cigalechanta: I agree completely. I believe in dressing for maximum versatility and also for the most positive acceptance for the culture if your objective is to make things easier on yourself and be able to enjoy pleasant exchanges with the natives. ON THE OTHER HAND, if you enjoy having a confrontational attitude and demeanor (and I say this believing this is not always bad, and it is part of some people's personality and is ok), then the thing to do WOULD be to wear whatever you feel like! Some people don't mind getting strange looks/reactions (my sister being one of them, Madonna, et al), and even quite enjoy it.

My husband and I spent five days in Paris recently. It was unseasonably hot, so I was glad I'd bought along a pair of black skorts that fit me well and look pretty much like a skirt, but feel more comfortable. I alternated between the skorts and a light-weight cotton dress. We stayed in the 4th Arrondissement (sp?) which seems to be pretty casual by Paris standards--along with skirts and capri pants, I saw more jeans than I expected, but no shorts.

You know, Scottee, I have felt for many years that the French were sort of snotty and rude and disliked Americans. But having recently spent 2 weeks there, I can honestly say not one single person was rude or unpleasant to us.

In fact, I found the French generally to be polite, friendly, happy to speak French with us as we stumbled along trying to remember verb conjugations, and absolutely charming. I've entirely revised my attitude and would happily return on another visit, especially to Paris.

suesea, I think the sort of "shorts" you wore (also knee-length linen "walking" shorts) are very different from the sort one might wear to a barbecue or on a hike, and would not be looked at askance.

Tulips, you raised THE question that I deleted from my last post figuring I'd get slammed. But really, that is one of the most important considerations -- how do those shorts look on you? If you're 20 lbs overweight, I don't have a problem with you wearing shorts in Hawaii, but please, don't humiliate yourself (and make me wince for my fellow countrywoman) in a city like Paris, which has arguably the best-dressed women in the world.

There are shorts and then there are shorts... I have several pair I got in Switzerland last year when an unexpected HEATwave hit. They are knee length, rayon print, loose fitting, not much different from a skirt. If it was hot enough and I was in Paris, personally I would be happy to have them to slip on for touring, walking, sitting in a park during the daytime.

I find it amazing how many people are so obsessed with what to wear. Stick with jeans and a T shirt or what ever you wear, and forget about it. People who judge you by what you are wearing are not worth anything.

Let's go on the USA board and see how many Europeans are writing asking what Americans are wearing...........

I'm sorry, I just have to comment on a previous post:

"it's that it's like walking on fifth avenue in shorts..it's inappriopiate and disrespectful."

Oh, puhlease! It's disrespectful to walk on Fifth Avenue in shorts? Who, exactly, is it disrespectful to? The minimum-wage-earning floor clerks at Tiffany & Co, or the other snobs that you may run into?

I don't normally dress inappropriately, I just think that that was a ridiculous comment. I'm sure that astrid22 is older than three-times-seven and hardly needs to be given advice as if she's an idiot.

jor, I agree with you, but sometimes life is more complicated than that.

While "people who judge you for what you are wearing are not worth anthing", they may still be in a position to give you a pleasant or not so pleasant experience. They may be waiting on you in a restaurant or shop, or assigning you a room in a hotel or seat on a plane, for example.

Wearing jeans and a T-shirt just won't cut it everywhere.

If you really want to "blend" while wearing shorts/culottes/capris/skirts/etc. then don't shave.

No women over the age of 10 should wear shorts in ANY city, including those in the USA!

Actually, winner, although I was the first poster to advise against shorts in Paris, I don't agree with your comment. There are some US cities like LA or Seattle where very casual dress is the norm. You might not see women in shorts going into downtown office buildings to work, but you will certainly see them everywhere else.

I usually travel to France off-season, but a few years ago I was there during a few days of extremely hot, humid weather. On the weekend (when people weren't in work clothes) almost all the women I saw were wearing either shorts or the skimpiest of dresses.

The French dress for comfort, just as Americans do. I do not know where these myths about the French "dressing up" come from. Maybe this was true in the 1960's (or earlier), but it is certainly not true now. The only dressed-up people you will see in Paris are the ones in their work clothes, or people dressed up for special occasions.

No male over 10 years should wear shorts either, for that matter. Especially men who look like they're about ready to give birth.

>No male over 10 years should wear >shorts either, for that matter. >Especially men who look like they're >about ready to give birth.

That's a bit severe. I'd say nobody over 30 in years or waistline. Seriously, I think that for women a loose swirly dress is much the most comfortable option, something that the breeze can get into.

If blending in is of great concern to you I suggest you bag any ideas of buying your clothes before you get to Europe, price differences or not. A lot of the clothing, and especially some of the footwear favored by Europeans is different than in the US and that includes capri pants. Do YOU wear capri pants on a daily basis here? I didn't see many European women wearing them in either Italy or Germany a few weeks ago.

Oh fer crying out loud. When people ask what to wear they DO want to fit in and not look like a tourist, and they already know that yes, people do judge you on what you are wearing.

In Paris, I would not wear shorts, whether male or female, unless it was ridiculously hot and humid (above 90's). You would definitely stand out if you wore shorts, even "dressy" shorts (nice fabric, dark color). IN Amsterdam people wear shorts WAY more than they do in Paris, to give you an idea.