French Fashion Guide
 

Hello! I will be going to France to on an exchange program for 10 months. I'll be completing my junior year (11th grade) there. Now, I don't really know what type of clothes to pack for my exchange.

I am from an Asian country and the climate here is completely opposite to that of France. My clothing size is usually 16 or 18 (UK size) for t-shirts, shirts and dresses and 14 or 16 (UK size) for bottom wear. Also, my shoe size is around 42 (euro).

I do not have any winter wear like sweater, coats and jackets as I don't really experience cold temperature where I live. And, France has a really low temperature during winters.

It would be a huge help if someone could give me a few suggestions as to what to wear to schools in France during different seasons. What type of clothes are 'socially acceptable' in school? What are the usual 'party' clothes? We have a school uniform here but the schools in France do not have a uniform, so I am very confused about what to wear as I have never worn casual clothes to school in my entire life.

I am a 'plus size' (stated by my measurements above) so please keep that in mind while giving suggestions.

Any responses, suggestions, links or websites are appreciated. Thank you for going through this! ��

Where in France are you going? It can make a huge difference as far as the weather is concerned.
UK Size 14/16 would be size 44 in France.
I live across a lycee in France. Girls wear a lot of jeans and leggins. Few skirts and dresses at school. T-shirts in spring/summer, sweaters, down jackets, scarves in winter.

Websites to give you some ideas (and prices) :
https://www.nafnaf.com/fr/
http://www.pimkie.fr/
http://www.newlook.com/fr/ados/c/fr-teens
http://www2.hm.com/fr_fr/index.html

T-shirts, shirts and jeans are classic wears for the young here in France. Leggings are in fashion, both normal legging and jean legging. Avoid baggy clothes because they're not very popular here, unless you want to be hip-hop.

Bring some winter clothes with you: at least a good jacket/coat, some pulls/sweaters, a woolen scarf, a good pair of shoes/snickers for the first days, a woolen head/beanie. France is not too cold so several layers of shirt+pull+jacket can keep you warm. You can always buy more clothes here, 16-18 UK size is 44/46 France size, it's available in shops but not too many, so you'd better bring some of your own.

It's not so cold to the level that you need furry coats or boots.

(My mother would laugh if she see I'm giving fashion advises.)

The daughter of one of my friends here in France is in the equivalent of 11th grade. She wears jeans most of the time, with sweaters or wool tops in winter, leggings, scarves. If she goes to a party or social gathering it's mostly short skirts, leggings, nice tops, and always a scarf. No kids her age dress up much, at least around here. But this isn't Paris, it's the sticks.

One of my favorite websites for buying clothes here (for young people and old, all sizes) is www.newchic.com.

And if you want to see what people really wear instead of what the shops want to sell or some of the members here would like to believe, here is what people wear in my neighbourhood in Paris: http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...fashion-advice

Now THAT is one of the most helpful "what to wear" posts I've ever seen.

Do you have a winter version, Kerouac? Julia is going in the winter.

Is there a school uniform?
In winter, scarves are one constant item worn by both male and female. An Internet search will turn up sites explaining how to knot the scarf (yes, there are many gestures available)
The larger Monoprix stores are a place to start shopping for basics although hardly a fashion shrine. Do pay attention to footware, not for style but for warmth and resistance to the damp. Sneakers will do if worn with the French secret weapon, panache. Which you can see in Kerouac's classic post from eight ago.

Go to C&A on rue de Rivoli or near Printemps on Boulevard Haussmann.
You'll find the sizes you need, warm clothes and for not much money at all.

The most important thing is good walking shoes - leather - and ones you can walk for miles in. I'd recommend buying them at home and breaking them in well.

The other stores mentioned only go up to about size 12.
Sometimes, you can find things at Monoprix, but you have to try them on.
Get warm wool bonnets, gloves, scarves and socks at outdoor markets for around 5 EU or so.

It will rain a lot during the winter. I'd try to buy a waterproof raincoat with a hood and zip out liner if you can find one at home.

Okay, here is a cold weather version. It's a bit dated but things have not changed much in terms of coats and colors -- black still dominates, followed by other dark color and every now and then someone will dare to wear a red jacket.

Since I only do reports out on the street, it is difficult to know what is under the coats most of the time.

http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...-november-2010

What everyone else here says. Jeans, leggings with longer tops, sneakers, boots in winter.

Also, have a look at the Asos website; they are quite good with sizes 16-18 (44-48 French, depending on the clothing brand), and not very expensive. Finding larger sizes in the popular stores is not always easy.

If you're in Paris, check out Uniqlo for thermal underwear and coats - but if you're from Asia you will be know about Uniqlo.

Good luck with your exchange!

Uniqlo in Paris doesn't carry larger sizes, unfortunately.

I agree with C&A suggestions, you can just buy a cheap fleece jacket to get by for a while if you want, except I go to the one at Montparnasse tower, there isn't any need to only go to a certain branch that I can think of. And they do carry quite a few larger sizes. They also have thermal underwear or at least some kind of base layer (not always thermal, may be synthetic). That mall has other young shops, also, as well as nearby rue de Rennes.

Monoprix isn't that cheap IMO, and aren't that good for outerwear, especially coats, but is worth a check.

Kids don't dress up that much anywhere, it seems to me, Paris is no exception (meaning high school kids and teens and college-age).

Depending on when the OP is going, I probably would not worry about packing a winter coat, but would wait to buy one when I got there. I presume she is going in September and won't need it yet.

September is still summer and is usually quite warm. Even October is often warm. Collective residential buildings normally do not turn on the heat until November 1st.

Naturally, with the weather there are never any guarantees.

I'd look for one of those "puffy" jackets at C&A - they only cost about 49 to 69 EU and will keep you warmer than toast. And everybody and their maman wears them.

I was in a Marks and Spencer in Singapore yesterday, and that's about all they were selling in the "coldwear" section.