Pleaseno

No offense, but I really hope that this will put the shoe thing to rest! Has anyone else thought that maybe the only people in Paris wearing tennis shoes were actual Parisians, while all of the fashion-uptight Fodorites are ironically tramping around in black shoes. Just a thought. <BR>

cherie

I saw rollerblading kids at midnight who looked just like my kids; I think you are right...Paris, like everywhere else has all kinds of people wearing all kinds of shoes. Its fun to surmise, though from the safety of a forum. What I noticed each time I go to Paris is that there are certain colors selected by the fashion industry for that season. The year seemed to show a lot of purple....everywhere I went, goods were for sale in shades of lilac to deep violet in Paris.

rose

Hi Cherie, thanks for the tip, if I buy purple now I'll be styln' for a couple of years on this side of the pond. <BR> <BR>Did you happen to notice whether the heels are getting thinner and less chunkier than has been the style? A guy friend came back and told me that but I don't know if he has the eye for these kind of things...

cherie

Unfortunately, Spikier heels and pointy toes were "in". Multi-tone shoes rather that single-color pumps; and boots of all kinds. Also, fishnets and colored hose were in. While there, my daughter with turquoise-streaked haid bought matching nylons. Looks cute if you're 14. Unfortunately my legs resemble mom's piano and I won't call attention to them. Kids were admiring my sons tennies: DC's (Hot stuff for then teenage crowd.) We notice a shop across from the RR Station at Versailles that sells Levis, Dockers and Union Bay.....Great buys at Galleries Lafayette this week...expecially in the giant lingerie dept. and the scarves section.

kk

Cherie, now I have visions of all those giants cavorting around in their fabulous lingerie! tee hee

cherie

Correctamundo oh great one. The dwarves scarves are in a different arroundisse. Only giant teddys at the great magazines.......

leon cameron

If you wish to wear your keds look-a-likes in Paris, you will look very bush indeed. We see tourists evryday in DC and NYC wearing exactly that same gear, and wow, do they look silly. Dress up in Paris, act your age amd maybe they'll let you in a decent restaurant. When we were in Rome a few months ago, we saw people in tennis shoes, and they looked underdressed. I never saw any of them in a good place to eat, by the way - they were usually the ones having pizza by the piece and fighting the pidgeons for some seating space around a nasty fountain. Wow, did that look dumb!! I'm glad we don't look like them.

cherie

Heres a real earth-shaker: I cancelled my reservation at the Jules Verne. I decided some tourists would rather have that table much more than we did. My kids saw the menu and just couldn't take another day of the Parisian food. The dressy suit and Weitzman pumps stayed in the closet and we enjoyed a meal wearing those SKeetchers....I am not kidding. There's plenty of fine restaurants to dine in without racing back to the hotel to change into our Sunday best. We had a great day and I'm sure some tourists who had the Verne as a priority did, too. My conceirge handled it for us. Hows that for security? We went Indian instead at a place we know down the street from the Madeline....and it was fantastic. Northern Indian, at that. I know the Fodorites will have a field day with this.....

Sal

Cherie, you sound like you had a nice time. It's wonderful to dress to the nines and have a time, particularly in a city like Paris or New York, but isn't it great to kick your fancy shoes off and de-stress? I plan to do both on my upcoming trip to Paris. I want to dress up a couple of nights, just to prove to myself that I still know how to be a lady and not slurp out of the fingerbowls. The rest of the time I just want to meander and be simple. Maybe I WILL bring some sneakers at that!

Santa Chiara

Rose, didn't see our message until today. To confirm, the new style is very pointy toes, mid to high skinny heels, at least in Italy.[Io] will not be wearing this particular fad.

RichardAB

Euros love people who wear Sketchers! I noticed people in Rome, Amsterdam and Paris looking at my shoes. But they are not just thick soled fashion sneakers! I wear mine to the gym and running too. The truth is that they are inexpensive and comfortable! I have spent four Euro trips in Sketchers and never suffered a blister! Sketchers also make great shoes too! If you live in Los Angeles the stores are everywhere including sale outlets in Encino and Van Nuys. I know they also have a few stores in New York too!

Cherie

Actually I have advised my children that some of their criteria for future dating possibilities should be that their dates are comfortable with BOTH Skeetchers and finger bowls. Kinda' like backing out the El Camino VS the Maserati. Don't take your first date out in the Maserati. See if they like you in the El Camino first.....If you have never been to Paris, hit all the tourist sites photo ops everywhere. By the time you go back the fourth or fifth time, the fancy restaurants seem like good places for an occasion. Heck, you already spent plenty just with the flight and the rent! Believe me, my kids were thankin me for finding alternate food by the end of the trip. They're the only ones at school who know what Poulet Valle D'Auge is...and the homemaking teacher thought they were nuts when she polled what to teach the class. But that doesn't mean they don't also eat le dog hot. They have learned to be honest travelers. Wear comfortable shoes...watch your bag/wallet.....keep a card from the hotel with you in case you are turned around and get separated from the group....and a map, too. When lunchtime rolls around, take a vote....there's places for everyone's taste.