female attire in top Paris restaurants
 

Is it acceptable for women to wear pants to these restaurants ? My daughter insists so and you know how kids are (she's 47, hahaha). Thanks.

you may want to define 'top' restaurants - for nice restaurants definitely IME pants are OK unless the lady is very obese of course. Some very top restaurants may not require formal attire but most will dress up for the occasion - a relative handful of 'top' restaurants that is - the most exclusive for the super wealthy.

For upscale restaurants stylish well-cut trousers with a silk shirt or cashmere sweater and chic booties or similar are fine. I wouldn't go in jeans and a tee/shirt you have been wearing all day.

Some women may be more formally dressed - but it is elegance - not sequins - that counts.

There is no restaurant in Paris that requires that women wear dresses. It would be contrary to the discrimination laws. By the same token, no restaurant could deny access to a man wearing a skirt.

Clothes are recommended wherever you go. The Paris Fashion Police have been disbanded although they occasionally make snide remarks on Fodors.

We usually pack light (one carry-on each) so I don't want to bring a lot of clothes I'm only going to wear once. I wear some very basic unchic black walking shoes when we travel and pack some nice black slacks (which pretty much cover up my shoes) and, combined with a dressy top and some nice jewelry, feel this is fine, even if I'm overweight and wearing slacks. I'm just going out to eat, not turn heads.

Yes, she is hot ! That said, we four are all trying to limit the amount of clothing taken so vanne's suggestions seem a propos. The men will bring jackets and ties. No problem there. Just wondered if trousers are acceptable for women.

<By the same token, no restaurant could deny access to a man wearing a skirt.>

And now the Scottish traditionalists have been placated.

<The men will bring jackets and ties.>

Where are you eating? This is unnecessary unless you will be going to very chic restaurants that require them, which then begs the question if trousers would fit a dress code for women . . . (given EU rules, I'm doubtful that such dress codes apply anywhere in France but that's for the EU legal experts to chime in on).

Just google some of the top restaurants in Paris. They all have photos of diners. Take a look and see what people are wearing.

My mother has not worn a skirt or dress since 1972 and I don't think she has been denied access anywhere for that. On the other hand she has been denied access to a couple casinos at night for wearing athletic shoes. Brest and Deauville come to mind.

You really do need to definite "top restaurants".

Are you talking the very very very best award-winning, celeb-chef kind of restaurants? Or just normal nice upscale places.

We dined at Troisgros in Roanne for my wife's birthday this past July. Troisgros has been a Michelin 3 star (highest food rating) restaurant for 45 years, and it has 4 "Knife & Forks" (5 is highest) "elegance" rating. In the room where we dined, there was a 55YO (guessing) gentleman wearing jeans and a white shirt. I don't recall seeing anyone with a tie. There may have been a jacket on some men. I wore slacks and my nicest dress shirt. My wife wore slacks also.

In Madrid in '12, there were "jackets required" for 1 restaurant where we dined.

Stu Dudley

I agree about the jackets and ties - not necessary, and if I were a guy I wouldn't want to carry that stuff over unless it really was truly necessary.

don't tie yourself down - ditch the ties and jackets and take St Cirq's advice - Google the restaurants you are thinking of going - though the pictures may not always be totally representative of an average crowd I would think.

Back in the old days, a jacket and tie for gentlemen and a dress for the ladies was 'de rigueur'. Those days are long gone. Now all anyone cares about is can you pay the bill.

Jeans and a t-shirt are perfectly acceptable for the man (or woman) who has the confidence to wear them. Dressing up has become a sign of the opposite.

Tell the men to leave the jackets and ties at home, they'll just look like a tourist fish out of water and tell your daughter to where whatever she is comfortable wearing.

Hate this forum has no edit function.

I did not mean to suggest you tell your daughter to go somewhere. Wear not where.

If I were going to a high-end restaurant in Paris, I'd *want* to dress up a little. Contrary to what dullcex says above looking nice is not a sign of having no confidence.

I have a black knit below-knee pencil skirt that travels beautifully and looks elegant without any extra fuss.

I'd very much want to dress up, too, which for me isn't slacks, but I do know it's not required. I don't need to be in sequins and stilettos, either. Just well-fitting, understated clothes with a couple of accessories...pretty simple.

Yes, especially if your accessories included a Verdura brooch and a cocktail ring from ilias lalaounis on the Rue St. Honore.

Thin

Dulcius, that's one thing we all agree on. So stupid to have no edit function.


Bedar, it's 2014, wear what ever you damn well like, as long as it's clean and pressed.