What to wear in Paris during the summer?
 

Im going to Paris this summer and i have absolutely no idea what to pack. I know im carrying on but what types of clothes? Some people tell me that I shouldnt wear jeans and sneakers but some say that it just doesnt matter. I dont know who to believe or what to wear. Help!

It doesn't matter indeed. Wear the clothes that make you feel comfortable. This is your holiday, after all! If you want to dine out at fancy places, then you might want to wear something more dressy.

..just be sure you consider the temperature..can be very warm but can also be relatively cool compared to some us summer temps sp be sure you also pack a sweater.

Hello Chels, a very difficult question since it is very personal. Personally fitting in is very important for me and a trip to Paris is a moment of romance and elegance so I definitely "dress" the part. Jeans are fine but not very practical and can be warm, I prefer light wool, cotton and linen. Foot wear does not have to be ugly in other to be confortable. French men do not wear short in Paris, Parisienne wear more shirt than pants, lot of capris with flat shoes. Just think good cut, simple and versatible. Bon voyage.

paris in the summer can be very warm and humid, or even hot and humid. jeans could be too heavy; think of linen-blend or cotton slacks instead. sneakers are fine as long as they don't look like bulky athletic shoes and scream tourist. a dressy pantsuit (assuming you're female) would be fine for dinners at bistros and other casual/slightly dressy restaurants, but you might want to pack one nice outfit just in case.

Whether I'm in Paris or here in the summer, I live in a-line skirts that just hit the knee. Most of mine are cotton with a little lycra, so they keep their shape and don't wrinkle all that much. Then I top them with a nice fitted t-shirt and some jewelry. A lightweight jacket or sweater is also good to have for when the temperature drops.

I have some wedge-type sandals that are extremely comfortable for walking and yet look nice, too.

I think you can make the decision to dress however you want (seriously, who cares what people think as long as you aren't too strippy or wearing a dirty shirt?) or dress to blend in. I will be traveling alone while I'm in Paris, so I'm going to try to blend in more in hopes of being safer. Here is how the Let's Go guide suggests dressing to "blend in:"

Trying to blend in as much as possible is always a good idea when traveling, and in Paris it will take you far. The Fench tend to dress more conservatively than people in other countries; they also live up to their reputation for being particularly stylish, so don't worry about being overdressed. Leave the shorts, t-shirts, and sneakers at home (although I would note that those trendy sneakers are now featured in fashion mags, so I'm guessing they are a propos), and bring along (or purchase in Paris!) some well-fitting black pants, cute shoes, and sunglasses, and you'll be well on your way to looking like a Parisian.

Obviously, this guide is more geared towards young people. So, this advice may be taken with a grain of salt. However, I'm guessing that your style of dress all depends on whether you want to do your own thing (perfectly acceptable) or fit in.

Good luck:)

It depends on what your goal is. You CAN wear whatyever you want - and won;t be arrested - nor openly mocked.

But - if you want to fit in a little more - its better to try for a little big city sophistication than looking at if you just came from mucking out the stable.

IMHO jeans are just too hot for the summer almost anywhere. I prefer cotton or linen blend pants or capris - even in casuale places- never mind world capitols. And if you do want to wear sneaks - get some of the cute trendy ones (but you can get ballet flats that are just as comfy) - not the 8.99 specials from K-mart - nor the ones that make you look like an olympic competitor.

It just doesn't matter. You should wear whatever you would wear in a major sophisticated city. You can't tell with the weather, it is often cool enough for jeans in Paris in the summer, the temperature could range from about 65 to 95 in the afternoon in the summer. I've been there when it was downright cold for several weeks continuing in July, perhaps 65 and rainy in the day time, and colder at night.

lol. i must remind you people that i am under the age of 25 so i dont want to look middle aged either. i have tennis shoes and they were not $8.99 at K-mart. Theyre Diesel tennis shoes. and I am going in late May so not too far into the summer...

chels, how can you remind us that you are under 25 when you, as far as I can tell, did not tell us? No mention of your age in your original post here.

I think sometimes we posters spend a lot of effort trying to help and what we need to do is write back with a quick list of questions, LOL.

Anyway chels, I am sure you appreciate all the effort that was made here to at least to try to answer your question.

Well chels2006 -

First of all - May isn;t the summer 0 its the spring - unless they've moved the seasons while I wasn't looking - which might affect the answers.

As for being under 25 - how much under 25? 24? 14? Are you an adult? If so - the advice holds. Are you a child? Then - wear a romper suit and little plastic sandals!

HI--linen pants and travel knits--like the kind from Chicos--are appropriate for any age. They have the distinct advantage of taking up very little room so that more fit in the carry on. Jeans are bulky, as are sneakers. I would take one pair of sneakers and wear them on the plane and then pack some comfortable and more stylish open toed shoes or dressy looking sandals that go equally well w/either skirts, pants or jeans. You will enjoy yourself more in Paris if you are not wearing the same type of clothes that you would wear to Disney World--JMO.