I'm going to Paris and don't know what to wear!

[Blarn]

Well, other than warm clothes! I am spending two days in Paris next week with dh. The forecast is going to be single digits and rain, carry on luggage and i am good at packing light.

We are going to get there about midday and mooch around for a bit before (and this is the bit that makes it tricky) seeing a gig in the evening. The gig will be hot, shouty and I might get beer spilt on me.

I was planning on chunky but comfortable black ankle boots, tights and a mini skirt for both days. I have found this skirt which I am really drawn to. https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc146720191

It's a lot jazzier than what I normally wear but I am oddly drawn to it! Would I just look odd walking round Paris the next day though? Coat wise I am hoping that my lovely oversized wool one will be OK with an umbrella. To go to the gig I am just going to ditch the coat and wear a wool jumper that can be tied around my waist, I think the place is close to the hotel.

I have never been to Paris before, I am oddly nervous!

Wow. I haven't been to Paris in a decade. Last time i was there, the women still all tottered around in heels, skinny jeans and blazers, all stick thin. Nice to know they wear comfortable shoes now and casual clothes now!

London is 616 square miles compared to Paris which is 314, so Paris is almost half the size. It is also said that you can see the green flashing signs of pharmacies in Paris from space. Whether that is true or not there is certainly no shortage.

Paris has lots of plane trees which can cause allergy problems in the spring, but far less likely this time of year.

Homeless people and pickpockets can be found in almost every major city (Singapore is probably a rare exception) but it is safe to wear a mini skirt and in most areas walk alone at night; OK, l know OP is not going in her own, but l am stressing that there is nothing frightening about it. He vast majority of men there are respectful to women, which is not the case in every city l have visited.

I’ve been a few times, last time was September and loved people watching at cafes. The word thing is even dressed casually you could pick the French people out, they just seemed to ‘wear it better’. Lol

I didn’t see anything like that the last few times. It was cleaned up for the Olympicd. I was a high alert, don’t die so to strangers or let them touch l you. A sharp ‘non, Merci’ helps.

@Blarn The "Parisians are rude" thing comes down to two misunderstandings - first it's a working city not a museum, people are busy & in places like cafés, efficiency is valued over the "genial mine host" routine. Secondly, tourists are rude first without meaning to be. Say a general "bonjour" when you walk into a shop, to your waiter, to cashiers - we're used to waiting politely & silently to be served & throw in lots of "please" & "thank you" to show our politeness, but that failure to acknowledge the human in front of you still comes off as rude in France. You'll actually get cut more slack as a tourist in Paris than in rural areas.
BTW, the old "je m'excuse, je ne parle pas francais, parlez- vous anglais par hasard?" thaws hearts better than doing the line in English. It's remarkable how far a very tiny bit of French will get you rather than weighing in in English first.
One last point, it is totally worth splashing out on a bit of high-end patisserie while you're there. If you happen to find yourself near this place, treat yourself - Pierre Hermé, 72 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris. Have a lovely time!

If you don’t want to stand out as a tourist I would say pay most attention to your coat and scarf. There are very stylish people in Paris, but not everyone is stylish. Anyone in a beret is American.

Many French people love to practice their English - even if you speak to them in French which is better than their English they will still want to reply in English!

I really love Paris. I find the people very down to earth and just getting on with their lives. You will feel comfortable in classy classics or smart casual or jeans and trainers. You see people strutting their stuff in more out-there clothes too.

The poster above who suggested the long coat, jeans and boots is right if you want to not stand out.

But honestly whatever you are comfortable in.

You are there to see Paris, not for Paris to see you!! (meant in the nicest possible way)

Thank you for the recommendation, Notre-Dame is the one place I have requested to visit and I see its not far from there.

I think I have talked myself out of this break! Rationally I know a whole city isn't going to be rude, the same way that most people are polite and helpful to non-English speaking tourists here. I know how to greet people, a couple of words to order politely, I have a love of patisserie! I will practice a cheerful bonjour/bonsoir over the next week so it's second nature!

I feel even happier with my recent vented purchase of a lovely wool coat from Reiss. It was more money than I'd usually spend on a secondhand item but is so lovely!

I don't have a beret but my dd has requested we buy a proper French one for her!

You won't stand out at all op. Like most of us, you will go largely unnoticed - which is the nicest way to live!

I think the skirt seems like something you may want for your evening. Just take a pair of jeans for the rest of the time. The skirt is teeny and will fold away to nothing to carry about!

Good luck - and don't feel daunted. There is truly nothing to feel anxious about.

Oh I like Paul Hevin!
https://www.jeanpaulhevin.com/nos-boutiques?srsltid=AfmBOoqpolWOIy_q0i5Jf0oiIh9DgsFSXPha7A4aiN9cniwgfdzG_cQo

Perfect! And you don't need a beret - I expect you will actually have to hunt quite hard for one for your DD!

And pop across from Notre Dame to the Sainte-Chappelle. You can book ahead as the queues get large. Notre-Dame is immense but the Sainte-Chapelle is a gem.

@Blarn You'll be grand, don't stress. If you're going to Notre Damme you could hop over the bridge & have a bit of a mooch around the Île St Louis. It's very pretty & not usually as swamped with tourists as some parts of town.

The only unreasonable thing about your post is the 2 days … Paris requires longer .
it is my favourite city.
Whatever you wear will be perfect..although I think you may be cold in your skirt with thin denier tights.
Just enjoy the magic.. lots pastrries, no need fancy, just wherever you are a local patisserie will be amazing! Have a glass wine and sit and watch the world go by.. Paris is the best place to people watch. Go to Monoprix and buy some local cheese and a bottle wine. .. just enjoy … and please report back.

now i’m in my. 40s i’ve realised that nobody gives a crap about what you wear unless you are all 15. if you want to wear a ball gown and wellies very few people will bat an eyelid. i just wear warm
stuff all the time and then pack something like a skirt /dress just in case i go anywhere remotely fancy. i have never travelled anywhere with anything other than carry on and just wear the same thing as many times as is feasible! enjoy. paris is fab. x

Oh shush. What conversations starts with you swearing at people, you're meant to be an adult.

You’ll have such a lovely time OP. We went a few weeks back, my tip for wet weather there is to take a baseball cap or rain hat as the pavements are often narrow so umbrellas are a pain.

Pre-book any museums or art galleries as then you can skip the v long queues.

I agree with PPs that people wear all sorts, I was in trainers the whole time for walking (20k steps per day) and some ballet flats for evenings. It is smarter than London and more conservative in terms of colour, but these days really anything goes! Enjoy it ☺️

I can see no evidence of her swearing at you, although swearing was insinuated. Swearing at someone is calling someone a name.

She did however challenge factual inaccuracies in your post, for example the size of Paris and alluding to the shortage of pharmacies. The centre of Paris is comparatively small and walkable, with affordable public transport and green at night from pharmacy signs. Hay fever is not a big issue November/December.

Edited as accidentally hit send mid sentsnce.

I think those look very elegant. However, If the weather is anything like today I can't think of anything much more impractical.

just come back from 4 fabulous days in Paris! Quite frankly it does not matter what you wear. No one is interested in you, they are looking at Paris! Comfy shoes most important. Have a wonderful time!

By the way your DH sounds lovely!

I’m on the Eurostar heading back from 24 hours in Paris right now, so feel qualified to answer this! Everyone is in wide trousers or short skirts with tights. Boxy blazer jackets (lots of tweed) and longline trenches. Trainers, brogues and clumpy boots. Not a heel to be seen! Bonus points if you have a huge scarf to throw around your neck/ shoulders. And if you’re wearing any colour aside from black, brown and navy - OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!

I’ve seen plenty of outliers too on my 2 hour walk through the main bits today. Wear what you want. Just make sure it’s layers (I am boiled in a blazer, trench and backpack carrying my worldly goods - it’s warm here) and as others have said - comfy shoes!!