Leely

Texas Ag-

I knew you were kidding--but I was worried people wouldn't know *I* was kidding! No harm, no foul.

And snow: maybe you can go tobogganing (sp?) after work!

MIM04

Amalfi yes - depending on where you go. Paris NO.

And yes, I am young, lol. The first time I went to Paris I was 11 and I did not wear shorts. I just dont feel comfortable wearing shorts in a city.
Plus, it might not be warm enough. I always wear light capri pants if its going to be warm. Have fun!

euroenvy

Ira was that you following us in paris?

HowardR

We've been to Paris for the first two weeks in May and it was definitely not shorts weather. Some days, we wore leather jackets, others we were in shirtsleeves.....but no shorts.

suze

Pack one decent looking pair of shorts each and see how the weather is after you arrive. Easy, non?

Ag3046

You look like a moron in Paris wearing shorts. Amalfi coast- maybe capris are a better choice.

sandypaws3

We always go to Paris in March or April, so I generally wear slacks and long sleeved tops. I always bring a dress and skirt too, and planned on wearing it this trip, but found I couldn't wear my dress shoes -- foot problem -- so had to wear slacks and my functional, black walking shoes to the restaurant. I noticed other women in slacks too. I realized I could have done without the dress and saved myself some room. The nicest restaurant we ate in was Bistro Breteuil for lunch, and many women wore slacks.

Sandy

brookwood

Ever since I ate in a restaurant along side a man clad in pants and an undershirt, I ceased to worry about what I wore in Paris!!

My conclusion was reinforced when I sat next to a guy at the Opera Bastille clad in a very formal T shirt. It was, of course, black. We were wearing out Sunday best because we thought we needed to if we were sitting in the second most expensive seats. Not to worry. I think anything that covered the critical parts would have gotten us in the door.

Just don't dress so that you get arrested!!

I am not kidding about man in the undershirt. No one seemed to pay him much heed even though he talked to himself a lot.

anastasia_LA

We just returned from Paris on Monday. Last Friday and Saturday the weather was a little warmer than the beginning of the week and I noticed a few people wearing capri pants and open toed shoes. It turned cold by early afternoon though, so I was happy in my layered look. I was very surprised at how many people were in jeans, both tourists and locals.

Traveler863

Europeans generally don't wear shorts unless they are hiking/camping etc even in heat of summer....lightweight slacks are most appropriate throughout Europe.

logos999

Brookwood is absolutely right. What I am wearing when its warm enough, and Im always dressed properly anywhere in Europe is.

- Wal-Mart T-Shirt (commonly reffered as undershirt)
- brown chinese pants (no shorts, too cold, no cotton, I prefer plastic)
- white tennis socks
- chinese hard leather shoes (no trainers!)

You dont need to worry, nobody will care.

jules4je7

When I was in Paris in October 2003, I regretted not taking more basic black, and I remember people staring at my blunt-toed Merrill's when everyone else was wearing the super-pointy toed heels.

Personally, when I go again in September, I'll try to balance personal comfort with trying to fit in a little more. Next time I'll leave my blue Gore-Tex jacket at home and take a dressier black raincoat that will go anywhere and help me blend in.

As for shorts -- they're really not necessary that time of year. I'd take a nice skirt instead, or better yet wait and buy one there.

Happy travels.

Jules in Denver

ira

>....is it ok to wear shorts?

As long as your husband wears trousers over his shorts, he'll be OK.

JeanneB

IRA: I approve of your theory. With that in mind, I can wear my comfy New Balance walking shoes at night...as long as I wear sleek, pointy-toed heels over them!

madameX

For Paris: "Dress as you do at home?" Only if you dress well and appropriately at home. Practically, it may be too cool in Paris for shorts. In any event, shorts are NOT appropriate in many circumstances, i.e. a cafe may not refuse service, but you'll not be as welcome as somone who is dressed more appropriately. You'll give ammunition to Europeans who think that Americans only think of their own comfort, and not respect the situation.

travelbunny -- Unfortunately, there are slobs and inappropriate dressers in New York and Boston, too. We should phrase it: dress appropriately, as if you want to make a good impression. Europeans believe in making a good effort in how you present yourself in public, as a responsibliity to civil society. It doesn't have to be formal or fussy, but at least as though you want to add soemthing attractive to the scene.

I've also had many Frenchmen and women start talking to me in French, as if I were a French person. I've NEVER worn shorts in Paris; you shouldn't either. In any case, I find skirts or little dresses cooler than shorts, and there are a lot of great ones.

Really, you shouldn't look like you're going hiking or to the beach when in Paris. The parks with joggers, etc. don't count, just as they wouldn't in Central Park or the Boston Common or the Chicago Lakefront. In town, you want real clothes.

Yes, I know that many high-end designers have shown Bermuda-length shorts this season. Only slim legs look at all good in them. Even in Bermuda (I've been a number of times,) they really only look good on guys.

This may rile up some of the rabble: ever notice how it's GUYS who think they look just fine when inappropriately dressed down?

(Caveat: I've done advising at some companies when they shifted to "dress casual" office places. While most understood what was appropriate, the male transgressors usually were faulted for sloppiness; the female transgressors were more likely to confuse "business casual" with club dress. A company dress code was always the result.)

madameX

'By the way: a not bad alternative for comfy walking shoes is the new G series from Cole Haan, which combines Cole Haan styling with Nike technology. Also: everyone from Chanel to lower-priced manufacturers has "ballet' style skimmers (no padding needed if Aerosoles; put in cushioned foot liners if not.) You'll look very "Audrey in Paris." Finally, some think that sports shoes are a no-no. They are a no-no if they are the typically crummy running shoes we see around alot in everyday life. In Paris, its perfectly fine to have the snazzier sport shoe that is as much a street shoe, NOT meant for athletics. (Personally, I'd more a ballet-flat kind of woman or the sport shoes from Ferragamo or Magli.)

Wearing Birkenstocks in Paris is a cry for help.

AlanM1

Dear MadameX,

Have you ever been to New York, Boston, or Chicago in the summer? I live in Manhattan, have lived in Boston, and have visited Chicago many times and everyone I know wears shorts for casual wear, even in casual restaurants (gasp!).
No, I would not wear them in Paris.

kbrennan

We just got back from Paris. We dressed nicely - and received nice treatment everywhere we went. When you go into such lovely museums and shops, it just feels better to look sharp.

b1000

Sure there are always some "natives" who may dress casually or even sloppily but the majority to Parisians are sophisticated and do not wear shorts in the city. If you want to stick out like a sore thumb dress like you do at home. I prefer to blend in with the locals, rather than look like an obvious American tourist -- nothing wrong with this, but not my preference.

Intrepid1

How to "dress nicely"??? Listen to what the mirror says back to you when you look into it rather than a bunch of nameless strangers.