Paris, late April, can I wear wool?
 

Looking for a top coat for the cooler evenings. There's so much on sale right now so thought I would pick up something, and sounds like it must be black? Would a wool walking coat be too heavy? Or should I stick with a raincoat weight? We are going first to Dublin for five days, then Paris for a week. Any tips on packing and wardrobe would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Weather is extremely variable in April. Sometimes it's downright chilly, and at other times it migtht be uncomfortably warm.

The best philosophy is to pack clothes that you can put on or take off in layers, so that you can adjust the warmth of what you are wearing to suit the weather.

I find that in Paris lightweight fleece vests and jackets can provide plenty of warmth and can be added or removed as circumstances required. You can wear other garments as well as long as they also allow you to "layer" clothing. The garments you choose should not be things that create a real contrast between cool and warm, because then you can't add or remove them to incrementally increase or decrease warmth. A fur coat would be a bad idea, for example, because it has to be pretty cold if you're wearing one, and yet it has to be moderately warm when you take it off.

Also be aware that light, drizzling rain is common in April, and often it alternates with sunny blue skies, even over the course of a day. You might want to bring things that are relatively impervious to water, like something in Gore-Tex, for rainy days (umbrellas usually are not ideal, because the rain is very fine and comes and goes a lot, and because it is sometimes windy as well).

April will probably still be very cool in ghte evenings. You can go to any waether website and look at the average temps. As far as the color, it does not HAVE to be black. Wear what you want, there are no fashion police there.

You really cannot tell now what the weather will be like; just check a few days before you leave. A raincoat with lining would, I think, be more practical that time of year (something like a Burberry trench coat). And it doesn't have to be black (although that's an easy colour to wear).

For Dublin a fleece will do you and maybe throw in a rain jacket, for Paris I would suggest the same, i've been to paris in April and its much the same as Dublin.By the way, its not obligatory to wear black.

Hi H,

My Lady Wife has a Scottish wool/cashmere cape (Smoky Buchanan) that she wears in chilly weather.

She received many compliments on it when we were in Paris in Sept.

If it rains, she takes an umbrella.

((I))

Last mid-late May, on many days I wore a warmer sweater and a black wool blazer under a mid-calf hooded raincoat. Some days it was too chilly for just a sweater and polartec jacket. Especially when the wind was blowing.

It's helpful to check a ten-day forecast just before leaving to finalize your packing. Even so, I've learned over the years that you still have to pack for warmer and cooler. You can experience three seasons in any week in Paris, sometimes in one day.

A raincoat for me is essential. One with a hood precludes the need to haul an umbrella all about all the time.

Rather than a wool coat or a raincoat, I'd recommend a wool jacket and raincoat, along with various weight other layers. A wool coat would get very wet in unexpected showers, even with an umbrella. And, all the pockets in raincoats are fabulous.

Last year I went during the first week of March. I went to the weather network and looked at the 10 days forecast before I left as I was going to the airport.

It didn't help. The forecast was all wrong. It said it would be around 5 degrees celicus during that week, but it ended up to be -5 degrees celcius all the time. Apparently it hasn't been that cold for many years. It was windy and snowy. I didn't bring my winter coat and it was freezing without it. My luggage wasn't even full, I should worn my winter coat and packed a lighter coat in my suitcase. I learned my lessen. Never trust the forecast, and bring it eventhough you may not use it.

And layering your clothes would be good too. You can bring a spring/fall jacket. A sweater.

Also, if your wool jacket got wet, not sure would you want to put it on the next day.

Oh, guess I will have to go out and buy that black Burberry trench, with the zip out lining. Darn.

AND, LOL on the black. I am halfway kidding, but don't think it is too far off, from what I have been reading. Thanks all for your help with my shopping plans.

We got sunburned last year in Paris the 3rd week of April. However, I always travel with a gortex hooded rain jacket and it came in handy the one morning it drizzled. Have a sweater or a pile pullover if it's chilly.

Heavens, I have a longish black trench coat that I can wear over a blazer or heavy sweater. The nice thing about black is that it does not show the dirt. I don't worry about the fashion police, I just find that black travels well. Have a beautiful time on your trip.

We have travelled to Europe in spring andfall for years. In spring, the weather can be very chilly and wet at times. Therefore, the only coat I now bring is a raincoat with a zip out lining, such as sold by LL Bean or Travelsmith. They pack down pretty well and you have the liner for warmth. Unless you are planning to hike the Alps, you will probably be in and out of buildings all day long and don't need to bundle up like you are going to the Arctic. But if you get wet, you will be very cold for hours. Find a black raincoat in a full or walking length with zip out liner. That will be nice enough for any outing and casual enough to wear during the day.

I have always found a raincoat a better choice - with a sweater and/or jacket underneath if necessary. It was never that cold at night when we were there - perhaps 50 - too hot for a wool coat.