I loathe packing for any trip - always because I don't know what to bring!! Can any of you tell me what is appropriate for sightseeing in Paris this August? I'm a mom and will be there for a week with my 16 year old daughter. We've never been, and want to see at least some of the famous sites as well do some shopping, people-watching, etc. And I'd like to be at least moderately comfortable!
ANY advice is much appreciated - it's probably bad enough that I don't speak French; I'd just as soon not further complicate matters by being over/under dressed...
Thanks!

HI
Dress is a controversial topic here.
Here is what I think:
In August Paris will be full of tourists of all nationalities, including French tourists.
Most will be dressed very casually, including sneakers. I happen to recommend against jeans because they are hot, heavy, and not versatile, but you will see plenty of jeans as well.

The Parisians will be chic-ly dressed even when casual, but they are not tramping miles every day while sightseeing. I perfer to travel with cotton slacks or skirts in solid colors with non-logo tee shirts. Comfortable shoes, either sneakers or good walking shoes. That same skirt or slacks, with a sweater or blazer added and perhaps a necklace or neck scarf, will be more than acceptable for almost any restaurant except the very top formal tier.

I have a file on Paris; if you'd like to see it, email me at
[email protected]
The same slacks or

Elaine rocks, but for a different take on the issue of men's clothing, may I refer you to the current New Yorker, and the new fashions for males. This might influence what you put in your bags. Or it may blow you mind, and you'll say "never." Great reading. I bet Elaine already has her copy!!! Ciao.

That's a great file too! Thanks, Elaine! =)

Cyn, I will be in Paris this Tuesday for a FEW days w/ my almost 16 yo daughter and her two best friends, twin sisters!

Have a great time!

Hi Cyn

Take whatever you would wear if you were visiting New York or DC in August.

I agree with Ira and remember what's old clothing to you will seem new to new people. You'll see everything in terms of clothing in Paris and being overdressed is probably the biggest issue. A lot of peolple are going to know you're a tourist because you won;t be "dressed for work" and you probably won't be wearing the style of shoes that Europeans are wearing these days, this applies particularly to men...could be very hot and humid..dress accordingly and comfortably and enjoy your trip.

TAKE ON THE TRIP

A whole mess of warm, friendly smiles

A good sense of humor

Lots of patience and the ability to not let little things upset you

Plenty of curiosity

Two credit cards, at least one ATM card and some cash

A healthy dose of humility

Tolerance and appreciation of new ideas, things, and ways of doing things

Eagerness to meet new people and try new foods and drink

Two pair of comfortable shoes and no thin socks

A small umbrella, ear plugs and a corkscrew

Detailed maps of the city and transportation system

Directions on how best to get to what you want to see and do

A good guide book and a french phrase book with a good food/drink/dessert section

The ability to say hello, good bye, please and thank you in french

LEAVE AT HOME

Expectations that you will always be treated special or waiters will smile at you

Judgmental view of life

Plaid shorts, baseball caps and ragged shorts


There are plenty more, but I'm sure other folks will soon chime in and fill the gaps

It's so interesting that besides obviously dressing for the climate, we Americans seem to be very sensitive to what we should wear in Paris. I suppose it's because it's so tres chic and because we really do adore so many things about Parisians. But I usually don't give this much obsession about what to wear. I do the normal amount of obsessing for a trip, but this time I've done much more! Maybe it's because it's so far from home? I don't know. When I went to the Carribean, I didn't do this much obsessing.

I still haven't packed! I've re-typed my list 3 times already! We leave late tomorrow afternoon and my daughter is about to panic! LOL!

Start packing now! Starting is 75% of the battle. Put in all the common sense stuff and then use the list (stop revising it) tonight to see what you may have forgotten.

Oh, I forgot. Drink ONE glass of wine as you pack! Drink a larger glass AFTER you finish.

Take

Comfortable cottons
Comfortable shoes

Do not take:

Cowboy boots
Large belt buckles
10-gallon hats

Hi all,

I have two 5 gal hats, one brown with a beaded band (day wear) and one white with a torquoise and leather band (evening wear).

After reading this post I'm beginning to wonder if I should bring only one. If so, which would be the better one?

We plan to have dinner in one or two fancy places, but mostly it will be local restaurants.

Excellent advice, Degas. Especially the glasses of wine!

CynR and mom, don't worry about your clothes. Just take a pair of comfortable shoes and two hot-weather outfits that makes you think "I look/feel great in this". Anything else is not really necessary, so pare down. DO go shopping with your 16s! There are still summer sales on in Paris.

how IS the painting going? Taking a break between brushes?

RE:ffsmiles

All my creative energy today has gone into washing the car, cleaning the garage and mulching around my flower beds. I did enjoy experimenting with various mulch colors and textures, even if my wife made me change everything in the end!

My only trip to Paris was in August and it was hot, so here's some things that worked nicely for me:

Pack light, you really don't need much stuff. I make do with a rolling 22" and small totebag.

Lightweight pants (I'm a big fan of the "palazzo" style, loose, printed cotton or rayon, elastic waist). Skirts, short or mid-calf, if that's something you'd usually wear (I don't). Black knit capri pants. Tank tops with lightweight vest over, a few shells or plain t-shirts of any sort. Also (controversial, I realize!) long, loose print shorts for that hot day and picnicing in the park. For shoes I take 2-3 pair of good-looking, comfortable sandals, various colors, heel heights. One pair sneakers (again if this is something you'd usually wear).

I feel my "pack" works well, is fairly stylish, and as comfortable as you'll get walking miles in a hot city!! Have fun & definitely have that glass of wine as recommended above...

My method pre-trip is to begin (now) hanging up stuff I'm considering, separate from other clothes. Like on the closet door or wall hooks or something...

Just start gathering, sorting, seeing what looks good together, etc. I do this long before I think of putting anything into a suitcase.

I've never been a good packer, so what I'm about to say may seem obvious, but

as suggested, hang it all up nearby, lay it all out on the bed,before you put anything in the suitcase.
Some things will not be needed, you may add something else instead.
Keep a list of everything that does go in the suitcase, just in case you ever need it for insurance purposes.

Thanks to all of you; at least now I feel that this is doable. I suppose I should just borrow a page from the non-objectionable foreign tourists I encounter (I live in the Napa Valley, and there are more than a few!) Probably the biggest offenders, at least for me, are noisy drunks. Noisy sobers ain't much better. Pushiness, invading my personal space, trashing (both literally and figuratively) my town - these all add up to obnoxious. Actually, I don't think I've ever paid much attention to the tourists' attire...
It's finally hitting me that we're really going, and this is so very exciting - we both can't wait!
Thanks again,
CynR

One more clothes question, if I may piggy-back here...I prefer dresses/skirts for hot weather vs. pants, and have all lengths (just above the knee, just below, mid calf and some sundresses which are ankle length)

I realize foreigners are obvious no matter what, but are all lengths seen in Paris these days are is there a dominant one for middle aged women?

Thanks for your thoughts.