mku4440

Thank you all for the nice replies.

Could someone post a link for the ankle boots?

If the weather warrants, I will happily take my boots and enjoy another opportunity to wear this year. Yes i am in the south and already breaking out the flip flops and sandals.

vince414

I have a low-cut type of boot for casual riding. I Choose one that has a back zipper and fits your foot snugly, but comfortably. This type gives great foot stability and is a good choice for boots when you are just riding.

shoesfact.com

CYESQ

Following on what TweedyX said, the streets of Paris are dirty and many times what you encounter is not dirt but dog do. There seems to be a real lack of concern about allowing dogs to do their business on the sidewalk and then it's just left there for others to step in. No matter which shoes/boots you decide to take, keep your eyes on where they are stepping.

farrermog

I've spent the last ten days walking all about in Paris and must say I've been surprised how little dog business there is on the footpaths. Also have to say that the highest incidence of what little I've encountered (there's always tomorrow) has been in the swank 6th and 7th - perhaps the dogs and their owners there haven't developed the same social skills as elsewhere.

joy1rn

We are going in April for the first time. How about my comfy sneakers? Are they ok? I walked miles and miles in them last year in NYC.

stephensgirl18

For my first trip to Paris I followed all of the travel advice about comfort over style for shoes, and taking old underwear and throwing it away to lighten your luggage, etc, etc. I was comfortable but felt frumpy in my sensible shoes. I was smarter the second time. Why? Because it's PARIS. No one wants to be in chic Paris in hideous shoes, you will look and be treated like a tourist. For my trip in January '11 I bought one pair of tall black leather Clark's boots with a 2 inch heel, and a pair of Clark's black leather ankle boots with 1 and 1/2 in heel. The heels were synthetic so had some "give." Easy to slip out of for security, warm, and even chic. Bought inserts for both for added support, and with black slacks or black skirts with black tights felt comfy and chic. I normally wear 2-3 inch heels every day, so the height did not bother me at all. Felt much more confident wearing my own type of clothing (and fancy underwear) this trip.

theflock

I sure wouldn't want to be hit by a Parisian bus and end up in the emergency room in "sensible" underwear. I always buy new, lacy undies for the trip. They don't take up that much room in my suitcase!

sassy_cat

Paris is the perfect place to buy lingerie...

mku4440

LOL, my MIL and SIL made the leave the underwear behind to make more room comment when we went to Italy. I asked "how big is your underwear?"

CYESQ

Joy, please don't wear sneakers in Paris. There are hundreds of kinds of shoes that are comfortable and look good. I know because I pack beautiful shoes and have never had any problem getting around - meaning walking for hours. Whether you wear heels or flats, there are just too many styles of shoes to even consider wearing sneakers. IMHO, this is an unforgiveable American sin. Leave the athletic shoes at the gym.

kismetchimera

tty

ProperBostonian

Thanks for posting this, it's just what I was looking for, since I've heard that it's pretty warm for April in Paris and I'm panicking about footwear for a trip next week. I, too, am most comfortable in my tall, equestrian-style Born boots and need them for walking up to 10 miles a day. I'll be wearing a pair on the plane and sticking a second pair into my carry-on-sized spinner!

spaarne

P.S. Don't forget to pack a scarf, or go shopping as soon as you hit the bricks. A scarf is an essential part of the street uniform of Parisian ladies.

ProperBostonian

Well, I'm back, and I can report that plenty of women in Paris were wearing boots last week. Ankle boots, knee boots... the weather was great but still cool enough that boots were comfortable. I'm very glad I brought three pairs (tall, medium, and ankle) because we walked 53 miles in 4-1/2 days, and my feet survived because I was able to switch from one pair to another every afternoon before we went back out. I wore the tall ones on the plane and the others fit easily into my 21" spinner.

The other style I noticed: sneakers. Nothing remotely like an American athletic shoe, of course, but dainty, thin-soled, old-fashioned "Plimsolls" in faded colors or prints, or Converse. I should have gotten a pair.

And, yes, scarves are ubiquitous to the point of cliché. I noticed that many French scarves are quite boring: plain lengths of solid gray or black gauze, for example. It's all about how they are tied. Men wear all kinds of scarves, too.