Nic

Travelin Man-<BR>bowling shoes have been popular for more than "several months" and they are STILL popular,here in the UK and in Spain where I just got back from and France too.<BR>They seem to have caught on and comfort is most likely one of the reasons.<BR>But in the heat of the summer days in Paris,I would recommend a light open shoe,maybe not a sandal but something with mesh,canvas or a few straps.<BR>Have fun,Jamie.

shoes

Just wondering<BR>does anybody know what the Pup will be wearing?

notta

Just don't slip on the dog doo or you'll be wearing a cast on your foot. At least you wouldn't look like a tourist then, especially if you signed it with French names, with different color ink and handwriting. <BR><BR>There are more people in Paris in the hospital for slipping on dog doo than for dressing like tourists, that's for sure. You'll like the doggie pictures on the sidewalk. The pictures are to direct the doggies to go on the street-side of the curb. Then, in the middle of the night, the streets are flooded with water to sweep away the pooey. Alas, a lot of doggies can't even understand the universal doggie signs. Hence the hundreds of Parisians who wind up hospitalized annually for slipping in the pooey. <BR><BR>This is the truth, Jamie, or at least very close to it. Be careful! (And be careful of taxis. My brothers girlfriend had her foot run over by a taxi driver in Paris.)

mers

alot of you seem to know what is appropriate to wear over there. Are shorts ok, do i have to stick to capris and skirts?

L. Bulb

Consider:<BR>Would the French ever make such a posting if they were going to the USA?<BR>L. Bulb<BR>Col. (retired)

Joyce

Wear the most comfortable shoes you own. If you opt for fashion over comfort, your feet will hurt too much to see much of Paris. <BR><BR>If you are really concerned about fashion, I suggest taking your most comfortable sneakers and dying them black. (Fieldings "Professional Oil Dye" does a good job.) <BR><BR>Even sneakers can be painful after walking long distances, so I also suggest anti-blister socks. REI sells some.

Bob Ruplenas

Just got back from a French trip where we did a lot of walking. I bought a pair of Rockport "soft" walking shoes which stood me in good stead. They are a bit dressier than sneakers, and are kind to your feet. Congratulations for not wanting to look like 'the ugly American.'

Tony Hughes

This conjures up images of hundreds of dumb americans in paris spending their time looking at what everyone else is wearing, mentally noting down every last detail for next years trip to europe.<BR><BR>That's what will mark you out as dumb americans.

robert

ROCKPORT BLACK WORKED GREAT just got back today ... yes dog crap is everywhere the food is excellent alll the people i talked with in paris were great....london has history no food period.... than you all for you inputs if i can help any travelers please email me .... robert july 4 2002

Uncle Sam

I suggest going bare footed. Then everyone will know you're an American redneck, you can get embarrassed and you can still let all the dog poop squish through your toes.<BR><BR>US

xz

Just wear the type that has soles for your feet to rest on.

my

You all sound like a bunch of lonely soles and a few old heels !

andi

Jamie,<BR><BR>If you love shoes, buy some while you're there. Head for the Rue de Dragon, off St. Germain, the street is shoe heaven, one store after another. I particularly like Arches, tres comfortable and really cool looking in a funky sort of way and much cheaper in Paris than here. They have some great sandals for walking.

Liz Z.

Jamie,<BR><BR>I think any black shoes will be unobtrusive, though Parisian women seem to wear shoes that would kill my feel in five minutes. It's hard not to look like a tourist, but I also like to minimize the effect, and at the same time I want to be comfortable. For me, black walking shoes are the compromise (Eccos, or Rockports, or whatever). <BR><BR>By the way, keep in mind that Ecco shoes are Danish--maybe you'd look like a tourist from Scandinavia? &lt;g&gt;<BR><BR>Liz<BR>

Bob

Reebok or Nike is just fine. Enjoy yourself and wear whatever you normally wear. To wear something uncomfortable while walking around all day would be foolish. If you look like a tourist so be it. Have fun, relax, and just enjoy your vacation.<BR>Bob Adams

amy

I returned from Paris on July 2 and can report that there really is nothing to be worried about. I wore black low heeled open-toe slides that I wear all the time here in LA, or I wore flat mary jane-type closed toe shoes. For going out to dinner I wore high heels and chose my metro stops carefully for minimal walking. The Paris women you see wearing the cruel shoes aren't walking the museums and monuments, they are riding the metro to and from work... As for the doggie doo: I was expecting a barnyard after reading the posts on this board for the past several months, but I can honestly say I only saw a couple of easily avoided piles... I think it's a good idea to not look like a dork just on general principle, but an advantage is that if you are not obviously a tourist the beggars and pickpockets may be more likely to pass you by. But really, the only people who were really "dressed up" were Parisians over 50 in the expensive restaurants. The ultra cool 30-somethings I saw and talked to were wearing tight faded Levi's, flat sandals and Abercrombie & Fitch t-shirts! Those driving mocasins someone mentioned would be just right in terms of comfort and style.

Lisa

Jamie, I was in Paris a few weeks ago. Parisians are very elegant and slim and almost everyone wore some kind of black shoes or nice heels. If you wear nice black sandals (for Summer), I wore my Aerosole sandals most of the time. I also wore my black Ecco shoes, low heels, very cushy. So if you wear any black shoes, except black sneakers you'll be fine. Black shoes goes with almost everything.

Marian

Take the really comfortable shoes, check out what everyone else is wearing once you're there, and then use this situation as an excuse to splurge on a really cool pair of Parisian shoes! Then, if you're stylin' new shoes hurt your feet too much, you always have your unfashionable but happy-feet Ecco's to go back to.

shoe-in

I just bought a pair of Sketchers soft tennis shoe bowling shoes. They are black with white stripes. Would that be too "sneaker-ish". (My deepest apologies if this offends anyone.)