I have heard so many stories in regards to not wearing a casual sneaker/tennis shoe in Paris or London. I don't understand. The shoe is very comfortable for the amount of walking one does in the city. What is the real story,Please!<BR>Thanks,<BR>Mandi

White leather is ugly.

Well, if you're not reading the thread about the Americans who panic over what they should wear, I suppose this question makes sense! Wear what you like. In London, probably half the population wear trainers. Especially when they're on the way to or from work (it's quite amusing to watch people in power business suits striding along in a pair of white Nikes!) simply because PRACTICALITY overcomes FASHION!

There is no official shoe policy or shoe police in the European capitals...Like Jimbo said, it´s up to you what you wear. It is also up to other people what they think about it.<BR><BR>The only thing is that you might sometimes feel out of place in trainers/sneakers/tennis shoes/sport shoes, whatever one calls them. Depends on how much you care. Certainly you wouldn´t go to any fine restaurant without dressing up a bit.<BR><BR>I prefer comfortable, hushpuppy or ecco type shoes (don´t know the US brands) while travelling. After all, you don´t only walk during the day, even if you´re not planning to go somewhere special. I just don´t like standing outside a charming cafe wondering if I´m too casually dressed. <BR><BR>Of course this doesn´t mean one should dress formally all the time. There is a difference between casual and casual. (My black hushpuppies are not exactly formal!). And Paris and London are different cultures but with some common sense you won´t need any particular garderobe in either of them. <BR><BR>I come from a country where nobody really cares much about other peoples shoes, but I remember walking in the fairly conservative Vienna years ago...People there really did stare two twenty somethings in trainers. Not in a rude way but enough for us to notice it. Trainers spent the rest of the week in the hotel, and we felt a lot more comfortable.

In the US everybody wear sneakers,young and old and even women under a nice dress. When I saw that,first I had to laugh, but it is just the way you dress there. Here in Europe sneakers are weared in the city by much young people. Certain categories of older people also wear them, but it is certainly no class. <BR>You, American have a certain flair in wearing sneakers. Do not care about wearing them here. Everybody will recognise you as an American and that is ok.

Must be a troll. No one can be as out of it although the e-mail address looks legit.

I just spent 3 weeks in London during which there was a record temperature high recorded and the predominat women's footwear was flip-flops--- plain rubber and fancy, fancy ones.

If you wear anything except shiny black shoes (and they MUST be of the latest hip style) you will be accosted by drunken gypsies who will throw their babies at you while trying to get their hands inside your pink jogging suit. Meanwhile, the shoe police will be called by the onlookers and you will be dragged off to the nearest prison where you will do at least three months hard labor making shoes for the masses. You have been warned DO NOT WEAR SNEAKERS/BASKETBALL SHOES/JOGGING SHOES of ANY COLOR in Europe. YOU WILL REGRET IT!!!!!!!

Here's what I surmised on my recent trip:<BR><BR>Shoes are bulky and heavy to carry. You would not wear sneakers out to dinner or the theater. Why not wear a pair of comfortable 'walking' shoes that could serve both day and night purposes? There are many brands, that feel different to different people. I was more than happy with just my Ecco sandals for hot days, and Mephisto black walking shoes for all other times. Simple.

Buy a pair (or two) or Ecco shoes. Trust me, they are more comfortable than any athletic shoe you'll ever find, and they look great. I have a brown pair and a black pair and its all the shoes I need for anywhere, they can be dressed up or down.

Didn't we just have a thread not too long ago about never wearing open-toed shoes or sandals in Europe??<BR> What do people wear on their feet? or just go barefoot?

Open toed shoes and sandals (even style Teva) are ok.

I really don't kwow what you all are worried about. Are you ashamed to be American? Do you want to look like us? WEAR SNEAKERS!

I call them running shoes or walking shoes. People wear them all over the world, no one cares believe me.<BR><BR>I wear ecco's and running shoes and believe me running shoes are much more comfortabe to walk in all day.