Paris spring clothing
 

Okay, I took a new set of photographs from my apartment window yesterday so that those who are interested can see what ordinary Parisians are wearing in a working class residential neighborhood.

Obviously, you may see different clothing on avenue Montaigne or boulevard Saint Germain -- but never forget that those people are a very small minority of Parisians.

Here is the link: http://tinyurl.com/df4d3d

With a very few exceptions, I could have taken those photos from my balcony here in Dupont Circle, DC.

Oh, I forget to mention that the 'Find the American(s)' contest is now open :) -- there is one photo containing a specimen or two.

forget = forgot

Great 'photos but the other thing that is amazing is how fat they all are, can you imagine being crushed in a metro with some of these people.

I'm guessing the whale in the pink shirt is American - but how do YOU know, kerouac?

Wrong. My American identification was from hearing the conversation across the intersection even though I live 3 floors up and there was plenty of traffic noise.

Are you sure that THose pictures were not taken in Harvard Square? :)

Looks like NYC to me

They could pass for Americans..

Well, I thought I could win this game of "spot the Americans", but I give up. The best guess would be the two blonds in jeans.

The American couple are:

The gingerhaired old gal in the lilac coat with a black bag across her chest, followed by her whitehaired husband in a pumpkin-coloured blazer, trailing a short distance behind whilst crossing the road.

I love Find the American contest. I lost, I thought it was the silver haired woman dressed all in black carrying an orange sac.

You win, scatcat -- the Americans are the two skinny blondes in jeans.

I thought I should win this game. I'm a people watcher and although they are skinny, they kinda look American. I'm a skinny American blond too, but that is not me. I was in SML and Nice the first of this month, but I didn't go to Paris.

The two blondes were my first guess. My sister and I spent one afternoon sitting in a cafe in rue Cler drinking kirs and counting the few blondes that we saw (sort of a game, spot the blonde). We both came home from Paris wanting to dye our blonde hair brown.

I think it is the 'long straight blond hair' look that gives it away. I don't think any other nationality considers that to look appealing -- but it has long been a sex button for American males. I remember from my college days the discussions about 'the longer and straighter the hair, the better' -- frankly, that is weird.

To get back to the basics, however, I hope that you all noticed how chocolate brown is one of the main colors for end-of-winter clothes. And I'm sure you have also noticed that pink is the major bright color that is worn. I already said this here last summer, and several people were sure that I was joking.

I loose - but what possible nationality could those people be?
Look at the old gentleman - definitely not English! He obviously was a much larger man but because he had the jacket tailormade and it cost a bomb, must wear it out before he does!

Frankly, there is nothing stopping those people from being French. The only thing that is slightly out of the ordinary in the couple is that most old women that age in France still prefer to wear dresses or skirts rather than slacks.

I also thought it was the "blondes", they looked like they were trying to decide which direction to go next ;;) thanks for the spring pics kerouac

Deborah

Thanks Kerouac for all that great entertainment!
BTY - I loved your apartment.

let's see the apartment!

I couldn't find anyone I thought overtly American--definitely not the large woman in the pink jacket; large American women would not as a rule wear short-sleeved jackets or print skirts and I speak from personal experience.

<i>let's see the apartment!</i>

There's nothing all that great about it. I am still hunting through my thousands of recently rediscovered photographs to find some better pictures.

But here is where tod saw part of the apartment: http://tinyurl.com/clodbz

One of the most interesting male fashion trends that I observed during my last two trips to Paris was the blue gingham shirt that many, many Parisian men were wearing. To me, gingham is "countryish" (as in Grand Ol' Opry countryish) but on Parisian men it looked, uh, much more sophisticated.

Here is the shirt that I am talking about, here: http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/produc...scid=634409042


Maybe we'll start seeing those shirts on the streets of America, now that they're being sold at Old Navy. Or maybe not. I never did see any American men wearing capris but I did see them for some time on quite a few Parisian men.

This is SO weird! When I open that URL on my laptop I get a completely different set of pictures from when I open it on my desktop. I couldn't even FIND two blondes on the laptop (nor a ginger-haired woman being trailed by a white-haired husband crossing a street). How does THAT happen? I'd been wondering all day why none of this made sense, and only now, when I'm on my desktop, does it!

The blondes do look American- the girl with the braid has BritianySpearsitis, and her Mom has got a sort of Marla Maples circa 1991 vibe.

11th row down, 1st pic- I don't think I've seen granny hair paired with blue jeans before.

I love this thread!

looks charming, kerouac, thank you.

Keep these threads handy to calm the insecure traveler.

StCirq, the two blondes are on row 6 of the OP. One of your computers is probably opening at "reply #1" which is the continuation of the photos. You just have to scroll back up to the top.

Okay, question: should I add more photos when it gets hot? When it rains? Never?

Yes, yes, and no.
Thanks, kerouac.

Add more pictures when it's hot and when it rains. This is interesting!

Oh, kerouac, you have to add more photos every chance you get. We can have a name the county they are from game. And yes in different weather situations too. I can't wait, I lead a simple life.....

yes even when it rains but do not stick to your neighborhood which is not a true view of overall Paris.
I now appoint you the Bill Cunningham of Fodors.
Should the assignment be tough for you, we shall seek another worthy. :)

I have been following this fashion thread (and others) this week- I am going to London and Paris in May and this stuff has got me paranoid now! (that may be stretching it) I have resolved not to take my Nike trainers (which I walk in every day here in the US if I walk more than a mile) and now have been searching for comfortable shoes that don't ache my feet after walking over 3 miles... I know not to wear a baseball cap and god forbid a fanny pack (which I did own several years ago). I am middle aged and it appears that the "mature women" in Paris wear longer skirts or slacks. Jeans are worn on the younger crowd it appears. Thanks for the pictures Kerouac because I was wondering what people are wearing over in Europe. It looks like it is warm enough now to wear sandals and scarves are still very popular. In May I would assume that cardigans over short sleeve shirts would be sufficient for weather in the 60-70 F. Just one last question- does anyone there wear Nikes??? ha ha How do French women keep their feet from aching with all the walking...

the mature women(some wear short skirts)and I saw all ages wearing jeans...but...they fit just so to look very nice.
No need to not wear your Nikes if going on long walks.
You can always carry a tote with dressier shoes if you decide to stop for lunch in an upscale place.

I was in SML and Nice the first part of April and I wore black and silver Puma fashion sneakers. I think I have never had a more comfortable pair of shoes. They look just about like the shoes in the windows at SML and Nice.