady

......I believe the correct term for
that roll o'flab hanging over the low
rider is 'muffin top'.

hdm

If your tiara is big enough, bejewelled enough and tall enough, it will distract those disapproving Parisians from your belly flab. Isn't that why tiaras were invented?

Let's face it, if you can't tell the difference between the loose-ass, hanging belly, t-shirt and flip-flops jeans look and the long-leg, tight butt, narrow hip, high heel, expensive shirt and jacket jeans look, fashion is probably the least of your social problems.

Angelblue71

MaddieAstrid, Thankyou for your post, I too have read numerous posts regarding the wearing of jeans in Paris so I found your post refreshing.

I also appreciated it from the perspective of someone in a similar age group. The doormen here(at home) decide whether you can enter a club or not based on your overall look and I've never been intimidated by that before, however I am rather intimidated by this in another country.

I find it very sad that the self proclaimed 'forum police' judge a good post by the number of times you've posted previously and obviously the relevance it has to them, however I was under the misguided impression that this was about providing others with information and advice regarding travels and experiences?

Maybe if a post has no relevance, instead of slamming someone for sharing their experiences, you could ignore it or better still, go for a walk around the block and maybe you too will get that body that can wear jeans anywear.

gracejoan3

My French friends always have blazers in their car when we travel. She wears "nice" jeans and he wears nice casual pants. When we go into any restaurant they put on the blazer. She adds a scarf.

They will then dress for dinner according to the type of restaurant. A starred restaurant would call for dressier on the part of both.

These are French of many generations. I am guided by what I see and what they do. I am a guest in their country and it is my responsibility to adapt to their customs and practices while I am accepting their hospitality, whether in their homes or in their hotels. If you can't accept that responsibility, then perhaps you shouldn't travel. That's the way I feel about all discussions of this nature. Really, there shouldn't even be these discussions. It should be common sense and courtesy that everyone should have learned by the time they do any traveling.

cigalechanta

Everything depends on your lifestyle how you look and are confident. I wore jeans with a teal blue camisole and velvet short jacket and ballet flats and had many compliments. Americans lock themselbve in on how they are supposed to look and dress. As Gloria Steinam said: What's 40 supposed to look like. Be yourself but be appropiate. Women in Paris don't ask what to wear nor do they sit writing in journals. They enjoy the passing parade as we do looking at her.

Momliz

jules - no khaki pants on men? so what should they wear? DH looks good in his khakis and DS is not allowed to wear the worn out jeans hanging down to his knees that he normally wears, although, if I may say so, he is young, an athlete, and looks great in anything (a hottie, I believe the term is). Is the underwear that shows OK for male teens done in France? (that was said tongue in cheek, BTW)

I don't really care if we stand out or not, we tend to do so here when we all start talking and arguing at once. But, I don't want to offend, and I would like to be able to get into the restaurants that I want when we are there.

stokebailey

I can ignore sneers if I must, but my teenage daughters are more sensitive to the opinion of strangers. Their US everyday attire is heavy on the jeans, sneakers and tshirts. We will be eating very low on the Michelin star chain, if that, and will not attempt to crash any chic clubs. Will their youth excuse them from wearing pointy shoes for miles of cobbled streets? What if we promise to spruce up before deplaning?