Sandals in Paris?
 

"What to wear in Paris" seems to be an interesting issue. I had not thought much about it until I saw all these messages about what and what not to wear. However most messages talk about colder weather. I will be going in July - Can I get away with shorts and sandals to tour around? (by sandals, I mean the comfortable, athletic looking type.) Any help is appreciated.

you can "get away' with anything. Just depends on whether or not you wish to look like a tourist.<BR><BR>I personally don't wear shorts unless I am going to the beach, but I wouldn't do it. I also recommend closed toed shoes b/c it is a very dusty city, esp. getting on and off the metro your feet will get very dirty.

Some wise poster (can't remember exactly who) told me to dress like I was going to New York. I would never wear shorts and sandals in New York so I won't be wearing them in Paris.

I wore capri pants and D. Pliner sandals all over Paris in May and never felt out of place. I would not wear shorts.

Ditto. skorts would be a better option if you really have a need to wear shorts. Make sure your shoes are comfy but also a little stylish. <BR>I would not trek around in sneakers or gym shoes

"wear what you would wear to NY" is good advice! of course you will see everything, but that doesn' meant that is the way you would want to look!<BR>cotton tops and cotton skirts are cool,'as are <BR>capris and cropped pants.Paris is warm and humid in the summer. Youwill walk into a church andthen an airconditionedstore,so keep a light cardigan with you,perhaps a twin set would be good.<BR>Open sandles are hard on the feet, espadriles are fashionable again..<BR>leave room in your bags for the chic clothes you will bring home with you from shopping ~sorry for the typos, fodors is not letting me correct as I type.

Sandals are not a very good idea in any big city but especially so in Paris. Not because they are not stylish - but Parisian streets are quite dirty -- not trash but dust, dirt, dog poop (LOTS of dog poop), etc. So sandal wearers end up looking like they have never washed their feet. It is amazing how dirty your feet can get in a couple of hours in Paris.

I wear sandals all the time in Paris--Tevas for sightseeing, Clarks for evening. Mind you I am not a fashion plate, but enclosed shoes hurt my feet! I'd rather have dusty feet than be limping around, and I've managed (knock on wood) to avoid the dog poop! Shorts, however, are a no-no. (One of our students wore them one year despite our admonitions, and I swear to god she looked like a hooker.)

On my past two trips to Europe including Paris I have worn a great pair of black strappy sandals and have never felt out of place. The are a very comfortable and nice looking Easy Spirit sandle. I will wear them again this Spring if I can't find a new pair to replace them. They even work in the rain!

Christine: I always take sandals to Europe, regardless of destination. I have worn them in Athens, Rome, Paris, Madrid, etc. I too am uncomfortable in enclosed shoes, so I wear slides or sandals. Guess what--feet are washable and easily wiped off with a moist wipe, which I always carry with me. The only time I remember wearing an enclosed shoe with socks/hose was in London in February.<BR><BR>Shorts--no. I don't even own a pair. Even though "I'm past my prime" I never wore them during that era either! I don't understand why shorts are considered ideal hot weather wear. As several posters have noted, a skirt is much cooler, even a long cotton skirt. <BR><BR>j

Thank you everyone for all your help. I will certainly spend a little more time trying to put a suitable wardrobe together! However, I am left with one question - why is it so bad to look like a Tourist in Paris if that is exactly what you are? Thanks again. C

It is Not BAD to look like a tourist,you are right, that is exactly what you are! But it is sometimes not the best to see how Badly dressed tourists can be..not just Americans but tourists from other European countries as well.Just as you would want to look good if you were visiting NYC, you want to look stylish.<BR>That would usually mean, trying to wear something similar to what is being worn in the city you are visiting.<BR>Paris,London,Florence,and New York have similar styles, you can use those as an example as to what you would like to pack on your trip.Have a lovely time,AND remember what they say about Paris in the summer-It sizzles!

Mde Gramont: if you are still out there, maybe you can help me? You are right, we would like to look stylish, but are also faced with a couple of issues. One is that we will do much more walking in our few days in Paris than the average citizen. I am told by others on this site - "Do not wear shorts!" "Do not wear sandals, as the streets are dirty!" If it is so hot in Paris in July, what does one wear instead of shorts? What type of closed-toe shoes will look good with a skirt and allow me to walk many miles a day? I am so glad that I have a few months to plan! Thanks so much...C

Ya'll just spend way too much time worrying about what to wear....take some decent clothes and have fun. Jeeez it is not rocket science. What do you wear when you are at home and are going to a nice shopping area or such? Are you all just a bunch of cut off wearing , sneaker wearing, cap on backwards wearing, tobacco chewing retards? Or do you dress in a decent way at home? If you are decent at home then dress the same way in Paris.

Hmmmm, let's see, you are a woman....how about a skirt? Maybe, with a pair of mules, or sling backs. You can wear a bathing suit probably to be cool, but just think a little, you are in a city.

Christine, I can only tell you what I would be wearing, in the summer when Paris is warm and humid, I wear cotton dresses that come right below the knee.Or skirts that are not full but not really tight either.I wear cotton shirts/blouses,sometimes tee shirts and a pair of cotton capris.For shoes I have favorite espadrilles, I wear those in the South of France often,or closed toe mules.For someone who is walking everywhere, you will need to go to a shoe store and see what is like a sneaker but that is more like a sandal-no?<BR>At night, I usually wear things that are sleevless,maybe tighter, but in the day , loose and cotton is good.<BR>I hope this has been a little helpful.<BR>Good luck,

Christine, you asked what to wear in hot weather. You've obviously read the posts about cooler weather attire.<BR><BR>You get advice, then argue with it. Go ahead, tell us what you want to wear, and we'll all say "yes that's perfect" - you'll be happy, and it'll take less time.<BR><BR>Methinks you want to wear white cuffed short-shorts with pink bikini underwear, a tiny little tank top with FOXY on the front and your bra straps showing, cute little sandals with jewelled straps, and a perky visor with FORT LAUDERDALE SPRING BREAK 1999 in pink glitter. Go ahead, you'll look adorable, and all the French men will wish that they lived in America so they could see such gorgeous women such as yourself all the time. You can gloat at all the frumpy women wearing linen dresses and pumps, knowing that they are jealous of your perky figure and self-confidence.<BR><BR>Now, don't you feel so much better?

I live very close to the city, and I laugh when I read here "dress as you would in New York". Have you ever been to New York on a steamy August day? I've been there hundreds of times--many times acting as tour guide to out of state friends and relatives, and always wear nice short, t-shirt or golf shirt, and sneakers or sandals when its hot. I do not look out of place! Everyone is in shorts when its hot. Of course, on those trips, I'm not going to fancy restaurants or anything, mostly walking around and eating somewhere fairly casual. I know Europe is more formal, but for New York, anything goes--and I've seen it all there.

topping

Do Parisian women really not wear shorts in the city?

If you don't want to look like a tourist...<BR>don't carry a camera<BR>don't carry a backpack<BR>don't stop and stare at what you are there to see<BR>don't show any interest in anything<BR>never ever look at a map.....<BR>seriously folks - we look like tourists for one reason - WE ARE TOURISTS!!!

There's something to be said about being a tourist - the city still holds magic for you, you aren't worried about the utility bills, or the traffic; you are there to enjoy the things that make it wonderful and the hassles of day to day living aren't intruding into your awe and wonder of the beautiful surroundings you are in. Having just returned from Paris a few days ago, we saw people wearing absolutely everything. No offense to French fashionistas, but I was amazed at how the Japanese women tourists were able to pull off the smartest outfits with high heels for sightseeing and shopping. Jeans during the day were everywhere, and while a coat does work wonders covering up an outfit, Paris is full of residents who are going to work, shopping, running errands, and they aren't thinking of the latest fashion or what to model as they sit in the chicest of cafes. I think that if you even think of what you are going to put on, you'll be fine. Let common sense guide you, and if on the first day there, you feel inappropriately dressed, change your look for the next days. Capris are a great idea - down here in the far South everyone wears them in the hottest, muggiest weather you can imagine.

Shorts and "athletic" sandals are an absolute no-no in Paris, unless you absolutely want to get cursed at by waiters, ignored by sales persons, be mistaken as a hooker and generally be finger-pointed as a "sale am&eacute;ricaine".<BR><BR><BR>

I have no big problem with other people who "look like a tourist", but for me, especially in a place like Paris, I prefer to at least attempt to be a bit more fashionable and a part of the scene around me.<BR><BR>I was there in August and got by with items like black capri pants and black suede sandals with rubber sole but strappy and a chunky heel... comfortable but not birkenstock-looking.<BR><BR>and referring to one of the posts above, no personally i would never carry a backpack or stand around studying a map on a streetcorner. there are more graceful ways to do each of these things (find a cafe, have a glass of wine, sit in a park... all more authentic Parisian things to do than hold up pedestrian traffic gauking at the sites or your guidebook).

Going to any major city, is not the same as going to the beach or an amusement park. I live in SF and even on the hottest day I would not wear shorts downtown; the same is true when I visit NYC. Does that mean there are no short wearers, of course not. So what is wrong with wearing shorts, nothing if it doesn't bother you to be dressed more casually than those around you; that some will find it offensive that you visit a church in this attire; and that it will make you a "mark" for petty thieves.

There is a difference between a tourist and a visitor as far as I'm concerned. A visitor is someone who wants to experience a place, and familiarizes themselves with the local customs, languages, preferences, foods, etc. A visitor appreciates a place for its differences and wants for however brief a period of time experience what it must be like to live in that place. A visitor does not want to stand out and proclaim themselves to be outsiders.

I'd like to make a suggestion that you do bring your shorts and comfortable sandals, as they won't be taking up much space in your luggage. If you do see that people are wearing similar clothing and it seems appropriate, then by all means pull these items out of your luggage and wear them. That way, you won't have to say "damn, I should have brought those clothes with me". I've seen many woman in bermuda style short sets and pumps, or strappy sandals that look beautiful in all foreign cities. If you have the figure to wear these clothes, go for it.

Paris...cropped pants with sandels, yes<BR>Shorts...no way! I think the advice to dress like you were walking down 7th Avenue in NYC is good sound advice. Fran

Did Leslie actually say bermuda short sets and pumps? <BR><BR>I say there are at least three things wrong with that idea:<BR>1. Bermuda shorts.<BR>2. Short "sets"<BR>3. Shorts and pumps.<BR><BR>Christine: In answer to your original question: sandals, yes (although I personally prefer something a little nicer looking than Teva-style -- there are all sorts of very comfortable sandals that are not "athletic looking"). Shorts, no. Capris are a great alternative to shorts and are more versatile anyway since you can wear them for casual sightseeing in the daytime and can dress them up a little for going out to dinner in the evening.