I have never paid much attention to kids in Europe since I never had any of my own the times I've been. I've got two 10 year old twins. Early dinners out in casual bistros - are longer, knee length shorts okay (decent shorts - khaki or dark jeans)?

We travel a 4-6 weeks at a time with one bag so I need to pack smart. Paris is our first stop so buying what we need there doesn't help.

I won't scare anyone putting myself into shorts - no worries.

If you're going in the summer then shorts are fine for kids (and capris if they are girls) but also bring long pants in case the evenings turn chilly or if you do a boat cruise on the Seine in the evening. I think khaki pants/shorts are impractical for traveling - they get dirty too fast.

Whatever they would wear as street clothes in SF according to the weather they can wear in Paris.

I wouldn't worry about it. You sound plenty thoughtful enough.

I'm not that thoughtful. We usually travel looking like complete slobs but we will meet French friends and probably have to eat out somewhere decent. Just hoping I could get buy with "nice" shorts in June.

I like to dress my snappers in Baby Milo t-shirts, Isabel Marant harem pants, and Castaner espadrilles.

But then I keep a photo of Carmel Snow on my fridge.

A big French teen brand is Scotch/Soda.

When I was 10, I would ride my Vista bike through the Bois de Boulogne with a bottle of gin in my lap.

Have fun at Deyrolle!

Thin, a branch on the tree of life

Dress you children in what they will be comfortable with.
You can buy some things for them there after seeing how the .
French children dress. Avoid the boutiques $$$ shop the department stores.

I do hope you bring a pair of pants or jeans for them. I have been to Paris many times in the summer, and usually its nice and warm, but one August 7 out of 9 days of my visit were cool and rainy.. it was a bit of a disaster,, I had brought a friend who had never been to Europe before and I told her to pack "sundresses, capris,whatever is cool)... needless to say we only had one pair of pants with us and one long sleeved top to layer under our jackets, got boring fast,,we ended up having to buy some more long tops .

Kids can dress the same anywhere - as long as you mean little kids and not adult "kids".

But you do need to consider weather - including hot days, cool nights and rain - yes, it WILL rain.

Dress codes for kids? What is the world coming to?

Denim, denim, denim amongst other things.

well, I think the tykes should dress up a bit if they are dining out at La Tour d'Argent or someplace like that.

i asked if they could wear shorts to a restaurant.

they will wear whatever they want all day long.

i just wanted to know about bistros/neighborhood restaurants and shorts.

Nice jeans are what European kids wear almost everywhere. Shorts are not big for eating out. More for sports.

European kids do pay more attention to clothing than American kids IME. But "dressier" is not quite the look... "trendier" I would say.

But, I would not worry too much about the attire of a 10 year old. No one will worry about it.

(a mom of children who lived in Europe for 4 years)

Browndogs,,, frankly I would say "no" to shorts to a restaurant at night, in day fine.. but also there is a big difference between a proper restaurant, ( and you did say early dinner, but most restaurants aren't open till 7:30 anyways) and a brasserie ( continueous service ) or a café with food service.

But no, I would not take my kids to a sit down, white table cloth place for dinner in shorts, but for a café or very casual meal I might,, but only if it was hot enough to make it seem warranted and not just sloppy.

<< i just wanted to know about bistros/neighborhood restaurants and shorts. >>

I'm going with my original comment. If you go to dinner and immediately return to your hotel/apartment then shorts are fine. If you plan to walk around after dinner, look at the lights, watch the Friday night skate, stop for an ice cream, the kids might get cold in shorts.

Good grief. Assuming they don't look like ragamuffins, dress for whatever the weather calls for and don't give it another thought.

The term "kid" in France and Spain refers to goats, or am I wrong? I guess you can dress your "kids" any way you want. If you mean children, the shorts are fine if they are 12 or younger.

The Countess de Billy suggested matelots in her email but I told her American children don't wear them.

She was horrified. She thinks America is the Wild West. LOL!


Thin

<< The term "kid" in France and Spain refers to goats, or am I wrong? >>

LOL It also refers to goats in the US. But it's commonly used to describe children perhaps a derivative of kinder? it also means to joke as in to kid around; to tease.