Paris streetwear June 2010

[Deleted]

The weather has not been great this month, and Parisians have been very indecisive about what to wear. These photos were taken once again in my absolutely non chic neighborhood in the eastern 18th arrondissement, but this was the middle of a weekday, so plenty of the people are on their lunch break and wearing their work clothes. One may draw one's own conclusions from the spectacle.

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[bjd]

I talked to my daughter this morning and she said it was cold in Paris. All these people look like they're dressed for warm weather!

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[Deleted]

Jun 21, 2010 18:33:56 GMT bjd said:

I talked to my daughter this morning and she said it was cold in Paris. All these people look like they're dressed for warm weather!

These photos are about 2 weeks old. We are freezing in Paris on this first day of summer.

[fumobici]

Here too. What strikes me about these photos is how in warmer weather the clothing seems to become even more internationally generic than in the colder months. There is very little to see in these that I can identify as characteristically Parisian or even French.

[onlymark]

Only because he's airbrushed out the berets and onions.

[bixaorellana]

Ah yes, but he missed the loaves of bread! Check out the last two tiers in Reply #1.

[Deleted]

Jun 21, 2010 20:04:45 GMT onlyMark said:

Only because he's airbrushed out the berets and onions.

I thought something was missing from them. Lighten up on that next time Kerouac please.

[Jo]

Thanks for the post. Honestly... it's always a pain to pack for Paris (tho I only been there for few times compared to other posters here )
Before my first trip to Paris, everyone knew I was going asked what I would bring/wear. They said not to wear this and wear that instead, or begged not to wear anything I normally wear in my country.
It's crazy, especially here I tend to wear anything casual, like outside the work I can mostly be found in shorts and tanktop and flip flop. It stressed me out that I'd be in holiday, but needed to think what to pack so I could look decent in Paris (I don't care if I look like a tourist ). Especially if I need to buy something I don't usually wear; that the holiday had already cost me a lifetime savings.
I believe I'm not the only one, and this post will help anyone who wonders what to pack to Paris

[lagatta]

Well, I disagree with kerouac. You don't have to look chic (most people aren't, in Paris or anywhere else) but you have to look socially acceptable or you'll get no end of grief. (I know that from people who dressed like that - here I'm assuming you are a young or youngish woman). Even in Kerouac's very working-class, immigrant neighbourhood, not a lot of shorts and fewer loud colours. As for flip-flops, that is socially acceptable but it depends on your feet. Being dressed as you say greatly increases your risk of endless sexual harassment. Oh, most of those guys aren't rapists, it is just a pain in the royal chair end.

[bixaorellana]

LaGatta, I'm pretty sure what Jo means is that it's a hassle having to rethink ones whole way of dressing when going on vacation.

Jo, I understand what you're saying! You must live in a warm climate, right? I wind up wearing some strange combinations when I have to go somewhere with a cooler climate, because I refuse to spend money on and give space to bulky garments I generally don't need.

[lagatta]

It is true that people give an absurd amount of thought to being "chic" in Paris, Milan and other supposedly elegant destinations (the elegance usually refers to a few chosen streets), but I've found that not standing out glaringly is a real help on a trip. Of course not much you can do if you are the only person of your skin colour or height somewhere.

I have seen the opposite, bixa. A friend from Paris arrived here in the winter in some kind of ghastly après-ski outfit as it was all she had to suit the climate. Remember a 1960s-type fur hat; it must have belonged to her mother as she is younger than I am. I think she soon found a suitable coat at a thrift shop though, and left it there again when she returned home. Ha, she could have used it this past winter, when it was colder in much of Europe than here!

[Deleted]

When the seasons are changing, even Parisians do not know how to dress. Some look at the calendar, some open the window and some actually believe the weather forecast on the radio. On the metro, I can see people in t-shirts next to people in winter coats and everything in between.

[fumobici]

I'm sure it's much more difficult for women but men can get by and blend in in Europe just fine most anywhere with 501s, t-shirts and sweater/coat. I wouldn't go anywhere on holidays where a jacket and tie were required anyway. Just don't wear the puffy white sneakers or the fanny pack. Especially with the retina scarring baseball hat, polo shirt distended by gut and shorts get-up. Dear god, please I actually think I'd go pretty much unnoticed in Italy if it weren't for the mop of strawberry blond hair and being a head taller than most everyone else.

[lagatta]

Well, I know people from the Veneto who meet that description, fumobici. I'm short with what was very dark brown (almost black) hair; naturally going quite grey, had been coloured in that reddish brown colour a lot of women who would look like Donatella Versace if they went blonde would look like. Very passe-partout. And to the north there are enough immigrants from southern Europe and points farther still that even in Netherlands, people ask me for directions in Dutch.

Yes, it is more a matter of avoiding garish clothing that can get you singled out for problems rather than aiming for chic. Some years back there were actually people wearing beach clothing in Venice, which really pissed off the few remaining locals.

[dahuffy]

Jun 21, 2010 20:04:45 GMT onlyMark said:

Only because he's airbrushed out the berets and onions.

[dahuffy]

Jun 24, 2010 2:44:07 GMT @Jo said:

Thanks for the post. Honestly... it's always a pain to pack for Paris (tho I only been there for few times compared to other posters here )
Before my first trip to Paris, everyone knew I was going asked what I would bring/wear. They said not to wear this and wear that instead, or begged not to wear anything I normally wear in my country.
It's crazy, especially here I tend to wear anything casual, like outside the work I can mostly be found in shorts and tanktop and flip flop. It stressed me out that I'd be in holiday, but needed to think what to pack so I could look decent in Paris (I don't care if I look like a tourist ). Especially if I need to buy something I don't usually wear; that the holiday had already cost me a lifetime savings.
I believe I'm not the only one, and this post will help anyone who wonders what to pack to Paris

My thoughts,exactly!

[dahuffy]

Jun 25, 2010 5:13:52 GMT fumobici said:

I'm sure it's much more difficult for women but men can get by and blend in in Europe just fine most anywhere with 501s, t-shirts and sweater/coat. I wouldn't go anywhere on holidays where a jacket and tie were required anyway. Just don't wear the puffy white sneakers or the fanny pack. Especially with the retina scarring baseball hat, polo shirt distended by gut and shorts get-up. Dear god, please I actually think I'd go pretty much unnoticed in Italy if it weren't for the mop of strawberry blond hair and being a head taller than most everyone else.

You just described my husband (and most of the men in Oklahoma for that matter) minus the gut! Not so sure I'll be able to get him to leave his caps at home when we come for a visit.

[lagatta]

I guess you are less superficial than I am. For me that would be grounds for divorce.

I have sort of the opposite problem. Long-distance sweetie, a European intellectual type of a certain age, wears no "colours" at all, He has almost black hair going grey and an olive complexion, and would look smashing in a red shirt or sweater, but almost always wears black, grey or brown.

[gertie]

Be happy he does not consider pressed khaki pants and a heavier weight good quality golf shirt formal wear. Though to be fair, my husband is a bit of a gawky six foot six and most of the stylish clothing borders if not on ridiculous then at least hits on down right silly looking on him. We did finally succeed in getting him a very nice suit, but he hates long sleeves, says they feel horrid on his arms, so short of a visit from the Queen or perhaps a black tie wedding, you would not see him wear it.

[Stabone130]

This post is so incredibly helpful. Its one thing to read what to wear -- but another to SEE a large assortment of styles. Very similar to NYC so I'm not worried. But a little concerned I'll know what to wear in the countryside (Auvergne, Burgundy).

Would be very helpful to see a later posting -- going to Paris early August and I know the weather change may cause dress change!