Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Paris 5/19/02 Fashion Report

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Paris 5/19/02 Fashion Report

My impressions: Conventional wisdom is more or less on the mark. Dark colors prevail and atheltic shoes are generally seen on tourists and the young. However, all black is certainly not a requirement, although it was generally my choice as that's what I wear at home. Most of the "athletic shoes" that I saw on young people were not really athletic shoes at all...not running shoes, but things like Sketchers, retro Pumas, converse, etc. Jeans are very prevelent. The only time I saw shorts were on tourists at Notre DAme. It was hot however, and I was jealous. The girls are all showing their bellies and they don't seem to care if a little fat hangs out. Spaghetti strap cami-tops are everywhere. Also, the peasant shirts , slightly off the shoulder are HUGELY POPULAR, white ones especially. I bought two. Cropped pants were common, but with slides and other shoes I would not consider friendly for heavy sightseeing. How in the hell some of the older ladies are wearing those high heels on cobbles is beyond me. I saw a number of femmes riding motor scooters in spike heels. Scarves abound. Purses were varied. Many back-pack-purses, a number of totes. I didn't see definate trend. I noticed zero Coach bags except the one I carried. At Pierre GAgnaire about 1/2 the men had suits and ties and about 1/2 had suits, no ties. I like that look, but could not convince my husband to ditch the tie. Ladies were dressed as expected in elegant coctail dresses, many black, but nothing overly formal. I did not notice if they had stockings, I did not, it is my opinion that open toed sandals are en vogue and they do not go well will hoseiry. If you've ever dreamed of wearing an evening wrap threaded around your elbows or draped around your throat, a Paris 3 star is the place to do it. I was in heaven with my beaded sheer black silk scarf and even my husband, who generally scoffs at formal attire, made appreciative comment. Thanks go to Ann Taylor for the ensemble.

Thanks Donna, as one who always loves to watch what people are wearing, and, of course, like you I like to look nice, I really enjoyed your "fashion report". Benita

Danna, I read the info on the other post about the area near the Le Regent. We will be staying there for a weekend in July on our way home from Italy. Like you, I like to be comfortably and yet nicely dressed to suit the event. Tell me, please, what you noticed about dress /skirt length in Paris for both day and evening wear - long, short, somewhere in between? Thanks.

I'd like to hear about skirt lengths, too, especially for ladies over 30.

I'm going to Paris in 2 weeks for the first time ever. This fashion report is immensely helpful. Can I ask a question about shoes... I've got a pair of black slides (open toe) extremely comfortable, wedge heel, about 2". I've walked all over the place in these and they're wonderful. But fashion-wise do you think these would be OK or should I rush out and get some closed-toe shoes?

Danna; Keep the fashion report info coming!

Danna: Glad to hear that there are travellers who like to feel comfortable and dress appropriately and stylishly. I was in Paris each of the last 3 years, once in the summer and twice in October. Smart-looking black pants with a crisp white shirt or basic white T always look good. Invest in a pair of good-quality low-heeled black leather boots and a smart bag. Parisian women may only have one bag but it's of good leather and goes with everything, except perhaps a fancy evening outfit. I also took a smart leather jacket for chilly days. For a change from T's or white shirts I wore very basic wool turtlenecks. Three pair of black pants (one of them leather)and several tops took me everywhere. Purchase some scarves in Paris and learn to wrap them Parisian style. Danna is right about the athletic shoes...they were more than just runners. In spite of the guide books which talk of sales mostly in July and January, there were plenty of special sales at each of the major department stores...and because they don't have sales all the time as we do in N. America, their sales were wonderful. So plan to treat yourself!!!

Danna, you mentioned that you bought 2 peasant shirts. May I know how much was the price? I am going to Paris next week and would love to buy them, if I see any. Thanks

Danna, I am interested in the advice on skirt and dress lengths also. I planned to take several long summer skirts which could go from day to evening easily, several shorter(just below knee)length summer sheaths, one long dress for evening and one shorter(just below knee) dress for evening. Any advice to give regarding skirt and dress lengths would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, ladies, glad you were interested. Newbie - if you have some slides that are comfortable then by all means wear them. I saw lots of slides, think they look good with everything. You might want closed toes for very heavy sightseeing just for durability, but I think you are great for general shopping and stolling. Mari and ditto - I am wracking my brain for skirt lengths, but nothing really stands out, so it must have been about what I see at home...barely above the knee to longish. Cannot remember seeing anything very short. Medusa - I bought the shirts in Galleries Lafayette in what appeared to be similar to a US junior department. They were CHEAP, 35 and 19 Euros. Not fabulous quality, but I'm sure they will only be in style for a short time. Saw similar shirts in practically every boutique I went in, none too much more expensive. Linda is correct about the black pants. They look good with a crisp white shirt. I flew in black pants, a black&white patterned built-in-bra cami-top, and black silk cardigan. The cardigan came off and tied around my shoulders the second day (never went to bed) while it was hot. It was the perfect travel outfit, the comfy top was good for sleeping on the plane, and nothing wrinkled. If you're going to wear the same outfit for 30 hours, it better look good and be comfortable! I bought Cole Hann Nike Air black loafers, they were great, but still my feet hurt like there were bricks attached in the mumeum the last day. My husband had switched his Eccos for running shoes and still his feet hurt as well. I think it is invetible, so bring shoe back-ups and mole-skin pads if you like to walk everywhere.

We saw all different kinds of "fashions" in Paris. Definitely a lot of black. People from other countries bring their clothes from home and I don't think they care that much about dressing like a Parisian. Most, I think, try to look nice - although sometimes you wonder. I have a pair of "loafer" type shoes from the Walking Co. that I wear all the time. However, after the 1st day of walking around in Paris, I couldn't wait to get my sneakers on. I could have cared less as to what "everyone" else was wearing. And, Danna, I'm w/ you on the little old ladies as well as the other Fr. women wearing spiked heels, high heeled mules, slides, etc. - all the time. How do they not have aching feet all day long? By the way, I knew they were Fr. women by the size of their thighs. :-) How did they luck out in the thigh dept.???

Geezuss crimany, don’t any of you have enough money to get a LIFE??????

Are Sketchers those bowling-type shoes? If so, we saw them everywhere in store windows in Venice, Rome, and Siena but, interestingly, saw few people actually wearing them. (I know a guy who was wearing bowling shoes, real ones, back in the early '80s. I bet he'd be happy to know he was ahead of people in Paris & Rome by almost 20 years. :) We definitely saw a lot of black clothing in Rome. At one cafe, on the Campo di Fiori, it looked like that's all everyone was wearing. While no one certainly has to wear black clothing, and I don't sneer at them if they don't, I have to admit that I also don't understand when people seem to not "get" the appeal of it. For one thing, it's very practical: black doesn't show dirt as much. For another, it's very flexible: it can be combined with almost anything else. And for yet another, it can be dressier (how many red or green or blue tuxedos have you ever seen? :)

You can thank Donna-tell-us Versace for the revival of the peasant blouse a la Cher during her gypsies-tramps-and-thieves stage. Another hot item I have not seen mentioned above is Ben Cho's strappy, dominatrix-inspired top or dress. Very louche, my darlings. As for bags, the purse-of-the-moment is Phoebe Philo's Rock Lobster Bag for Chloe, black embroidered with a huge red lobster. I've heard that even Carine Roitfeld is on the waiting list to get one. So get in line, girls. Welcome to Paris.

Capo - no, Sketchers are those canvas tennis shoes with really thick bottoms that US teenagers wear. I did see quite a bit of bowling shoe-esque footwear. And to Pastyface and the remarkable number of similar posters on other clothes related threads: Why in the HELL would you click on a thread that said "fashion report" if you were bored by talk of shoes?