anna_roz

Absolutely every woman and child had a puffy coat on in Venice this December, mostly black but also green, blue, gray and a few whites. These were either short to the waist or mid-thigh, a few long ones. Just like a uniform, women wore long boots, mostly flat, riding kind. Thank G-d I bought a puffy coat for Venice and brought my scarves! I would have really stood out otherwise. Also, lots of ladies wore fur coats but we do not really want to go there..

nancy1818john

Nice fashion statements quoted. Moreover I am always a big fan of Paris Fashion Week. Its a city of real fashion.

flpab

It doesn't look very chic to me. I work at an airport and maybe one out of ten people look decent. The older Italians are perfect. I can handle about anything but pjs on a plane and there are many that look like they are going to bed not on a trip. We are going in May so not sure what to wear but layers and I love scarves so will bring several.

markland

Amsterdam in the fall got the same memo - knee high flat boots, fitted, waist or mid-thigh coats, and lots of scarves wrapped "just so". It was actually boring, and to me, quite stunning that almost every woman had adopted the look.

I didn't see anything like the "uniform" in London, way more variety, but it was October, so maybe they've fallen in line now

BTW, my Michael Kors swing coat, which still looks great here over skinny jeans, looked totally out of step. Ah well, another fashion victim bites the dust!

PatD

No, we don't think we can dress like Parisians, but as women we don't want to stick out like a sore thumb and we want to feel comfortable in understanding the dress code. Men are much more blendable as long as they leave their big white tennis shoes at home. You definately get treated differently if you look like you just exited a spaceship from another planet versus someone who "gets" what the local culture is all about, respects it, and does not call attention to themselves by dressing somewhat inappropriately. I don't think men give this as much thought as the business uniform is pretty universal - suit, shirt, tie- anywhere in the world, or jeans with a sports coat will get them in just about anywhere. Women on the other hand have many more decsions to make. Its always helpful to know what is the costume de rigueur.

Fidel

"You definately get treated differently if you look like you just exited a spaceship from another planet versus someone who "gets" what the local culture is all about, respects it, and does not call attention to themselves by dressing somewhat inappropriately"

Oh, poppycock, creative individuality is not "inapppropriate." And speaking of not getting the memo, when was PatD appointed as spokesperson for "we women?"

PatD

Didn't claim myself as spokesperson. I just don't understand the need to make snarky comments that are uncalled for.. Just because you may not agree doesn't give you a license to ridicule someone else by re-quoting and then pointing out how stupid the comment was to them. (Dressing creatively individualistic is not equated with inappropriateness such as too casual or .... fanny packs.) Sorry if you took offense. I think this blog would be greatly improved if people resisted the urge to make negative and unneccessary commentary on someone else's efforts to add to the conversation. It is very discouraging.

PatD

correction....so as a woman I don't want to stick out like a sore thumb and I want to understand the local dress code. ... I on the other hand have more decions to make.

Feel better now Fidel?

Fidel

"Feel better now Fidel?"

Last I knew we are allowed to disagree, hope so anyway. Your contention that Americans *should* dress a certain way in Paris and that women will be treated differently if they don't conform to some standard (but not men so much) is bizarre; you are making it up that there is a "dress code" in Paris, and can't be serious about your advice of "no hats, umbrellas for mostly only older people." Trust me, if you are an American, no matter how carefully you have hidden your chins, they can spot you a half-kilometer away.

rosetravels

Thanks PatD, fun update!

I live near Seattle and bought a puffy coat for a recent trip to Milwaukee and Chicago. I was glad to see that I fit in! Here the marshmallow look is a novelty and black wool coats (and of course goretex) are still the norm.

Tentek

PatD, I agree that "as women we don't want to stick out like a sore thumb and we want to feel comfortable in understanding the dress code. ... You definately get treated differently if you look like you just exited a spaceship from another planet versus someone who "gets" what the local culture is all about, respects it, and does not call attention to themselves by dressing somewhat inappropriately. I don't think men give this as much thought as the business uniform is pretty universal - suit, shirt, tie- anywhere in the world, or jeans with a sports coat will get them in just about anywhere. Women on the other hand have many more decsions to make. Its always helpful to know what is the costume de rigueur."

Fidel, nobody is interfering with your libertarian choice to wear whatever it is that you choose to wear. I frequently see Americans wearing all kinds of fashion choices that I would personally not select or that one would not encounter in Europe frequently. In fact, you might want to check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvxNgdFeWqM.

I hope it makes you proud.

Tentek

This is totally off-topic, but hilarious:
http://www.youtube.com/user/PublicSe...?feature=watch

I always want to share it with people like Fidel.

russwuf

These regular cyclical posts about what to wear and what not to wear while on vacation in Europe are most amusing.
Bottom line.....wear what you wish...wear what is comfortable....wear what is practical...don't be so stupid or silly to think that you must wear what everyone in Rome or Paris or London is wearing...sheesh... that is so junior high and absurd to the point of comical. There is NO "dress code" that one must adhere to in any place for gods sake.

tuscanlifeedit

NO person that reported what they saw on this thread is telling others what to wear. We wrote what we saw. Some may find it amusing or helpful. If you don't, you needn't read it.

But please don't accuse the posters on this thread of writing about what to wear; we didn't. We wrote about what others were wearing.

This is a report thread, not an advice thread.

russwuf

my my soooo defense are we.....OH PUUULEEZE...if you think this is merely for information purposes only thread...then THAT is even more amusing. The implied if not stated..and often is stated....about what/not to wear happens alllllll the time on these forums.
"We don't want to look like Americans with "white tennis shoes"..."should we wear jeans or not"....ad nauseum....

kerouac

I am constantly amazed that there are still some blind people posting here. Parisian wear zillions of "white tennis shoes."

Fidel

"This is a report thread, not an advice thread"

lol. Did they change the meaning of "costume de rigueur?"

flpab

I work where the Rolex 24 hour Race takes place so we have many Europeans that travel through my airport. They all have ball caps on their heads, white adidas, puma and other trainers on. Are theytrying to fit in so they don't look European?
I do wear black leather shoes that are comfy unless we are hiking and then a pair of Keen boots. I do mix and match black outfits mostly to save on how much I pack but we are thankful for the tourist here in Florida and I am sure they are thankful for our money so wear what you want. I do get on my husband to leave the ever present ball cap at home.

Fidel

To anyone who is afraid they're not "good enough" to visit Paris: Go ahead and wear your edgy North Face jacket and big honkin' purse to your choice of tourist sites if you want to, but even if you don't, contrary to the rubbish being promulgated here, Parisians are very nice NORMAL people. You will not be arrested or even stared at if you wear a wool coat or carry an umbrella. Try going away from the usual tourist crowds and you will fit in even better....

danon

Paris, like most big cities ,has very different areas with population from some of the wealthiest people in the world to poor immigrants and locals.
Seeing several outline arrondissement has been an eye-opener - ladies who lunch near Le Bon Marche
( like those on the Upper East side) are just a part of a
larger picture.
Never the less, looking for that "Paris look" , and even wishing to imitate it , is no crime.