Just for the record, I made an informal assessment (on my recent trip)of what people where wearing. In Austria, I saw very few jeans. Men were in pants, women in skirts, dresses, pants. In Italy, men were in pants and shorts, women were almost always in skirts and dresses, except for hikers who were in shorts, or pants. (Some poor shoe choices on trails). The more north, the more shorts. In Amsterdam, more shorts on both men and women. More pants on women, less dresses or skirts. More jeans in this area. Along the beaches in France and in northern Belgium, shorts on men and women, as well as flowing skirts. In Paris, while watching the Tour de France, one half of the observers had jeans(men and women). One half of the remaining men had shorts, the others had khaki's. The women mostly wore jeans and capri, some shorts, and skirts. Tennis shoes were seen everywhere, but more often on younger people. They did not look out of place when wearing shorts or jeans. When the women wore skirts or dresses, they wore dress shoes, most look rather uncomfortable with pointy toes.
So, you can wear any of the above most of the time. In general, the more south, there were more skirts on women. And most people knew some English, or someone nearby translated. The more north, the more English was spoken. The French were very polite when asked if they spoke English (in French). Usually, they answered, 'a little", but were quite fluent. I usually complimented them on their good English, and they seemed to be very pleased with the compliment, and talked more.

Hi gb,

Thanks for the report.
>In Paris, ...one half of the observers had jeans(men and women). <

One more example of American cultural imperialism.

I suspect a lot more of those folks would probably be in jeans and shorts if they were tourists like you were and not on their way to work!

Actually, I wear skirts a lot while travelling. There are so many casual styles these days. They can do triple duty: comfortable as shorts for touring, works dress-code wise for churches, and can be gussied up for nice dining for the evening. The less clothing I need to pack for trips, the better!!!

Don't forget the European pedigree of jeans.

300---Serge de Nimes (sairjh du NEEM)--French for "cloth from Nimes," is first woven in Nimes, France, about 300 A.D. Eventually "de Nimes" will become "denim."

1597---Italian sailors from Genoa wear cotton trousers. Since the French call Genoa and the people who live there, "Genes," the name sticks to the pants, too.

1829---Levi Strauss is born in Bavaria.

1878---German chemist Adolf von Baeyer perfects a formula for synthetic indigo dyeing.

From "Jeans: The True Blue Facts"

http://www.umkc.edu/imc/jeans.htm

This last post reminds me of an e-mail my mother sent me in March. She and my father were in Italy and it was unexpectedly cold. My father had to buy a pair of blue jeans. And as Mother's e-mail reported: "...well, you just know how Italian jeans fit..." I got a kick out of guessing Mother's reaction to that!!!!

men weren't in dresses in Italy?

Actually, I was thinking about this the other day as so many posts on here tell people you can't wear jeans in Europe (or shorts)--or at least that Europeans don't so you will be really out of it or "disrespectful", like anyone really cares what tourists wear. I was at a performance on Fete de la Musique (June 21st)in Paris at the Arenes by a French choral group of at least 50 people (men and women) who were doing a special concert of French chansons and traditional songs for that festival. So, what does the choral director choose as the uniform this French choral group should wear to represent Frenchness -- blue jeans!!! ha ha ha, I thought that was funny, their official uniform was a white shirt of some kind and blue jeans. I was also taking French classes in Paris a while, and my teacher (a 30-something female) wore blue jeans to class 3/5 days of the week.

However, I don't notice that men wear khakis that much. Sure, sometimes, but I'd never peg it at half the time in any place I've been.

When I wear jeans in Europe, I feel I'm actually paying my respects to denim's European origins.

Just noticed this on MSN's website today...

"Drop-dead denim: the rugged, sexy allure of jeans"

http://women.msn.com/52036.armx

Uhhh, "American cultural imperialism"????as if these European folks were being "forced" to wear a particular type of clothes? That's like saying there is some sort of "European cultural imperialism" because some Americans prefer the quality of Italian dress shoes or that many American women prefer to wear French fragrances. Get real!

And the most popular brand of jeans in Italy now, Diesel, is italian.

I think ira was just joking about american cultural imperialism

>..Uhhh, "American cultural imperialism"????as if these European folks were being "forced" to wear a particular type of clothes?<

Intrepid, it's a joke. The French intellectuals have been complaining about American Cultural Imperialism for years.

In major cities, and indeed smaller ones, London, Paris, Venice, Rome, etc. you will see everyone wearing anything, there is no such thing as more formal cities.

Wear what you feel comfortable, after all whos looking at you? No one looks at anyone twice.