London / Paris dress attire in July
 

Hello. My wife and I will be spending time in London and Paris next month. What do locals tend to wear in early/mid July?

I was thinking I still have to do slacks but my wife thought shorts would be fine. But I would think that would attract pick-pocketers (or is carrying a backpack a giveaway anyway?). Thanks for your thoughts.

This question comes up a lot, so I will try to make my thoughts clear:

1) I have no idea where the concerns about pickpockets come from. I have lived in London and Copenhagen (as well as the US) and don't know anyone that has ever had their pocket picked. I take no special precautions. I genuinely don't understand the concern.

2) Europeans absolutely do wear shorts. Those that say they don't are looking through rose-colored glasses. I was in London 2 weeks ago and saw plenty of shorts - enough that they couldn't have all been Americans. All the shops had plenty of shorts on display. Same with Berlin a week before that. I was in the Copenhagen airport picking up the wife last week. There were at least 12 different men in shorts waiting in the pick-up area - as it was the pick-up area, I can only assume they were locals.

3) The backpack does give you away, anyway, so why care?

4) Go to popular European vacation destinations, like the Greek Isles. Everyone is in shorts, or worse. You are on vacation. Wear what is comfortable. If some European wants to judge you poorly, then they are a special kind of hypocrite.

The one thing you can't be totally sure of is the weather. Shorts are OK if it's hot, not if it's not.

It was cool when I was in Paris last July... I wore a sweater and do not think shorts would have been comfortable.

If you are taking shorts - make it only one pair. Sure it can be warm or even hot. But it is just as likely to be on the coolish side, or rainy, or nice during the day and downright chilly in the evenings.

Thank you!

Other than our first day in Paris, the weather turned quite cool where long pants and long-sleeves were necessary. I saved my shorts for another time. Thanks for the responses.

Someone tried to pick our pockets in the Paris subway. Pickpockets are in every large city. I've seen them at work on a SF bus. I suspect that they can identify potential victims by more than the lacks or shorts that they wear.

They identify victims by looking for people who are distracted, confused, carrying their valuables in unsafe places (back pants pocket or easily slit backpack).

A disproportionate number of tourists are targeted since they tend to be 1) more distracted and 2) are dragging all sorts of stuff around with them.

To europeans american clothes look different (the same as I can pick out europeans in NYC) - but that's not the issue.

Appropriate clothing depends on weather - be aware of what you may get in europe in the summer - it's usually not as hot as the US except for the southern countries - what you plan on doing (concerts, upscale restaurants?) and your normal style.

(I wouldn't wear shorts - except knee-length, tailored city shorts with dress shoes - in NYC, except in the Park or running errands in my local area. So I wouldn't do it in europe either.)

Oh - and don;t go in summer without a sturdy folding umbrella and waterproofed walking shoes. (Sandals aren;t great when the sidewalk is running with water.)