I'll be in Paris at the end of June for a few days. Any suggestions of what to wear that doesn't scream "American tourist" ?

Why don't you want to look like an American tourist?

It will not make one bit of difference what you wear. You will obviously be an American tourist -

Black slacks/skirt, dressy white tee, beautiful sweater, with a very nice belt and a bit of jewelry, along with the most comfortable black walking shoes you can find (many more comfortable than heavy, hot, sneakers) will take you anywhere and preclude returning to your hotel to change for dinner should you be dining in a more than very casual place.

The perfect day bag is preferable to a fanny or back pack.

I travel frequently to Paris and I get asked this alot, so I created a web page with a dozen tips on what to pack and what to leave at home:

http://www.parisescapes.com/paris_pack.html

I also have tips of what to wear. For reference, I'm a female in my mid-thirties. I also disagree with janisj - I've lived in Paris and was ofter mistaken for French (until I opened my mouth). You can blend in...

http://www.parisescapes.com/paris_wear.html

If you lived in Paris, then you weren't a tourist, though. It's not the same thing. Tourists are often very obvious just by their language, behavior, who they are traveling with, what they are carrying, etc. I can pick out American tourists in Paris pretty easily.

Although sometimes people say on here that just because someone asked the the time or directions, they are passing for a local (and get thrilled by it), and that isn't always the case. People just tend to ask whoever is nearby those things, without thinking a lot. Also, some of those people asking them are other tourists, also.

I've easily passed myself off to tourists as a local because they didn't know French at all. Sometimes I do it just to be perverse. I've done that to Japanese tourists, also, although I was nice to them, but they really had language problems, that's for sure.

I think if you don't want to look like an American tourist, the main thing is to lose the white tennis shoes. Also, there is a certain style that looks like an American tourist, which is hard to describe in print because it is the subtleties. It's jeans and a Tshirt, but usually with sneakers, and it depends also on the cut and accessories.

I know all too well about the "white tennis shoes" from a number of posts.With that, I have spent the last 4 months searching for a nice, comfortable pair of black,stylish shoes that will help me blend in. I also happen to have feet that hurt all the time. In the end, I found some nice, although not that comfortable black skeechers that are sleek and will do, but also am bringing the white running shoes just in case my feet hurt. comfy must over ride style.

A humorous note about "what to wear in..."

I went to Paris for the first time a couple of years ago, and I took the advice of people on this board when packing in order to not stick out as a tourist (as if that were the worst crime one could commit). There were many recommendations against sneakers and jeans, so I packed no sneakers and a couple of pairs of jeans.

Perhaps it has something to do with the traveller's age - I'm late 20's, but most everyone in Paris that was my age was in jeans. Not sloppy, baggy, ugly jeans, but the same kind of jeans I was wearing - well-fitting and presentable. And all were wearing the slimmer kind of sneakers - you know, like the Puma's - and I had brought only one thin-soled pair similar to that.

The first day, I tried sight-seeing, and the miles of walking (often on cobblestones) in my most comfortable Coach penny loafers. Boy, did my dogs ACHE after that first day! So the second day, still thinking that wearing sneakers would mean the French would stop in their tracks and stare, I wore my most comfortable boots with thick socks. And we climbed Notre Dame and I near about died. (While the shoes are comfortable, their 3" inch square heels didn't make the stair climb pleasant at all, and the cobblestones were awful too.)

So I said screw it, and wore my little leather sneakerettes EVERYWHERE thereafter.

Wear a decent looking, comfortable shoe - as the brightly colored sneakerettes are chic - and make sure it has a flexible, rubber sole. You will walk too far and stand for too long to have your feet suffer. I bought some for our trips to London and Germany, and they were perfect - no foot fatigue at all.

For what it's worth, while a few people may be able to blend in, you're more likely than not going to easily stand out as a tourist. This is especially true if you don't speak French, need a map or guidebook to get where you're going, are standing in line for or walking around a tourist attraction, or aren't a size 2-4 (that was the tip-off in Paris - anyone with a couple extra pounds or more was either American or Russian!).

I work in DC - and even though most tourists here are American, they stick out instantly. Why? Because they aren't in business suits, they're walking around aimlessly in the middle of the day, and they have cameras around their neck and maps of the National Mall. It's not awful to be a tourist.

TParis attracts such an melange of visitors that it is possible (and likely) to see a bit of everything. Walking around the streets the last few days we have seen a range of fashions, including some but not many white tennies. The cool thing for younger women seems to be sort of an ethnic look with lots of gauzy, beaded layers, something between gypsy and Indian. Jeans are common, but so are skirts; not a lot of women in slacks but that may be due to the fact that it is warming up a bit.
Absolutely do wear comfortable shoes. Paris is very much a walking city, with lots of cobblestoned areas that are charming to see but murder on the feet.

Christina and KGH8M,

I hear ya When you're a local, you can always spot the tourists, but often it is a subtle thing.

Offtopic: For a few years, I lived in Wyoming and became friends with men that were REAL cowboys - worked on ranches and were on the Pro-Rodeo circuit. I'd talk to men in bars and clubs and they'd always tell me they were "cowboys" for a living. Even though they dressed "identically" to the real cowboys, you always new. They didn't have that

Whoops - accidentally posted too soon.

...they didn't have that "walk" or way of carrying yourself when you live on a horse..

Back to Paris: White tennis shoes are a giveaway, but the most important thing is to be comfortable.