Although this is changing lately, Parisians tend do dress up much more for everyday activities than most Americans. You will seldom see a grown up woman in a baggy man fleece, old jeans and sports shoes in a restaurant in Paris. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but not the typical Parisian. So here is what you should wear if you want to fit in.
Teenagers do wear sport shoes, sweatshirts and low-rise jeans, but usually with a trendy T-shirt and nice shirt on top. It looks like they grabbed the first thing handy, but they actually put a lot of thought into it -- boys and girls alike. Hard rock band T shirts are not "cool" in Paris.
Grown ups dress closer to what Americans call "business casual": Ann Taylor, Ralph Lauren, Banana Republic, and the Gap are some good examples of brands that will fit in in France. Classic styles are always recommended. Shorts and Nikes are fine to power walk through Paris in the afternoon, and grab a sandwich at a café, but you should change into khakis, shirt and leather shoes when going in a restaurant or bistro.
For men, a sport jacket with a dress shirt over a clean pair of jeans, and "dressy" leather shoes is fine for a casual night out.
For women, when going out at night, don't overdo it. French people prefer good cuts and pretty fabrics to beads and evening gowns. Nothing too flashy: think Armani, not Versace.
Accessorize: you don’t need to pack a huge suitcase. Different scarves, earrings and hairdos can change the look of a standard black outfit. But do pay attention to shoes, they often make a big difference to one's outfit. Sport shoes are a big no in Paris when going out at night...
Written by Camille Chevalier-Karfis
I am the founder of FrenchToday.com. My unique teaching method has been written about in The Boston Globe, This City Paris, Le Journal Français... I’ve published 2 intermediate audiobooks, and I’m the voice behind the 64+ hours of audio of this site. After 16 years in the US, my family and I recently took a leap of faith and moved back to France!!I’m passionate about my work, and thanks to today’s technology, I am still teaching French over the phone and Skype to French learners all over the world, with excellent results. Contact me to learn more.
