*ps*
CaptBuzz..I just noticed that you said "here in NYC everyone seems to dress down" so I am confused. I lived on the Upper East side, are you perhaps on the West? There seems to be a difference in "NYC style" too

As usual, Scarlett makes some outstanding points.

I would only add that its always a good idea to start a walking program well prior to going to Paris. It sure helps to break in your shoes and your legs/feet for the exertion that lays ahead.

I bet we walk between 6 to 10 miles a day in Paris. But that is all part of the great beauty of the place. Don't let blisters ruin your fun.

there's a fortune to be made if someone designed a fshion line for traveling unlike the travelsmith or chico's a more chic line. Travel clothes are where maturnity and over size 14 was years ago. Trying to buy beautiful dresses fotr my mom was a chore, such hideous patterns and styles. All that is changed now. I will buy anytime durin g the year if I see something that will travel well that is beautiful. good silk that washes, gauzy cottons, cotton knits because I never travel in winter. Too many cancellations due to our weather.
captbuzz where whatever pleases your feet but not white, the Europeans are wearing all variations of sneakers. A dressy pair of sandals for dinner.
Some lines I have after many washes don't need ironing. I usually pick up one item of dress when there.

CaptBuzz - I DID suggest Rockports --walking shoes for men and women. Steel support shank, so don't wear them at the airport. For women, a little pair of low heels or flats.
I am orig. from NYC, very like Paris, even on the same meridian, with similar weather. Maybe by "casual", the poster meant that the way they put their outfits together, they make it look easy, almost offhand, and casual in the sense that it is not fussy or over-coordinated.
Chatnoir- omigosh, m kingdom is a woman? I just assumed it was some ornary man who never travels making fun of fashion queries and women!

My dear, I travel frequently, however, I'm always confident of the clothes I wear, I don't have one wardrobe for travel, and one for home.

In my experience, New York New York is not worse off in fashion stakes than Paris. Most of the people in Paris are tramps, only those with taste, and/or money are well dressed, and even then they tend to be terribly conservative.

You could walk around barefoot, not one person will care. Public places, by their very nature are public, you can do and wear what you want!

"Summery stuff", yes Parisans do wear that. Why not treat yourself to a copy of Vogue, copy, and collate! Pulleez dears get some fashion sense, and more importantly have some self confidence.

This is a useful thread for many of us.

Like Captbuzz and his wife, I too am in my forties, going to Paris in June, and curious about what is/isn't seen in Paris. I would not wear clothes that didn't fit with my personal style, but it is the height of jingoism to think that what is appropriate at home is always equally appropriate abroad.

Since we are going to be selecting which clothes we pack anyway, we may as well take into account what well-dressed people in the places we are visiting will be wearing.

Too funny chatnoir.

But a silver beret? Pul-leesse. This spring hot, hot pink is the accesory color de rigeur.

Dear Scarlett.
I try not to go higher than 14 st.
West village is our hang out.
You are right upper east side, it gets dressed up more often, and good beer is hard to find past Heartland brewery.

Oooo! The Paris fashions this summer are di-vine! Check out Paris Vogue at vogueparis.com and click on "mode" along the top bar of the homepage..scroll through the little menu to look at the sections "Cheap and Chic" etc and see the pretty little floral shoes and bags they have in this season! I know, they're Chanel and about 500 euro, but it indicates what will be in the mid to low-price boutiques there too! oooh! i cant wait!

Hi Captbuzz. If serious is what you want and your wife doesn't want to stand out as a tourist (so she gets better service, etc.), she should be aware that many people in Paris live there (!) and dress as she would if she were going to work in a major capital city. Except that they have less money to spend on clothes and so they are more careful about what they buy. That results in a more "put-together" look. But unless someone works as a gardener, they won't be wearing what Americans wear everyday around town, to the mall, grocery store, etc., which is usually jeans, sweat or T, sneaks. I found that Easy Spirit microfiber shoes are wonderful. They come in all styles and work for dresses and slacks. I've worn those with a chunky heel over many a cobblestone street without mishap or blister. I almost always dress better when I travel and my last trip to Paris I was treated extremely well by everyone I encountered - maybe because my elder Mom was in tow (gosh, Europeans love the elderly!). But going into nice restaurants, museums and houses of worship really demands tasteful attire. Forget black - and neon. Subtle, quiet, elegant - it's really easy and usually inexpensive. and summer can be cold or really hot - so layers, cotton, lightweight. Have fun in Paris.

What about blue jeans? Are the Parisian Women wearing blue jeans this season?

All designers who produce a casualwear collection show blue jeans. Raw denim is very much in vogue this summer too, it has an almost linen like texture and appearance.

Develop your own style don't start copying other women, you're not from Paris, never will be, be yourself. Start smoking if you really want to look local, will you do that if you a non-smoker at home? Probably not, so why change your entire wardrobe.

I recently returned from Paris (May 2004) and although I am 28 years old I suggest wearing a comfortable shoe that you can wear dressed up or down. Most women do not wear tennis shoes or sneakers, the only people who seem to wear them are tourists and young adults. Women also do not wear shorts so I suggest you bring skirts or dresses to keep cool in. I brought a pair of stylish black loafers that went well with jeans, khakis, and slacks. When I was in Paris the temperatures were rather cool so I didn't end up wearing any skirts or dresses. Just remember comfort is the key, as you will be walking a lot more than you do at home.