Killing the myth of the Champs Elysées (by K2)

[Deleted]

Regular visitors to Paris know that there is little that is elegant on the Champs Elysées, least of all the people who walk up and down the avenue. Amazingly enough, there are still some people who still worry about what they can wear out in public. This will calm anybody's fears instantly, and this time it isn't even the usual cast of characters from my neighborhood. Here's what people were wearing on July 2, 2010.

[bjd]

Well, they are certainly not all French. But in general, nobody stands out as being well-dressed.

[frenchmystiquetour]

Veronique and I love your fashion commentary and eagerly await each new episode.

[fumobici]

It's probably just as well those photos aren't handily numbered to make catty comments easy.

I'm sure old Parisians would tell you it didn't used to be like today and that Parisian sidewalks were once peopled with the impeccably elegantly coiffed and dressed. But I somehow doubt it ever was really that way.

What's the best dressed city in the world today?

[cristina]

I wish I could see the pictures. They don't seem to want to appear on my computer (along with half of posters' profile pictures).

[bjd]

No such thing as best-dressed city, Fumobici. I remember going to Italy with my kids and telling them how well-dressed Italians were. Then we went to the lake area north of Milan and they kept saying, "you must be kidding? these people aren't well-dressed."

Actually, I personally think that people in poor countries try much harder to look presentable than in N America or Europe. You don't see Kenyans in shorts, even if it's hot.

[bazfaz]

Before I first went to Thailand in 1985 my mother issued a stern warning that the Thais were very formal and correct (she had never been there) and I should dress accordingly. I did seriously worry whether I should take a suit. Fortunately my backpack was too small.

[spindrift]

Well, those people are dressed just like the people in my high street; there is nothing different at all.

I very rarely 'Armani' or 'Gucci' myself these days; perhaps I make an effort if I'm going to Harvey Nichols but I don't bother to dress up for Selfridges I'll dress up for the Ritz or similar.

[Deleted]

Baz, I know that one thing that people in Asia (and probably Africa and South America) cannot abide by is torn jeans and cut-off shorts, even if they are wearing such things themselves. The same goes for flip flops. "Why would anybody wear flip flops if they can afford shoes?" They suffer under the same myths of how one should dress as Westerners do.

And yet, now that more and more of them are coming on holiday in Europe, the shorts and the flip flops come out quite rapidly when they realize the importance of comfort.

[lagatta]

Flip flops aren't very comfortable if you are walking for a long time.

[greyghost1]

Kerouac, at least your neighborhood has more variety.

[ilbonito]

What's the best dressed city in the world today?

Tokyo, I would say. Quite easily. The best dressed people in Paris are japanese tourists, in my opinion.

[Deleted]

They used to be. But the new young independent Japanese and Korean travellers are now dressed the same way I used to see them in Siem Reap -- T-shirt, shorts, thong.

Singaporeans and Taiwanese still dress up.

[lola]

Those photos could be of the crowd in our downtown for fireworks last night.

[Deleted]

Jul 5, 2010 11:32:01 GMT ilbonito said:

What's the best dressed city in the world today?

Tokyo, I would say. Quite easily.

My opinion too.

[dahuffy]

Jul 5, 2010 21:45:20 GMT lola said:

Those photos could be of the crowd in our downtown for fireworks last night.

Very true!!!

[gertie]

Among the things I find amusing, you always read don't wear athletic sneakers in France yet I see a lot of them there. No shorts is another.

I would say in general that crowd looks just slightly better turned out than you'd see wandering around my little town, or someplace in the nearby metro, but not by much. Generally get the feeling there are a whole lot of tourists and they all turned out just a tad more than usual having thought it would be more chic there. Here pretty much everyone would be in shorts, the only dresses you would see would be the holy rollers, who would also have long hair scraped back in buns and no makeup. More of the girls would have their hair in ponytails or tossed up in clippies. More wrinkles and sweat stains, too, but perhaps that is just the heat here. Someone should tell the tourists backpacks are not a pretty picture on anyone.

[LouisXIV]

I couldn't find one fanny pack.

[kerouac2]

I had totally forgotten this report, which somebody unearthed on a different travel forum. Somebody had asked if men could wear shorts in Paris. I have to admit that the reply to the question is here for all to see, even more than 10 years ago.  Cameras have definitely improved in quality since those days, though.