shorts in Paris
 

We will be in Paris in July and was wondering if people there wear shorts as we do here. I was in Amsterdam last year and almost no one was wearing shorts. I would say mostly the women there wore capris.

Please help, I need to go shopping.

Save the shorts for the countryside, unless you don't mind advertising your tourist status or you are younger than age 12.

I agree with the previous poster. Capris would be a better choice, although undoubtedly you will see some tourists in shorts.

Capris, or cropped pants, were quite fashionable in Europe last year, but so far this year I've hardly seen anyone wearing them. Shorts may make you look like a tourist, but that's what you are and at least you'll be comfortable.

OTH, if you want to look fashionable, you need to wear very low-slung, full length, combat-style pants, preferably made of silk, with at least 6 inches of bare flesh between them and your cropped top. At least, that's the impression I get on my daily lunch-time treks around town!

=:)

To elaborate, Xenos, the more "stuff" on the pants the better -- cargo pockets, flaps, zippers, buckles, drawstrings, snaps -- hip to ankle hardware, at least that's how it looked to me in Paris last week. Not real flattering on those of us 5'3" and under.

That's it exactly Marilyn:-)

I'm a fairly average 5'5", but trying to buy a pair of non-frumpy casual pants that don't double my weight is quite a challenge at the moment :-(

Astrid, go shopping in Paris. The stores are open most of the year.

So when referring to fashion in France, does that include Speedos that are 4 sizes too small?

But seriously, what is so wrong with just being yourself and dressing how you usually do? There is nothing wrong with individuality. I would prefer to be comfortable than to worry about what the natives think of my wardrobe:)

I was in Paris 2 weeks ago and it was hot! I saw lots of capris but mostly linen dresses. The only shorts I saw on French women were at Versailles, which the local people treat as a park--go there to exercise, biking and walking. Unfortunately, on my last trip to Paris (at the same time of year), it was cold and rainy, so I had brought only pants (black and navy), several twin sweater sets, and one dress suitable for dinner but not walking around all day. Ended up just wearing the shell part of the sweater sets with pants and was very hot.

I agree with wearing what's comfortable to you. I'm relatively sure, based on the fact that you're conscientious enough to even ask about shorts, that you're not planning on wearing butt-cheek exposing cut-offs.

On that note, I normally wear versatile cotton dresses that easily go from park to museum to dinner when traveling.

Be comfortable and enjoy yourself!

Xenos, can you imagine trying to go through airport security in those pants? I wonder if you'd have to take them off and put them through the xray machine separately?

astrid, if YOU feel comfortable being dressed a lot more casually than most of the people around you, then it's fine to wear shorts. The fashion police will not arrest you. I prefer to blend in more -- I'm just more comfortable that way. (I also feel like less of a target if it's not so obvious I'm a tourist.)

But since you are asking "if people there wear shorts as we do here", (given that we don't know where "here" is), Paris is not particularly a casual city, but rather a dressy and sophisticated one.

Of course you should be comfortable, but I think that a dress or loose pants in cotton, linen, or rayon are just as cool as shorts.

Lol Marilyn! I'll be flying to Greece on a charter flight in 4 weeks and there are sure to be a few fashion victims wearing those pants. I'll report back if I see any major incidents going through security :-)

There is no fashion police patroling Paris, but I do find that pants will enable you to feel more comfortable in any setting; for example, if you sightsee all afternoon and go for dinner directly without changing, you can go anywhere in classic pants and top, as opposed to wearing shorts and having to limit yourself in your choice of restaurants
because of your attire.
Last year, I wore an ankle length zipper front black skirt that was really versatile, comfortable to walk in and nice looking....

Thanks everyone. By here, I am sorry but I forgot to specify that I am in the U.S.

I do like to blend with people and not look like such a tourist. I will wear my cotton dresses as suggested. And if I need to, it would be great to have an excuse to go shopping in Paris!!!! My husband will love that!!

I think that very few women look good in shorts. I would go into a Zara store, and look for their linnen skirts; they're bias-cut, very flattering, to just below the knee and they are quite cheap too! You can get some cotton tops to wear with them too. Great to wear when it's hot, and they always look good. I live in Antwerp, and lots of my friends have these skirts.

Shorts aren't really appropriate in Paris. Although many Parisans dress in jeans nowadays, if you wear shorts you will stand out as a tourist. Better to take the advice of the previous posters on what to wear.

It's not looking like a tourist that's bad about shorts, it's that it's like walking on fifth avenue in shorts..it's inappriopiate and disrespectful.I also think you will be treated in a receptive manner when you enter an establishment.

Yes, that's true for sure-the type of treatment may be much different if you are wearing shorts.

I was just thinking it is probably safe to assume that the poster (astrid22) wanted to blend in and not be so much like a tourist. In other words, if s/he had the attitude "Just wear what you want" (even if no one else is wearing shorts, but tourists), s/he wouldn't have posted the question in the first place..... Would someone who has the attitude "Just wear whatever" even ask for such advice?

I meant if you are dressed appropiatley, you will be received in a welcomeing way (no shorts)