Now that was the last straw (I hope).

Fidel, you should live so long.

Okay--one more post.
July is sale season. Buy a pair of shoes
there (I still have my pair, they're a favorite souvenir). I also regret NOT buying that coat (I can forgive myself, it was during their heatwave).
Shorts really aren't worn, unless you're sunning yourself on the sand they've imported and lain by the Seine.Sun dresses, capris---be whoever the heck you are the rest of the time.
And have a wonderful time.

Well, this discussion has been very interesting to me. My niece and I are going to Paris and the Riviera at the end of May. I wasn't really worried about what to wear since I NEVER wear jeans or dress sloppily, but this discussion was an eye opener. I had no idea people worried about these sorts of things when they travel to Europe. Thanks much.

So, Lauren, what do you wear whilst walking the streets of Paris? Probably sackcloth and ashes.

Stick to the law. You know nothing about clothes.

Devotee of Dior
Priestess of Patou
Sycophant of Slimane

I was in Paris & London in June. It was hot. I wore mostly capris and dressier short sleeve shirts most of the time.

This is what I wear most of the spring and summer anyway and I was comfortable. My recommendation is to wear what your most comfortable with, but if your walking as we did--your feet are going to get sore even in the best of shoes.

For the record--and I am "Lauren"--I wear shoes that fit me. Since I have no idea what may fit the feet of others, I do not recommend shoes for others. I suggest all of you just purchase a pair of comfortable shoes. The brand does not matter.

And I do recommend that, if you purchase sackcloths and ashes that you only purchase them from a designer house so you will "fit in".

ValCanada,

If you've got the time, peruse this thread:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34842107

There is a lot of discussion about shoes. The timing of the trip is different (Sept/Oct), but I am sure some of the advice might apply.

I heard the same thing, Val, and was concerned when I went to Paris last summer. It is true that those Parisians dress nicely and it is beyond me how those women walk all day in heels...part of me wanted to be just like them, but alas, my feet just wouldn't take it.
Here is what I did: I invested in a pair of Rockport sandals (black with a cute buckle..no heels)and they worked lovely. Rockports are meant for walking and they were perfect with my sun-dresses. I also brought my Crocks, lol! You have NEVER seen so many stop and stare at my bright yellow shoes. Parisians have obviously never seen Crocks and they thought nothing of stopping, tapping their friends arm and pointing at my shoes. I guess it was 'rude' but I just laughed. I wore my Crocks with dress pants and didn't regret a moment of this fashion faux-pas.
I'll tell you another secret: I brought a dressy leather hand bag that converted into a backpack. Tucked in my pack were a pair of heels that I slipped on when we stopped into somewhere a little nicer for lunch etc..and I also rolled up a black dressy scarf (pashmina?) that I drapped over my sun dress and dressed it up too! It was amazing how two items tucked into my bag turned me into Tourist-on-the-street to Fashion-diva-a-la-Ritz.
One day, I knew that we were going to be out all day and that we were going to end up near the Ritz hotel where my husband wanted to check out the Hemingway Bar. However, we didn't want to go all the way back to the hotel to change and then back again. So, I put on a black linen skirt and white linen blouse, Crocks, hair in pony tail, and off we went for the day. When we got to the Ritz, I ducked into the restroom first and pulled my hair into a french twist and clipped it with my big hair pin that I had in my bag, put on my strappy heals, changed my earings and necklace to my fancy dancy rhinstone/saphire things, and unrolled my shawl(wrap, whatever it's called). Quick touch up of my make up and I exited the bathroom in a totally different look. These 'dress up' items took up hardly any room in my bag and were not heavy at all. (By the way, it's always a good idea to cary a shawl or something like that incase you try to enter strict churches who insist that your shoulders are covered up).
Anyway...you will be fine. Go with comfort, invest in shoes designed for walking and have a back up plan. You will have a great time!

I just returned a while ago from teaching in europe and toured abourn a bit - and I wear a size 11.5 US shoe, by the way - and had no car and walked everywhere. Dansko has sandals that I LIVED in and new very cute comfortable shoes in a new line coming out this spring...they are perfect with skirts, knee length or a bit shorter, which I saw on locals everywhere (I was based in the Balkans)including Prague, France, Italy and Greece. In black, khaki, melon, etc, with a white t-shirt, they can take you from museums to cafes to dinner. But that aside, try Dansko for great sandals peffect for walking miles. Born also. Zappos has them. ENJOY!!!

Shall I assume by this thread that it is targeted to ladies? Or can I join in as a man? :)

Very interesting thread! And your weblink in the first message. Sensuality and sexuality in a total of seven para. Hmm....

Cigalachenta, I KNOW you wear ComfyShoes. You get the award for posting the coolest weblink tonight.

ttt for jj who doesn't know to find this thread by Val, and started a new one.

In Paris, your shoes will most likely end up in doggie doo, so plan accordingly!
There are so many stylish "tennis shoes" available now, I just returned from Paris and everyone is wearing comfortable shoes. But do watch out for the poo.

"Well, let's put it this way, I'm a great waterskiier"

If your shoe size is larger than a US 10 you'll have a hard time finding shoes in Paris. Buy your comfortable shoes well before you go to avoid problems.

Someone wrote she can't believe how the French women wear heels all day. I don't they do. She is probably seeing women going to and from work. I worked in Paris and wore heels and boots to and from (usually by metro) work and flats all other times.

Some of the women in my office come to work in athletic shoes and change into (low) heels only once they get to work. So they are only seen in those shoes at lunch hour.

I was in Paris last week and the best dressed French gentleman I saw on the metro had on a black sweater, white collared shirt, black blazer, dark jeans (not too long or snug) and fashion sneakers.