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Sneakers in Paris ???

Since Paris is a walking city, I want to walk. I am most comfortable in sneakers (I guess I can get them in black if necessary) and was wondering if that would be in bad taste.

Norman, Quick, do a search of this site for the dreaded sneakers topic. Please, before the war starts anew between the "I have never worn a pair of sneakers in my life" camp and the "I'll wear whatever I damn well please" camp.

Hi Norman. We have kicked this topic around here quite a few times. So let me get my 2 cents worth in first for a change. I don't think it matters what you wear on your feet as long as they do not smell or scar the floor. Go with something that will not rub blisters or otherwise hurt your feet. You can see just about any costume in Paris, and I for one see no reason to punish yourself just because you are in Paris. I happen to wear a pair of black, wing tip Rockports because they are comfortable and not because I think they are stylish. You can take along a pair of black dress shoes if you want to go to a nice restarurant, but this dress issue is overstated. Ever since the time I went to the opera in my best suit and sat in the most expensive seats next to a Frenchman dressed in a black T-shirt, I decided that I could wear about what I wanted to as long as it did not get me arrested. One night in a restaurant, we ate next to a man clad in trousers and what I would call an undershirt. I had on a coat and tie, so the contrast was great. I don't think I got any better service than he did. But then, too, they may have been trying to get rid of him because he got his food very quickly. As for your shoes revealing your identity as an American in Paris, so what? There are 60 ways that people can figure that out, including the way you walk, comb your hair, talk, and wear. My wife is a conservative dresser, who certainly does not go about in shorts or jeans. Clerks in stores would automatically start speaking English to her (if they could) as soon as she approached. All they did was look at her and they knew where she was from. I think the epitome of appearances giving away your national identity happend to my wife on a trail in Switzerland. We were hiking along when we stopped to take a standing rest to regain our breath. My wife's backpack was unfastened. A man, not an American or English, walked up from the rear, having never seen her front, and said in English, "You should fasten your pack." How did he know? Lucky guess? Posture? Her black Seattle Sombrero? Her hiking boots? Her unqualified good looks? (My opinion at least.) I don't know.

If you're walking around the monuments snapping photos they'll know you're a tourist anyway, and there's nothing wrong with being a tourist. People enthusiastically celebrate tourism on this site every day. Wear your sneakers if you're walking and want to be comfortable...just don't wear them to dinner. j.

The worst thing about sneakers (Nike/Addidas types) is the HORRIBLE noise they make walking through museums and palaces. Marble floors+athletic shoe soles make for a really high/loud squeak. So loud sometimes that everyone will stop and stare. So look for walking shoes with softer composition soles.

Be more sure of yourself, you are not a baby that needs to be looked after, have some confidence. Paris is a large city, I assure you that you will not be the centre of attention, do as you want - can you dress yourself?

Just back from Italy. Close friends/relatives in NYC. The hot casual shoe design this season looks like a leather bowling shoe. Many color combinations, good support and comfort like a "sneaker." Sure you can find a sneaker that looks enough like this if they haven't hit your town yet. No one really will notice anyway.

My sneakers don't make a HORRIBLE noise in museums - what kind of sneakers does that person buy? If it's raining out and they're wet that might be a different story - but not just with sneakers! Good grief - wear what you want.

If there's anything approaching a consensus on this issue here on this forum, it would seem to be: wear whatever you like and is comfortable for you, and don't worry about whether other people -- either locals or other tourists -- consider it to be in bad taste. I'm just curious why this same philosophy doesn't seem to apply to, for example, "nice" restaurants. I mean, if people aren't supposed to judge you by what you wear on the street, then why should they judge you by what you wear in a "nice" restaurant?

Capo, Are you being serious or argumentative? Do you not agree that certain places, be they restaurants, churches, parties, celebrations, deserve the respect of a more formal attire? Would you wear sneakers to a funeral because you want to be comfortable and think that people shouldn't judge you? Most restaurants try to promote an image; some casual, some elegant, etc. I don't want to get into a pisssing match but I don't know how you can argue that personal comfort in attire is more important than showing respect to your host and surroundings. j.

Jon, Perhaps Capo's point is that wearing sneakers in Paris (as opposed to, say, sneakers in Chicago) is like wearing a t-shirt and jeans to a nice, formal restaurant. If that's her point, I am not sure that I agree. However, from my limited experience in Paris, I see how one could support the argument that Paris is generally a dressier place than other cities. And if you buy that argument, then your point about dressing appropriately would yield the answer: no, you shouldn't wear sneakers in Paris. I'm not sure I agree, but I am not a Parisian. Worse yet, I can't believe I've been drawn into this popular *war* Then again, what the hell--it's Friday.

Just trying to look at this issue in another way, Jon. If, as you say, "certain places ... deserve the respect of a more formal attire" and that showing respect to your host and surroundings is more important than personal comfor in attire, then would it follow that you are philosophically opposed to people wearing whatever they want on the streets of Paris? P.S. to Chuck: make that "his point", s'il vous plait! :^)

Norman, I think your question is valid, but it seems many Americans see the eternal shoe question as black and white--no pun intended. Either you wear 'nice' shoes (uncomfortable, dark office wear) or you wear sneakers (comfortable, white, suitable for lots of movement). There are a thousand options of very comfortable shoes that don't happen to be 'athletic' footwear. In fact, standard American sneakers don't always provide the general support and sturdy sole that make for comfortable walking on cobblestone streets and rough countryside. If you're apprehensive about what will be appropriate footwear for both sightseeing and dinner/theater, check into some fabulously comfortable dark leather shoes. A quick search on this forum will provide many opinions on brands and styles. They're generally no more expensive than a good sneaker, and you'll probably get more wear out of them (on your trip and afterward) than either an athletic shoe or a dress shoe. Not surprisingly, many of the manufacturers of such shoes happen to be European. Just my thoughts. Good luck.

I would rather eat glass or have 5 inch wooden splinters forced under my finger nails than see this extremely tired thread continue - some of you sound as silly as the posters on the US thread.

"I'm just curious why this same philosophy doesn't seem to apply to, for example, "nice" restaurants." Well, Capo...Fashion has never been, even remotely, related to logic...

Capo, Apologies for my gender confusion. I tend to associate intelligence, patience, and subtlety with the females of our species.

We visit our Parisian friends (who are French, not Americans living there)every year. They live in central Paris and when not working, always seem to wear athletic shoes! In fact, they always ask us to bring them the latest Nikes and jeans since these items are cheaper in the States!

Americans are always the worst dressed in proper attire. They try to visit the Vatican dressed for the beach. They attend concerts, museums in shorts. And not just sneakers but dirty sneakers

Very true Clairobscur; you make a good point about fashion and logic. No problem, Chuck (and interesting association). Annie, good comments. I agree that there are undoubtedly many other options for comfortable footwear besides athletic shoes. However, I'd bet there are numerous people who wear them because they like the look of them, instead of solely for comfort and support. Re: "In fact, standard American sneakers don't always provide the general support and sturdy sole that make for comfortable walking on cobblestone streets and rough countryside." I just asked my girlfriend -- who's graduating from medical school in one week -- about that and she agreed (although she also said that, for certain people, depending on their feet, athletic shoes may be the best choice for support.)

It's been very enlightening, reading the responses to a question I wanted to see answered. Some of us are naive and new to traveling beyond the confines of the good ol' USA - like me. Visiting Paris in July with only rumor to go by. I am hoping that most of the information from these forums are reliable, not misleading....