5 nights in Paris - what to pack?

[GuntyMcGee]

Hi all,

Our summer holiday this year is 5 nights in Paris. We've never been before and I have no idea what to pack.

We've booked a room only hotel and for 2 days will be at a music festival. We're going hand luggage only, which we've managed to do 2 weeks beach abroad before but this is our first city break so not a clue what to pack.

I'm currently somewhere between a size 12 and 14, 5 foot 3.

I can't stand could shoulder things and really don't suit shift style dresses.

I'm stuck. Any help appreciated.

Watching with interest.

I'm going for the first time (bar Disneyland) for our mini moon in July. I'm worried I'll look v v unstylish in comparison to all the effortless Parisian beauties

@zombiewithoutcoffee this is my worry too!

I live in shorts and vest tops over the summer, so with my very pale skin will stick out like a sore thumb I think.

Don't worry about the pale! It's considered tres tres chic I'm quite happy to embrace the pale, personally.

We often do summer city breaks, but I must admit I'm not very stylish. I tend to take a mixture of:
cotton/jersey sun dresses
shorts and vest tops
full skirts and vest tops
trainers and sandals

At least 50% sexy underwear plus thongs take up less space!

I haven't been to Patis but the parts of France i have seen (plus the swathes of v trendy teens on their end-of-year school holidays) people dress the same as us, they all look very H&M/Zara.

I don't get the obsession with looking French. It's all a bit dull. This summer I'm wearing mostly midi sundresses, culottes with stripey T-shirts, and wide legged trousers.

Dresses (H&M have got some nice stuff at the moment), and flat shoes, culottes or trousers and nice tops, keep it simple. It's a city, not a beach (unless you go to the city beach!) so -imo- shorts and vest tops just don't look right.
But then again you could just wear what you like!

If your worried about looking pale- get a spray tan?? My local sunseekers does them on offer for £10 sometimes (South Liverpool) and you can get different levels of intensity of tan.

Had a similar holiday recently. I would suggest shorts and vests for the festival and then a couple of casual jersey dresses for sightseeing (or more shorts and vests - you wouldn't look out of place). If it's August it will be mostly tourists with the Parisians having holidays away from the city.

Footwear - most people were wearing trainers, Converse or 'walking sandals' but if you ever find the holy grail of stylish but comfortable sandals you must report back!

Thanks for replies!

I'm not worried about looking pale, I've learned to embrace it. Spray tans look horrific on me and I'm all about the factor 50 as I burn so easily.

Not fussed about 'looking french', but just have no idea what is appropriate for a city break + music festival as all I've done before are beach holidays which are quite easy to pack for, adding that to having hand luggage only means I'll need to try some semblance of a mix and match packing list.

Just came back from firts city break to Paris. It was very hot there during these days. My mistakes were:

• took ballet flats and one pair of flip flops with no support. It was agony. Please, OP, whatever you take, make sure you have at least one pair of comfortable walking sandals and if you are taking some flat shoes with you maybe grab a pair of gel

Sorry it was my first message and pressed send too soon. I was talking about gel heel and arch support shoe inserts. I regretted not having them.

• also noticed many ladies in city centre in nice linen culottes, layered with linen shirts/or blouses. If you don’t like shorts or skirts maybe worth considering loose linen culottes?
• all in all I took with me: 1 pair of city shorts in pale yellow, 1 red wide-leg linen trousers, 1 black tapered linen trousers, 1 cropped cropped ivory jeans,1 white structured tank top (shell top but made from very thick jersey) , 1 striped t-shirt and 1 plain black t-shirt but made of silky material so it could be worn in the evening to the restaurant , 1 white blouse with bird print all over it, 1 dark grey sleeveless cotton blouse-top, 1 black thin waterfall cardi, and one silk black all saints dress (which I didn’t use) and 1 black cropped blazer (which also was not used).

All this was used mostly to walk around Paris streets and museums for sightseeing, day in Disneyland and evening meals out. Don’t know if this would be any help to you, OP, just wished that instead of evening dress I packed trainers or walking sandals

I go to Paris fairly often and it does deopend where you're going and what ypu're going to do after the concert.

If you are going to do a lot of walking do take comfortable sandles . I take ancient and reliable birkies for city walking. They may not be right for everyoine but I know they work for me so I take them.
Don't forget that if you do develop a blister, French parmacies are great at treating and will help out and taxis are easy to hail in any street. Better than hobbling to the nearest Metro.

As for clothes, if it's just sight seeing, museum visiting and general shlepping about jeans and t shirts will be fine. Shorts if the weather is vv hot.

Cast iron underwater I've never had my arse groped as much as I did in Paris.

Comfy shoes!

I’ve just come back from Milan and longer culottes are everywhere. Team with a crisp cotton shirt or a linen one or T shirts that are good quality. Plimsoles (white leather) or Nike trainers worn a lot too. Still plenty of chinos around and wider floaty trousers too with a T shirt or vest. Dresses were below the knee and flared from the waist. Vests with flared skirts also around or pleated skirts (they travel well).