LoveItaly

Thank goodness men don't look like Tom Cruise, lol. I have never figured out how anyone could consider him good looking. Actually I don't think Brad Pitt is that great looking either, to me he looks like a little kid..but that is just my thinking.

Seamus

Neop - hear, hear! Though I generally tote along a blazer as a "just in case" item, it sees more use for warmth than conforming to a dress code these days. You are so spot on about changing style and how in all but the stodgiest of places (which I probably wouldn't frequent anyway) one stands out as overdressed or just outdated when following the rules of the past. Now if I could just get my other half to buy into that we could travel with 1/3 less lugagge...

Lauricelli

Geez, Louise! what replies.

Is Jody a troll? What's up with that comment about a "nice" designer shirt...

Hey, this is the deal, my husband is a big guy. He wears a 50 jacket and 42 pants. He played football at UCLA ( long time ago )
Not the easiest guy to shop for. We live in California where it is blazing hot most of the time. As most know, it's pretty casual around here. I figured a sportscoat might be a simple fix that's why I wanted to get some feedback on how "dressy" or not would be appropriate.

Thanks for all the replies. Of course, I wouldn't want my husband to wear anything he's uncomfortable in. Why ruin a good time? I think Underhill did have a good point.I think it's better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed.

It does make me feel better to see we pretty much ran the gamut here.

I want to tell a story here. We were in Venice about 5 years ago with another couple and we had been wandering around most of the day. We came upon a restaurant that someone had recommended so we decided "hey, we're here, it's a little early but let's have dinner" It was a nice restaurant and we were one of the first customers seated. We were seated way in the back. After settling our bill the waiter asked if he could get our jackets. I burst out laughing because there was no way we looked like anyone had a jacket. We asked where the back door was and slipped out unbeknowst to the "well dressed" patrons in the front

kerouac

A suit or a sports jacket will target you more for pickpockets, if that is of interest to you.

LoveItaly

I am sure Lauricelli that Neo meant a nice well tailored shirt versus a sloppy shirt or Tshirt etc. At least that is what he had on when I had the pleasure of having lunch with him in SF. To clarify, he had on a well cut tailored shirt, quite nice looking and it would have been acceptable anywhere.
People don't dress as formal as they use to so your husband IMO will be just fine without wearing a suit or sportsjacket. Do have a wonderful time in Paris!!

hopingtotravel

We've noticed that we've been treated better when my husband wears a sports jacket. Plus, in the restaurants of a lot of boutique hotels, the locals wear them.

bill_boy

People eating in restaurant in hotels, boutique or otherwise, are not locals.

GSteed

How about,"Clothes make the man!".

ira

>...were wearing jeans (which I don't) and a dress shirt worn outside the jeans.<

Y'all wear shoes with that?

ira

PS,

Re "overdressed".

One can always remove one's sportscoat, if one has one, but if one doesn't have a sportscoat, one cannot put one on.

Cicerone

Hey guys, here is something that may not occur to you when deciding whether to bring/wear that jacket or sport coat: MOST MEN LOOK VERY GOOD IN A JACKET OR SPORT COAT. They can cover a multitude of sins in the paunch area. They make your shoulders look broader and bring out the clean lines of your chin. I love to see a man in one. I wish more men would wear them when out to dinner. I think it is a compliment to your wife or girlfriend to wear one out of an evening. It makes an ordinary evening special.

To me, a man wearing a jacket is like high heels on women: they make our legs look better. Believe me, we don't wear them for comfort we wear them for YOU.....so do us a favor and wear the jacket!

Lauicelli, I think it is hilarious that your question is becuase YOU are packing for your husband -- did he break an arm??!!

Lauricelli

Cicerone, hee heee hee.
No, I pack because my husband keeps me in the "lifestyle I've become accustomed to"

I don't work and I gladly pack for all the trips we take. Of course that way I know that he'll have clothes that match too ; ) He's a great man, talented in many areas but not too savy in the dressing area.

Seamus

Lauricelli - does your husband by any chance have a gay brother who would keep me in the style to which I would like to become accustomed? I am a very accomplished packer.

Neopolitan

The basic problem with this whole thread is that many aren't considering using a little logic or even common sense. Trying to talk about what to wear to a restaurant without knowing the restaurant, its location, and its style or without knowing the age and physical type of the person is pretty useless.
Needless to say I wouldn't dress the same for Le Bernardin as I would for Balthazar -- no way. Yet they are both upscale restaurants in the same city. A middle aged man in a tie and sport coat (or better yet -- a suit) at Le Bernardin is appropriately dressed. The same man in the same outfit at Balthazar will probably look like a tourist from the midwest.

The silly statement above that no locals eat in hotel restaurants is sooo lame. I bet the owners of Mercer Kitchen in New York, The Fifth Floor in San Francisco, Asia de Cuba in LA, or hundreds of others would be amused at such an outrageous (and years outdated) thought.

weber6560

This has been a "defensive thread - "what am I forced to do to avoid being out of place?". I prefer to approach the question from an offensive point of view - "what advantages can I garner through various types of dress?" You may come up with a different answer.

Lauricelli

Seamus, very funny. sorry, no brother at all just evil twin sisters.

Neopolitan, I see your point. In my original post I said I imagine it depends on the restaurant? Since it's our first time to France I wanted some feedback. I see the opinions vary widely but they've been very helpful to me.

Weber, how funny. You're interpretation of a "defensive thread' That's the way you chose to interpret it. I'm trying to not pack a bunch of unnecessary things.

Underhill

Hey, guys...I still haven't seen an answer about why sport coats are uncomfortable. That's a different issue from just not wanting to wear one. So, why?

gracejoan3

If you wear the coat on the plane you won't have to pack it. That is what many do.

You really should have a coat if you plan to eat in any nice restaurants. If that is your plan, I think you will return feeling that you have made the best decision.

Have a good trip.......

kerouac

A sports coat is not necessarily uncomfortable (although a lot of them are, and generally the better they look, the more uncomfortable), but the main thing that most of us are considering here is that it is not a "all-purpose" jacket. If such a thing existed, that is what we would want. A sports jacket is just extra clutter in the suitcase and looks terrible if you wrinkle it.

ira

Will you guys please stop trying to stuff your sportscoat into a suitcase?

You wear it onto the plane. You take it off and put it in the overhead locker.

Upon arrival, you put it back on.