At the risk of sounding negative, wear the jeans on the plan and shoes that you can move quickly in if there is an emergency. The recommendations are sturdy clothing and shoes should their be an airline emergency - jeans will protect you.

bobbye7, I have always worn jeans in Europe (except for nice nights out) and fine them to be very versitile. If they have about 3% spandex, they're good for many days.

I plan on bringing them along for my trip to France in May.

I'm curious about the comment someone made about only needing one sweater. I have noted the average high for when I will be in Paris (May 18 - 22), and it is only 65 degrees. The average high in Provence is in the low 70s. This seems like perfect light sweater/cardigan weather to me. Especially in the evening. I'm pretty sure I'll bring more than one, so I don't have to wear the same one every day.

I thought your list was pretty good, and I agree , two cardigans, or a lightweight fleece jacket you can layer under your windbreaker for warmth, and the cardigan is a dressier sweater for dinners out etc.
I like jeans, but, I find them way too uncomfortable for sleeping in and wearing for 20 hours straight, some of you are tuff ladies, LOL .
I would consider bringing one pair for a May trip, but , not for June, July or August as I think they are too warm and bulky for then. They are durable though, and I don't think you need to wash them after a flight unless you do something weird in them , vomit, or spill food,, LOL. so for a short 8 day trip why not. I take longer trips and I refuse to even attempt jean washing in a wash basin!
I have heard some travel companies make jeans that are better travellors, lightweight and wrinkly resistant and fast drying... unfortunately they are not really styled for a younger wearer.
I am glad you are not being a silly packer and taking too many clothes, trust me, you'll be fine with what you have, and you will love travelling light.

bobbye7,

I have never heard of Earth shoes...but I might be interested in the mary janes for my trip to Europe in May. Do you mind passing on a little info?

muffin,
you can go to zappos.com and look up earth shoes. they are very comfortable but some people don't like the negative heel. it's called that because the heel is lower than the toe, with the idea of making a person stand in a more natural position and improving your posture. they usually have a very wide toe box so might not work if your foot is really narrow. the mary janes i have are sort of a burnished red and can be worn with jeans or a skirt. the only problem i have is they get a bit sweaty in warm weather when you're not wearing them with socks or knee-highs. i usually dust the inside with talcum powder.
bobbye

laura~ re the one sweater comment...

I try to avoid packing 2 items that serve identical function. And yes that means I am willing to wear that same sweater every day. Not worth the packing space to me, just to have a different color.

I do the same idea with tops, say one sleeveless, one short sleeve, one long sleeve, etc. rather than 3 shirts of a similar style and fabric.

I always wear a nice stylish jogging outfit on the plane. They are very comfortable and the jacket and pants can be mixed and matched with other layering pieces that you pack. I also bring soft comfortable cotton t-shirts to wear while touring. Tours are very casual, so you should try to bring clothing that is stylish but made for comfort. I saw a really cute "Paris" T-Shirt on Travel-Tees.com that would be great. I wore the Prague shirt on my last tour to Eastern Europe. Have a great trip! I'd skip the jeans also!