what to wear in France
May 28th, 2006, 07:32 AM
#21
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I find flip-flops most comfortable and unless I am having a nice meal, "clubbing" or doing something work-related, I wear them in Paris (New York and at home in DC too). I have never noticed anyone eyeing my flip-flops or automatically approaching me in English because of them, although I haven’t noticed many tourists or Parisians wearing them in the city. However, when I decide that I have indulged in too much haute cuisine, and I take to the streets jogging in my Under Armour shirts and Adidas running shorts…that is another matter altogether.
May 28th, 2006, 05:46 PM
#23
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Hypatia, natural blondes are much more common in the U.S. than in France. In both countries, however, it seems to be popular to bleach one's hair (perhaps more so in the U.S.); I don't know why. In any case, hair color is variable enough that one can't reliably guess nationalities on that basis, although an entire group of blonde women might well be American or German. Coloring the hair black seems to be a little more common in France.
Americans wear fancier nails of all types, be they painted, sculpted, artificial, etc. French women very often just leave their nails natural and do not grow them long. Those who do grow them long sometimes allow dirt to collect beneath them, which isn't very attractive.
Shoes in general can easily be a giveaway of foreign nationality. Flip-flops do it for American women, but other odd shoes on the street can mark other nationalities as well. You won't see French people wearing dark sandals with white socks, or indeed sandals with socks in general (especially those huge, chunky sandals that Germans and some others seem to prefer). Athletic shoes are fairly universal in many age groups, although I suppose someone with a keen eye for exact models, brands, and styles might be able to tell the tourists from the locals consistently.
Men past puberty normally don't wear shorts in France, especially beyond their teens; doing so makes a man suspect (of homosexuality or foreign nationality or both). Shirts with writing or images are eschewed, as are cheap t-shirts generally. Shoes that expose any part of the feet are rare.
French people often have relatively delicate physiques, although they are of the same height as other Europeans. Thus, French women often seem fairly delicate and slender, which usually works in their favor; and French men usually seem scrawny, which works against them. Tall, sturdy, blonde women and men are often assumed to be foreigners. People with significant tans (in Paris) are also assumed to be tourists or just back from vacation.
The locals smoke very heavily, and a 20-year-old woman with a cigarette in her hand is very likely to be French, as teenage girls and young women in France are often heavy smokers. It's rare to see American women smoking, especially the young ones (or perhaps they just refrain while on vacation?).
Young people drinking to intoxication in public places are often English, Irish, American, German, or in any case not French. The French do get drunk often enough, and they drink a great deal overall, but they don't usually go out to pubs and drink until they cannot stand in the way that many Anglo-Saxons do.
People with cameras are often tourists, as anywhere. People who are not teenagers and are very casually dressed are often tourists as well, again as anywhere.
Interestingly, some Americans give themselves away by overdressing. They dress somewhat fancier than the average French person on the street would dress; but the real giveaway is that their fancy dress is obviously American in style, not French—so in trying to "blend in" they actually stand out very glaringly. This is more common among women than men. They incorrectly assume that everyone dresses up in France, but more importantly, they forget that the more dressed up a person is, the more obvious any departure from local fashion is likely to be. It's fun to observe, since the people who do this often have no idea how much they stand out.
Anyway, it's a big city, and anyone can dress more or less in any way he or she wants. If one dresses strangely, people might look, but it's not illegal, and virtually no place in Paris still enforces any kind of dress code. I guess the minimum is that clothing should be clean and not too torn up, but that is probably true anywhere.
Americans wear fancier nails of all types, be they painted, sculpted, artificial, etc. French women very often just leave their nails natural and do not grow them long. Those who do grow them long sometimes allow dirt to collect beneath them, which isn't very attractive.
Shoes in general can easily be a giveaway of foreign nationality. Flip-flops do it for American women, but other odd shoes on the street can mark other nationalities as well. You won't see French people wearing dark sandals with white socks, or indeed sandals with socks in general (especially those huge, chunky sandals that Germans and some others seem to prefer). Athletic shoes are fairly universal in many age groups, although I suppose someone with a keen eye for exact models, brands, and styles might be able to tell the tourists from the locals consistently.
Men past puberty normally don't wear shorts in France, especially beyond their teens; doing so makes a man suspect (of homosexuality or foreign nationality or both). Shirts with writing or images are eschewed, as are cheap t-shirts generally. Shoes that expose any part of the feet are rare.
French people often have relatively delicate physiques, although they are of the same height as other Europeans. Thus, French women often seem fairly delicate and slender, which usually works in their favor; and French men usually seem scrawny, which works against them. Tall, sturdy, blonde women and men are often assumed to be foreigners. People with significant tans (in Paris) are also assumed to be tourists or just back from vacation.
The locals smoke very heavily, and a 20-year-old woman with a cigarette in her hand is very likely to be French, as teenage girls and young women in France are often heavy smokers. It's rare to see American women smoking, especially the young ones (or perhaps they just refrain while on vacation?).
Young people drinking to intoxication in public places are often English, Irish, American, German, or in any case not French. The French do get drunk often enough, and they drink a great deal overall, but they don't usually go out to pubs and drink until they cannot stand in the way that many Anglo-Saxons do.
People with cameras are often tourists, as anywhere. People who are not teenagers and are very casually dressed are often tourists as well, again as anywhere.
Interestingly, some Americans give themselves away by overdressing. They dress somewhat fancier than the average French person on the street would dress; but the real giveaway is that their fancy dress is obviously American in style, not French—so in trying to "blend in" they actually stand out very glaringly. This is more common among women than men. They incorrectly assume that everyone dresses up in France, but more importantly, they forget that the more dressed up a person is, the more obvious any departure from local fashion is likely to be. It's fun to observe, since the people who do this often have no idea how much they stand out.
Anyway, it's a big city, and anyone can dress more or less in any way he or she wants. If one dresses strangely, people might look, but it's not illegal, and virtually no place in Paris still enforces any kind of dress code. I guess the minimum is that clothing should be clean and not too torn up, but that is probably true anywhere.
May 28th, 2006, 08:40 PM
#25
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She would wear whatever suited her personal style. Probably moderate or no makeup, dark colors with a preponderance of black, low or flat heels (French women rarely wear high heels, at least in Paris). I'm not sure that there are any fixed patterns, since French women are so individual in their preferences and choices.
I'm not even sure about the scarf. While scarves are not uncommon in Paris, they aren't universal, either; it depends on the weather. The scarves I do see seem to be just as functional as decorative.
I'm not even sure about the scarf. While scarves are not uncommon in Paris, they aren't universal, either; it depends on the weather. The scarves I do see seem to be just as functional as decorative.
May 29th, 2006, 08:05 AM
#26
Do we know this person will be staying in Paris? I didn't see that mentioned.
We don't know for sure if this poster is male or female. If they will be in Paris or in a smaller city or town, or staying out in the countryside. Or any idea of their age.
Other than recommending packing summer clothing, I don't know how we/you can give good advise.
We don't know for sure if this poster is male or female. If they will be in Paris or in a smaller city or town, or staying out in the countryside. Or any idea of their age.
Other than recommending packing summer clothing, I don't know how we/you can give good advise.
-- keep the advice coming. If there's one thing that the French don't care about, it is how the tourists dress.
May 29th, 2006, 10:46 AM
#28
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Agreed, kerouac. Nobody really notices what anyone else is wearing unless it's completely outrageous or terribly fashionable.
What's hilarious is someone posting inaccurate (and often xenophobic) commentaries on French and American habits with a cop-out disclaimer:
"Generalizations can be dangerous, which is why I qualify almost everything I say (usually," "potential," "only a fraction," "uncommon," "more likely," etc.)."
It would be hilarious if it were not so pathetic. Sort of like saying "(fill in the blank)are usually cheap," or lazy, or whatever.
So much easier to be a social critic than to get a life.
What's hilarious is someone posting inaccurate (and often xenophobic) commentaries on French and American habits with a cop-out disclaimer:
"Generalizations can be dangerous, which is why I qualify almost everything I say (usually," "potential," "only a fraction," "uncommon," "more likely," etc.)."
It would be hilarious if it were not so pathetic. Sort of like saying "(fill in the blank)are usually cheap," or lazy, or whatever.
So much easier to be a social critic than to get a life.
May 30th, 2006, 03:42 AM
#30
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>>>>If there's one thing that the French don't care about, it is how the tourists dress.
Exactly. I should think all they'd care about is that we spend money in their country and boost the economy.
As for all the clues of foreignness, whether manicured fingernails, shoes, scarves, low heels, high heels, no heels, etc. - so what? So what if a French person knows we're not French? Do the French visit other countries and, in fits of insecurity and self-loathing, try to pretend they're something other than what they are?
It's funny, the original poster wanted to know about clothing appropriate to the season, not whether he or she could fly under the xenophobia radar. To that person, I would say the first response to the question probably was the most helpful.
Exactly. I should think all they'd care about is that we spend money in their country and boost the economy.
As for all the clues of foreignness, whether manicured fingernails, shoes, scarves, low heels, high heels, no heels, etc. - so what? So what if a French person knows we're not French? Do the French visit other countries and, in fits of insecurity and self-loathing, try to pretend they're something other than what they are?
It's funny, the original poster wanted to know about clothing appropriate to the season, not whether he or she could fly under the xenophobia radar. To that person, I would say the first response to the question probably was the most helpful.
May 30th, 2006, 04:02 AM
#31
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I don't know where you are from, but at the moment you might be a bit chilly in your "usual summer clothing".
Today the temperature in Paris is 15C or 59F.
You'd need a jacket especially in the evening. I'd say spring/summer clothes with something warm to go on top.
Today the temperature in Paris is 15C or 59F.
You'd need a jacket especially in the evening. I'd say spring/summer clothes with something warm to go on top.
May 30th, 2006, 06:58 PM
#33
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I dont care how many times this kind of post appears .It only refects the obvious fact that a lot of people are interested in the cultural aspects(including fashion) of other countries and how we relate to it.
I noticed the nails, the berets, the old people clothing, the strange, and the chic and I enjoyed it...
I also perceived others glances as we do here. We all crave getting the right kind of looks .
And understanding the preferences and trends we all copy or deviate from. In Thailand a string bikini is not appoved of so it's about respect for the culture.
It's not about what the French will think of us. We will wear what we like and own but therein lies a big choice at least for women.
I noticed the nails, the berets, the old people clothing, the strange, and the chic and I enjoyed it...
I also perceived others glances as we do here. We all crave getting the right kind of looks .
And understanding the preferences and trends we all copy or deviate from. In Thailand a string bikini is not appoved of so it's about respect for the culture.
It's not about what the French will think of us. We will wear what we like and own but therein lies a big choice at least for women.
