paris in august - jacket at restaurant?
 

I know people here get tired of answering questions about what to wear. I did try searching but could not find the answer to this specific question:

We will be in Paris in August. We are not planning to eat at any Michelin starred restaurants, but we will be eating at some restaurants, not just cafes. For my husband, would a nice (short-sleeved) shirt and dress pants be ok? In August does he need to bring a jacket/tie?

Thanks in advance. :)

I think a nice (short-sleeved) shirt and dress pants would be okay at most places. However, its easy enough to bring a light jacket and tie. Take them and dress as the mood strikes you when there.

Hi c2,

One of the advantages of bring a jacket and tie is that they can be readily removed, should the occasion warrant.

imo the shirt and pants will be fine at most places except for the top rungs, if he doesn't want to pack the jacket and tie.

Uh-0h... I smell m kingdom coming!

c2-

You don;t need a jacket and tie in casual restaurants in europe any more than in the US - as long as they really are casual.

I agree with no need for a coat in non-starred restaurants. My husband would be the first to wear a coat ANYwhere. We did dress "appropriately" for our Jules Verne lunch--it just calls for a bit of dress. Generally he wears a sport jacket on the plane so it is not a big deal to have one along. I LOVED the remark about it being easy to take off for the "occasion"!

Ira you are priceless...I say here's to warranting occasions!

Doing without a coat and tie is okay, but please don't wear a short-sleeved shirt, especially at dinner.

underhill - why no short sleeves? we are talking about august, after all. is it really that inappropriate to wear short sleeves? even when it's 90 degress F?

to clarify, i certainly don't mean sleeveless (i.e. a tank top), just a nice short sleeved dress shirt.

No, m_kingdom, you have some catching up to do. While the UK may be the home of our "mother tongue", dress slacks in the US, does not refer to what we would call tuxedo pants. Believe it or not, there are more Americans on this board that there are UK people, and all Americans know what is being talked about it. It's too bad your own knowledge is so limited to your own country that you are unaware of what terms mean in other countries. I happen to have a car with a trunk, but at least I know that it is called a boot in the UK. So if someone asks how big the boot is, I'm intelligent enough to answer the question without saying, "hey, stupid, it's called a trunk". It's too bad you have no knowledge except your own local expressions, and can't accept other variations of the English language. You have some catching up to do.

I agree with the long sleeve shirt for evening dining in any nice restaurant.

Thanks - I guess I'll tell hubby to pack long sleeves for evenings. :)

Patrick, thanks for the post. M_Kingdom, I am not a a hick. I actually live in a major urban center in the US - an urban center where in the heat of summer, many people wear short sleeve dress shirts to nice restaurants. Of course, since I am relatively well-travelled, I don't expect things to be the same at home when I travel abroad which is of course, why I come to these forums.

I've also been surprised to notice that men in Europe don't seem to wear short-sleeved shirts as much as American men. In summer the men roll up their shirt sleeves.

In Rome the last time we were there it seemed that THE casual weekend look was a pressed long-sleeved shirt worn <b>untucked</b> with nicely pressed jeans or other casual pants and very nice leather shoes. Often they would wear a sweater casually draped over the shoulders.
(This was during the day, not to restaurants in the evening)

In the evening, the shirt would be worn tucked into nice pants, but the sleeves might still be rolled up.

c2,

At the risk of being severaly chastised, I will say that I think men in short sleeves at a restaurant in the evening just don't look classy.

Hey guys,

No one cares if, in a casual cafe or restaurant, you have sort sleeves or rolled-up long sleeves.

Europeans don't wear short-sleeved shirts because they can't afford them. It's cheaper to wear long-sleeved shirts with the sleeves rolled up.

Ira, I'd have to say that a lot of the men I've seen with rolled up sleeves could very easily have afforded short-sleeved shirts. (Some were obviously very wealthy.)

I just think it is the style there, which is a little different than what we're used to in the US-- not right or wrong, just different.

LOL!
Of course European men wear short- sleeved shirts in Summer! Where did you get this wrong information?

Again: How you dress will govern your reception and service. A baseball cap worn backwards, a multi-colored tank top, baggy shorts and sneakers may get you into the restaurant but it will also get you the table at the kitchen entrance. Restaurants like to sit well dressed customers in premium locations. In many restaurants the best wait staff will also be assigned them. A summer weight sport coat and matching tie are simply a small investment that should reap major service rewards. Experiment with both style approaches...let us know what happened.

&gt;How you dress will govern your reception and service.&lt;

Definitely not a US thing. Some of our states forbid discrimination on the basis of appearance.

He won't need a jacket/tie, except in upscale restaurants.

Last time I had a dinner out with a tie was several months ago, and it was purely because I was coming back from an appointment.

Rolled up long sleeves just LOOK more handsome. There is not a set of male arms that benefit from short sleeved dress shirts.
in my humble American opinion

IMO...there is no such thing as a short-sleeved DRESS shirt...Short sleeves are sport shirts.

And never, ever, ever--not under any circumstances, at any time of year, in any place, or for any reason--wear a short-sleeved shirt with a tie.

(Unless maybe you've been invited to a retro costume party and you're going as an insurance salesman, circa 1955.)

Or as a missionary in a warm-weather area???

Awwwright, Missionaries can. I won't be so crabby with them. Their &quot;lot&quot; is hard enough, I imagine.
(personal aside: I was at a party a few years ago, and other guests were an abundance of missionaries from Belgium, assigned to what was then the Congo. They came here to Delaware to get used to the heat and humidity!!!!&gt;????)

If I worry about impressing others with how I look, I might wear a long sleeve shirt and roll up the sleeves. But if it is really hot and humid, I'd be a whole lot more comfortable in a short sleeve shirt -- those rolled up sleeves are not cooling -- with several layers over the inside of your elbow -- the point that you could normally put cool water on to lower your body temp. So if it comes to being comfortable in hot, miserable, muggy weather, or suffering along so I will look nicer for other people whom I plan to never see again -- I'll wear the short sleeve shirt, thank you.

Now, please don't misinterpret what I've just said. I'm sure some will turn this around and say something like &quot;so, you'd wear a swimsuit and tank top if that is more comfortable.&quot; Duh.

&quot;And never, ever, ever--not under any circumstances, at any time of year, in any place, or for any reason--wear a short-sleeved shirt with a tie.

(Unless maybe you've been invited to a retro costume party and you're going as an insurance salesman, circa 1955.)&quot;

or, you're a mormon missionary...

My husband in summer often wears a short sleeve &quot;dress&quot; shirt with a tie under his sport coat. Who can tell the sleeve length under a sport coat? It's cooler. We live in SoCal.

At least I discovered why we always get to sit by the front window in Paris restaurants . . . It's hubby's suit coat or sport coat. He always wears one. It's worth it for the view! Who knew?!

We are here to help and guide you c2. Elle is right,Pl-e-a-s-e-- do not wear a short sleeve shirt with a tie.
I suggest to your husband, to take &quot;the jacket.&quot; If you decide to have all casual meals, he doesn't have to wear the jacket, and if you decide to go somewhere a little less informal, at least he will be prepared.

You are on holiday, it is August, let your husband wear a short-sleeved shirt if just going to a casual restaurant. I always write to dress appropriately for your venue. Unless you are going to Pre-Catalan or Violon d'Ingres, there is no need to wear a coat and tie in the heat of August. My god, I have worn jeans to Costes.

I do not agree about the short-sleeve shirt not being worn in Europe. I see it all the time. If you aren't trying to impress anyone, why worry about it?

Relax, you are on holiday.

I have to confess that I really like those loose short-sleeved shirts that you used to see exclusively on older Cuban men, but now seem to be popping up everywhere. Just saw some in T. J. Maxx in Wilmington, Delaware. What are they called--&quot;guarabana&quot; or something like that? Do men in other Spanish-speaking countries (where they know from hot)wear them?

I'm with SusyC--short sleeved shirts look like you need a fix from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy--rolled up long sleeves at the right hieght look very sexy

short sleeves, with a jacket, is just as acceptable as long sleeves, but is a cubana front ruffle okay in a warmer month, or is that striclty cooler fare?

The Paris dress code is no code. However, a jacket and slacks will get you better respect from everyone serving you, whether in cafes or restaurants. If it's too warm in the place take the jacket off. A long sleeved shirt would look better at that point. There is no need for a tie.

I do not see a need for a tie unless you were at the top spectrum of restaurants. My other half never ever wears a tie unless he is travelling on business and has meetings. Sports jacket and shirt is perfrctly fine. You probably will not need the jacket anyway in August.

As for the sleeves. Just a personal preference, I feel they are not as popular from what I have seen over here and I think longer sleeves is just nicer dressed. And you should completely ignore me as you should dress in what feels good to you! :-)

It is &quot;all about style&quot; and having the right LOOK. Yes, it is a sexy more stylish look when a man rolls up his long sleeves on the shirt. But, there are some great looking Men's shirts with some &quot;style happening&quot; that are short sleeved. The key is remember it is 2004 and wear something that is current with how fashions are NOW.

Elle? Imagine...fashion right here in Wilmington, Delaware!? That's where I am! But of course, I'm jaded and cynical by all the banker boys in white shirts...