Packing for Paris...Need Help
 

We will arrive in Paris this Sunday the 27th for a week. The weather prediction looks rather rainy and cool. I had planned to wear mostly capri pants and short sleeve t's for sightseeing during the day. Will that be okay with a light rain jacket? I was planning on shirts and pants with long sleeves for dinner. I was hoping to wear sandals in the evening. Will I need heavier clothing for this time of year?

If you have a week like we did at the end of August a couple of years ago (after the killer heat wave) when it was rainy and cool, you should be fine with your proposed wardrobe, but the light rain jacket will come in handy.

The sandals depend on the rain, I think. I can't imagine cold feet at this time of year if the evening is dry. But maybe take a closed pair of shoes for evening in case it is wet. We had some heavy rain during our trip over the last days of August. Pack an unbrella.

Last week it was in the 50's at night. Next week it could be in the 70's. You never know so I always plan for the 2 extremes and hope for the moderate.

Open sandals at night are not a good idea if you're walking to restaurants. Rain puddles, cobblestones and doggie deposits might be an issue that I wouldn't want to deal with in the dark in sandals. (Me, who wears flip flops practically everywhere at home!)

Sounds OK but would take closed toed shoes for evening (simple flats). Maybe less capri and more pants? As long as all your pieces layer well together you should be fine.

Linda431,

I changed my mind and agree with you. Open sandals at night are a poor choice. Unless, like the gorgeous girl I saw escorted by a handsome (older) man, coming out of Tour d'Argent, you are being whisked into a waiting limo. She had on a beautiful pair of high heeled open toes, but there wasn't any walking on her agenda.

Thanks for the help. Guess I better figure out different evening shoes that look okay with a skirt and I can still walk a bit in but not have freezing toes. I can guarantee there will be no limo to whisk me away! Layering during the day is probably the name of the game and I'll put in another pair of long pants too.

Hi Natawa

I just got back from Paris a week ago and not only was it "rainy and cool" but I was freezing! I ended up wearing my one pair of jeans and my one long sleeve shirt every day for the last 3 days. (Made it easy to unpack the clean clothes when I got home!) Please be sure to pack enough warm clothes in case you get some cold days too.

I'm leaving for Paris on Sun., also, and am hoping for cool weather! Temps looked good to me this past week, but appear to be warmer next week.

Bon voyage!

ttt

We'll be in Paris mid-late September. We've been at the same time previously. You just never know about the weather and you will often experience three seasons in the course of a single day! Best bet is to check the 10 or 15 day forecast on www.weather.com or www.accuweather.com, but also plan for warmer or cooler, just before leaving home and finalizing your packing.

You will not need winter clothes, but summer clothes will likely be way too lightweight, and the ubiquitous layers are always best. I'll probably pack (in addition to black slacks, a black skirt, white tees...) several cotton cardigan sweaters of various colors and weights, along with a cashmere cardigan (lighweight but warmer). I'll definitely bring my hooded raincoat (precludes the need to haul an umbrella all over all the time for those unexpected showers) and a wool blazer (that fits nicely under the raincoat). I'm also packing one set of long underwear (CuddlDuds). They take up nearly no room in the suitcase and double as pj's/lougewear. Depending on the forecast, I may toss in a polartec jacket. Or, there may be a few warmer days when I'll appreciate having my comfortable sandals along (here's hoping).

We usually visit in May or September. Every day, we get dressed and bring a sweater and raincoat, then find ourselves adding and removing all through the day and night.

Note that a windproof jacket/raincoat is especially handy for enjoying open air boat rides, as is is chillier and quite windy, if you want to be outside enjoying the glorious scenery!

Hello Natawa...I like you have struggled a bit with the packing situation...espcially since I will be traveling through italy before I get to France. I will arrive in Paris around the same time as you. After numerous posts and many many many suggestions...I have settled on a layering for sure and the biggest struggle was practical shoes. If you want to see my pack list...go to http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...amp;dirtyBit=1 to see the string and how I changed some of my packing in my effort to try to be practical.

You may find it amusing cuz of some of the replies get heated from the know it alls on this site but in the end...everyone truly is trying to help...and the information is helpful. I just try to take with a grain of salt...sometimes that is difficult.

Natawa33 - You would be fine with capri pants and flat ballet style shoes ( very Audrey Hepburn chic!) just make sure you have a light sweater and an umbrella - or a nice pashmina is always a life saver.
Enjoy!

I never travel with skirts or dresses, that solves the shoe problem. One nice dressy outfit of a pants & top (black, jewel colors, silky or velvety fabric, brocade, etc.) fills that need for me.

Thanks for all the advise. I made several wardrobe changes last night. It difficult when you are only traveling with a 22" suitcase that now has to also hold all the items that would have been in my carry-on! The shoe issue is always a challenge when you're trying for comfort and style but taking as few pairs as possible.

After our 6 days in Paris, we will spend several days in Bruges and then a few more in Amsterdam. Weather forecast looks to be rather cool and rainy there too. Oh well, the photos will look like those we took in London; a raincoat on in all of them.

'Largely agree with all the advice here. There are other threads on this topic, too.

For another viewpoint: I usually pack a 22" suitcase, unless I'm going on a longer trip. While I prefer to wear skirts (I'm more comfortable in them, and feel more spiffed up) I'll wear pants on cooler days. Frankly, there are so many good-looking ballet flats, slides, or kitten heels that give me a nice change for evening and pack into little space (...What would audrey H do? :>) It feels really GOOD to have a different look for the evening (I hate being in the same clothes all day AND evening -- at least a change of tops.) That's why a raincoat of some kind or good, or umbrella. I also like to throw in a pashmina shawl -- packs to nothing.

But as others have noted in other threads, shop in your own closet and look first!

<shop in your own closet>

THAT is excellent packing advice!

MadameX, shopping in your own closet is the best advice. There is no need to buy a special wardrobe for Europe. What you wear here in the fall, goes very well in Europe in the fall.

And we do not need long posts on this subject that might qualify for a doctoral dissertation.

Natawa: You can do very well with a "casual" (not to be confused with sloppy) packing wardrobe.

Black bottom (skirt or slacks), white tee, sweater in your favorite color, along with that light rain jacket, will take you anywhere, except the fanciest places, which may be of no interest to you, anyway. For fancier, add a bit of jewelry. And, a colorful scarf and you'll be "tres chic".

Best bet is to check the 15-day forecast on accuweather.com, but still plan for warmer or cooler, as the ubiquitous "layers" are always best.