I am hardly an authority on fashion, so let's just clarify that right from the start. I don't read Vogue. I don't go to fashion shows. I couldn't tell you when Fashion Week starts in Paris, New York or Milan. And I'm not the "right" size to wear most fashion trends anyway. If compared to Anne Hathaway's character in The Devil Wears Prada, I wouldn't have been as frumpy as she was in the beginning, and I would have HEARD of Prada, but otherwise I probably would have been almost as clueless when it comes to recognizing what designer made which bag, shoes or dress.
That being said, when you live in Paris, you start to notice some trends, even when you're not necessarily paying close attention or when you're couture-impaired.
So, for those of you who are planning on coming to Paris this summer and want to know "What are they wearing?" -- here are a few do's and don'ts based on my observations.
1. DO wear colors! The biggest color trend this summer seems to be coral. I've also seen red, royal blue, emerald green and even bright yellow. Floral prints are big, too. I've even spotted some young guys wearing skinny jeans in bright colors! It's a welcome change from all the standard black, grey, navy and beige that normally make up the Parisian fashion "uniform".
2. Ladies: DO wear dresses or skirts! Maxi, knee-length or short, the length doesn't seem to matter, but skirts and dresses are totally IT. This, to me, is probably the single biggest difference between Paris and most towns in the U.S.: French women wear skirts, even in winter. And in summer, they are more popular than shorts.
3. Speaking of shorts: Can you wear them in Paris or not? Well, yes and no. It depends on the style. MEN: leave your wrinkly, saggy, poor-fitting, hanging-off-your-butt surfer jams at home or save them for the beach, but they don't belong in Paris and people WILL whisper about you. If you're wearing shorts, they should be knee length, give or take a few centimeters, and a solid color or a plaid. LADIES: If you're young and fit, short shorts can be worn but I normally see girls wearing them with black tights (yes, even in summer) and heels, ankle boots or wedge-type sandals. If you're NOT young or not fit, skip the shorts and put on a skirt instead, save the shorts for the beaches. Or if you must wear shorts, make sure they come to just above or at the knee. And please, NO "SKORTS" - they are not at all in style at the moment.
4. DON'T (no matter what the season) come to Paris with your old sweatpants, sweatshirts or anything with "JUICY" scrawled across the butt. The ONLY time you are likely to see a Parisian woman wearing sweats is if she's actually outside exercising. Parisian women don't like to look sloppy, and sweats may be comfortable to wear but you will always look like you really don't care about your appearance. Leave them at home.
5. And for God's sake, do NOT wear your PAJAMAS on the plane! Yes, Americans have been spotted in the airports, wearing actual PAJAMAS (sometimes with feet -- and we're talking about people older than the age of 10 here). I know Americans like to be comfortable, but PLEASE stop doing this. It's just awful. And those of us who live here just cringe whenever one of us (or a French person) spots anyone teenage or older wearing pajamas in public, because we KNOW it's an American who is doing so. You're not helping our global reputation.
6. Leave the fanny packs at home. If you want to keep your cash and belongings secure, an across-the body bag (yes, even for men, such as the messenger-bag style) will help you blend in and doesn't instantly mark you as a tourist ripe for the pickpocketing.
7. Shoes: leave the running shoes at home for running or running errands. In Paris, most people wear shoes that are comfortable but don't look like white tennis shoes or running shoes. Choose something with a bit of style and color. Sandals are also good (the "hiking" style sandals are European-looking anyway). Flip-flops are fine (but NICE ones, not ratty ones you've worn to the beach for the past 5 years), and seem most popular among young people, but even our 20-somethings don't seem to wear them that often. (Plus, with the hard Parisian pavement and cobblestones, I think you risk discomfort and injury if your feet are unprotected in flip-flops.) Yes, women are wearing heels but if you're here as a tourist and planning on a lot of walking, flat shoes -- like ballerina slippers styles -- are better. A nice wedge sandal would be lovely. And Converse are always popular in France (although personally I don't wear them).
8. Accessories matter. You can wear some basic pieces and pump them up with a great bag, scarf or shoes. You don't have to bring five pairs of shoes or three different bags, but choose accessories that make a statement.
9. Bring your CONFIDENCE. If you hang around Paris long enough, you realize that what we may think of as "fashionable" is really more about confidence than anything else. Confidence in your choices, confidence in yourself, no matter what your shape or what you're actually wearing. Parisian women seem to carry themselves with a lot of confidence, and because of that they can make simple fashion choices look amazing. An an outfit that might look bizarre on someone else can look incredible on a Française. A basic jean, white shirt and a cardigan? Anyone can wear that, right? But add a great scarf, colorful bag or fun shoes, and walk like you own the place -- and you'll look incredibly French.
When you're traveling, of course you're going to be concerned about comfort and being able to pack light (to save room for all the souvenirs you plan to bring home). But don't only focus on that; you should also think about blending into your environment as much as possible, for your own safety. People who look and act like clueless tourists are easy targets for thieves and scam artists, and your clothes can play a part in this.
So even if you don't care about fashion, per se, do think about what you're planning to wear in terms of protecting yourself and your belongings. You can look good, be fashion-conscious, be comfortable and be safe, all at the same time, with a little thought and planning.
Bon voyage!
