What to wear in Paris
Your plane and your hostel are booked and you cannot wait to be in Paris.
But there is one last thing you have to do: PACKING.
How to dress for Paris when you know you will be walking all day long au soleil, sous la pluie à midi ou à minuit?
Here are my advices:
1. Pack some comfortable yet elegant basic clothes
Advantage: they can all be mixed together.
– Neutral colored jeans/pants
– A skirt (one you can walk with) or elegant short pants for the daytime
– Some blouses
– Some cotton tops (loose T-shirts for instance)
– Some cardigans and pullovers
– A trench, a blazer or a coat
– A dress for the evening: simple an not overdressed
What not to wear if you do not want to look like a tourist (if you don’t care go ahead ^^):
– Large cropped pants, especially those lace-trimmed ones
– Mom jeans (unless you are a hipster)
– Joggings (if not Isabel Marant’s worn with high heels)
– Fleece jacket (I swear you there are no bears on the “montagne sainte Geneviève”)
– Anything related to sport and hiking (you are not Marc Jacobs)
– Lots of flashy colors worn together
2. Pack elegant walking shoes
– Sneakers are an option! They are really trendy right now: New balance, Stan Smith, Converse, Bensimons, etc… but not the one you take for exercising (chunky ones, if you know what I mean).
– Any flats: boots, derbies, loafers, sandals, etc. Have a look at my article on flat shoes.
– Chunky heeled shoes that are not to high: they are as comfy as flats to walk with.
Classy flat shoes can be worn on a night out but if you can, add a pair of higher heels in your luggage.
What not to wear:
– Hiking shoes or exercise sneakers are a no: Paris is not a mountain or a sport club
– A bad pedicure (but I know New Yorkers are far better that us on the pedicure issue anyway).
– Ballerinas. Except if you don’t sweat, or do not fear it is maybe gonna rain at some point.
Want personalized style advices? Reach me for distance styling or personal shopping!
3. Pack a good bag
Large enough to fit all your stuffs for the day, comfortable enough to be carried around, resistant enough not to be damaged and classy enough to be stylish
If you take only one, choose a classic that’ll match all your outfits and can be worn both day and night.
Comfortable bag = light, carried on shoulder (or on the back), large straps.
Add a cotton tote bag inside just in case you need to carry more (they are stylish).
What not to wear:
– Any bag that you have to carry on your elbow or in your hand, you’ll get tired
– Fanny pack ^^
– Sporty backpack (if not Alexander Wang’s style)
4. Pack a few accessories
They are light in the luggage and add great style.
– Some jewels for a night out.
– Bold lipstick and polish
– A scarf (for summer of for winter) and gloves (if it’s winter) that will match with your other outfits
– An umbrella (or you buy a pretty one in Paris)
5. Walking Paris outfit ideas for every season
Spring
Wear a nice T-shirt under your sweater in case it gets sunny.
Summer
Bring a short trench for sometimes chilly summer nights.
Autumn
Wear a blouse under your sweater in case the weather changes or if you get invited to a fancy restaurant.
Roll up your pants to reveal your ankles if you feel like it. And you can add a pair of sparkly emerald socks to stay warm.
Winter
Little heels are as comfy to walk with as flats. The snakeskin adds style to the outfit.
A good chosen parka is stylish.
Gloves and lipstick add a hint of color to this neutral outfit.
==> All those outfit are comfortable, easy to walk with, adapted to the season AND stylish. You are ready for Paris!
6. Outfits ideas for a night out in Paris
Most of restaurants/ bars in Paris do not expect you to be super fancy.
Actually if you wear of cocktail dress or a gown in a chic restaurant, you might be looked at as overdressed.
Just add a bit of sophistication to your daytime outfit with jewels, make up and hair and you are good to go.
Here is an example with the autumn outfit just made fancier by revealing the see-trough blouse, adding thin jewels, and daring red makeup plus switching for leather pants (but you could have kept the black jeans).
Same for bars and clubs: girls are sexy but in a subtle way.
If you wear bodycon dress + heels + makeup and brushing, you take the risk of being considered as tacky by french guys.
Just as on the above example, girl will just add some sexyness and sophistication to the daytime outfit.
For instance, for a bar in summer, add some heels, a shorter skirt, some jewels et voilà: sexy you.
To go to a club, you can be more sexy, but never forget you’ll probably have to WALK to catch the taxi, or worst, to go home, so stay reasonable with the heels height.
Here is a very attractive, quite rock but not tacky club outfit:
If you are going to a fancy cocktail bar or restaurant, you can pack a designer’s dress: just don’t overdo the rest of the outfit:
Hi! I am loving your advice on what to wear in Paris. I am not able to view the images posted as example outfits throughout the post. I would love to view them!
I will fix. It is due to the disparition of the website the pics were hosted on.
I am 76, but look a bit younger … 5 ft, petite but not thin. My daughter is 52, 5 f 7″ and looks elegant in everything. We will be in Paris June 19 for a few days. Need advice for both of us on touring during the day and dining in untouristy but nice cafes or brasseries etc. during evenings. I am mostly concerned with footwear both during the day and evening. Also, is wearing a jean jacket (or a black one in the same style) unchic? Dress me, please.
How about boys wearing sneakers around Paris. My kids only own sneakers and don’t even know what else I could buy them that they’d wear. Sad but true…
Great post, thank you. My best friend and I are travelling to Paris this Saturday(!) for four days and I’ve struggling to choose what to pack.
Je vous en prie ^^
I’m going to Paris on the 10th of this month and I was just going to ask this because so many people have told me it’s not lady-like to wear tank tops. Now of course I won’t be s’porting a “wife beater” or just a cotton top it will be tasteful. I was just asking your views and opinions on teen age clothing in Paris.
Thanks, Caroline.
You can totally wear those in Paris 🙂
I am in my 60’s and my husband and I will travel to Paris in September. What are your thoughts about dress for day for visiting the Museums, Eiffel tower, etc. My thoughts were, nice ankle jeans and neutral ankle slacks with blouses or shirts and nice cardigans and Ecco Soft 7 leather mahogany or navy sneakers.
Also, I am in a quandary about what style handbag to wear when touring. Do you think a crossbody or shoulder bag would be good as far as security goes? I’ve been reading about pickpocketing in Paris and I think I may be a little too paranoid. I don’t like the ‘typical’ travel handbags with the WIDE straps but I don’t want to put myself in a vulnerable situation where thieves can ‘cut or slash’ a narrow strap on a crossbody style. I am not one to be cavalier about safety. That being said, I don’t want to wear my expensive bags with more narrow straps and risk being snatched. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Your thoughts sound timeless and nice.
Do not worry too much about the bag, I work with a lot of foreigners and not one has told me about having been stolen yet. A properly closed cross body will do.
If you want more spot on advice, I can give you counseling and help you with travel planning as a service through skype. Email me if you are interested at alois@dresslikeaparisian.com
Hi,
I go to Pairs at least once a year and highly recommend a crossbody for both security and ease for walking.
Strap widths really don’t matter. Please do not fill out surveys presented to you by gypsy children, just ignore them and walk away as they are pickpockets. Have a wonderful trip!! Paris is magical!
It is 🙂
Never had any problem of stealth myself in ten years in Paris but I guess as a tourist you shall be more careful.
I am a 50-something woman heading to your lovely city in April. I love wearing leggings/tights and long tunics. You make mention of “leggings are not pants” so are tunics acceptable (that cover your posterior? I’m all about them with boots!
Yes you can wear tunics if you like them, I just recommend not to wear them with leggings 🙂 Or with very nice ones (not easy to find).
Hello,
I’m going to paris in December until January. I live in tropical country & this will be my first winter trip. I need your help to give an idea for a perfect outfit on new years. I will spend NYE with having dinner & party at Matignon. I’ve seen lots of french women wearing a sleeveless dress during NYE (watched it on Youtube) but since its winter, what should I wear to make myself warm when I walking on the street but chic enough for partying?
Need you advance advice! Thank you 🙂
Very helpful indeed!!!! Now, I know what to pack to my trip to Paris
Thank you!
Susana from Argentina
My 18 year old daughter and I are going to Paris in December. Should we pack long wool coats or hooded rain coats (nipped at the waist and stylish but not particularly warm). We will bring plenty of layers including cashmere sweaters and a cashmere scarf but I’m stumped as to which coat to pack and we are only doing carry on.
Botha 🙂 Weather can be either cold rainy or both in december… you never know.
My husband and I are going in December as well! 12/17–12/24 🙂
mens outfits seem to be hard to make since he is a sports and fishing T-shirt kind of guy…definitely need to go shopping!
Cool 🙂
Contact me if you would like me to help you shop in Paris ^^
alois@dresslikeaparisian.com
I’m heading to Paris in August and I’m wondering if it’s looked down on ladies wearing Birkenstock’s. They’re leather and comfortable for walking but I don’t want to be looked down on. Also thoughts about a black leather skirt in summer?
You may be warm with a leather skirt.
Birkenstock are great if worn with an elegant outfit ^^
Hi! I am currently a student in America, and will be studying in Paris for next school year. I am trying to get some tips on what kind of clothes to buy before I get over there! You mentioned that Stan smiths and converse are popular tennis shoes over there. Do you recommend one over the other? Is one more popular than the other? Also, since I will be attending school, I will have to walk a few blocks through the city to the university everyday. I’d like to have a bag big enough to fit my laptop in case I need it for class. Are backpacks common for students over there, or do you suggest getting a tote large enough to hold it?
Thank you for your help!
Devyn
You shall think of what YOU like most and not intellectualize about what other wear too much 🙂
Is it ok to wear leggings if you balance them out with a longer, looser shirt and maybe a trench over top?
Hello Blake,
If you ask me: leggings are to be considered like tights. This does not sound like an outfit you could wear with tights, so I’d say no.
This has been enlightening and now I am frightened about what to pack! My daughter is recovering from Chemo from Lymphoma and we leave for Paris March 6th.16! This is her Make a wish Trip and she is a beautiful 13 year old girl trying to get past this cancer horror! We are so blessed to be going WITH OUR WHOLE FAMILY hubby and I are 45 and boys: 18, 17 Girls 15,13…I am still stumped, re:what to pack for all. I am really worried about the shoes I assume we will be doing a lot of walking and WHAT shoes do I wear? For enjoying the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and shopping in the Mairias area. I was going to bring neutral vans for the girls and I and have a pair of boots, for me, along in case I need them for the rain. Would I be able to wear sandals at night? Also for the boys; are converse and vans ok for them? My hubby always has a great pair of Doc Martins and is ready to go. What are your thoughts? I am perplexed and would love a little insight. Oh before I forget should I get a great black wrap dress or is there another style that would be at the top of your list!????? (I am a size 10/12). Thank you ever so much! #SydneyTheCancerSlayersMom
Hello,
Converse and van are perfect.
Guess sandals are way to cold for this time of the year.
Doc martens are also cool.
Any kind of dress would be nice, just depends of you.
Good luck to your daughter!
Enjoy your stay in Paris ! The important is to feel at ease and to be comfortable cause you’ll be walking a lot. Don’t forget an umbrella ! Kisses and love for your daughter. Have a good trip !
I will also be there. We are traveling from Kansas City. It is very warm here but I think the weather will require a light jacket. If you do leggings, make it fashionable. Remember, leggings are NOT pants.
Indeed
Hi! I’m from the Philippines and will be going to Paris mid February with a group of friends. I am totally stumped on what to pack!!! Help!!!
PS. So far I’ve set aside black leather riding boots, a black trench coat and black leather gloves for the trip…
Well that’s the topic of the post ^^
What a fantastic post. If I wear a grey wool coat with dark brown knee high boots, would that be okay for winter? Or is it more suitable for autumn? And what about a man wearing a grey wool pea coat with brown shoes? I guess I’m wondering if black shoes and boots are more the norm for winter.
You should not worry about a norm. The only thing is to remain elegant.
I’m not sure if I should wear some type of leg covering/hosiery with my dress in the evening. My husband loves the classic black sheer hose look (and I wouldn’t mind some warmth) but I don’t really notice women wearing pantyhose any more. I feel, though, that my legs might be too bare without. During the day and for casual settings, I’m wearing black tights with my leatherette skirt. Non?
Black opaque tights sound good.
If you have more questions to ask me, please contact me for a private consulting here
Your blog is lovely! I’m so glad I found it. In July, I’m traveling to Paris with three teenage girls and I would like your advice. Is it ok for them to wear denim cut off shorts or rompers? They buy most of their clothes from Brandy Melville, H & M, and Urban Outfitters. The girls say some of these stores are in Paris and sell these items so it should be okay to wear them. However, everything I read says no shorts. Thank you for your help.
Hello, Sure your daughters can wear shorts or rompers.
Fashion is now international as they point out so we have those brands in Paris.
But still, there are big differences between Paris and the US/
So my advice is to pay attention that the shorts themselves are neither too short (like when you almost see the butt), or too tight.
And wear them with pretty sandals or cotton sneakers (like vans) but no flip flops.
With short short, contrast with a longer and looser top.
Have fun in Paris!
Aloïs
Merci beaucoup! Your response is incredibly helpful. Now, if I can just figure out what I’m going to wear:)
Actually I did not have any question for the lookmaker this week and decided this would make the subject of the next lookmaker so keep updated ^^
And feel free to share the post on social meadias when I’ll have it published ^^
is it a big fashion no to wear bodycon anything in paris?
No you can wear bodycon, the only thing is to look chic in it so balance with something larger usually.
But a Rolant Mouret pencil dress is fine.
And never wear leggings as pants
So i am going to Paris this sunday and our first day is monday. And its not suppose to be warm but i have a lace half shirt and tight jeans and a scarf and tall boots would that work as a parisan outfit! Im really drop dead stopped on what to wear!
Sounds like it works 🙂
So cool advices! I am going to move to Paris next year because of my job and I am so excited! I should pack all of my stuff and I don’t know how to start. Wish me luck!
Thank you so much for these lovely suggestions. I am preparing to go to film school this fall in Paris. I’ll be there for ten months and am completely freaking out that I’ll look like a tourist. I’ve already started buying black clothes and less graphic tees. I read a few other blogs about Parisian style. I was wondering if superga (the Italian sneakers) are a good idea.
Thanks again!
Hello, Supergas are indeed a good idea 🙂 And don’t worry… even if I do write that blog on fashion, french people and parisian are not ALL well dressed. I am sure you’ll dress good anyway by reading the blog. And even if you don’t, that’ll be fine, friends don’t choose based on appearance.
Hi ! I’m 30 years old. I’m a French man who lives in Paris.
For summer, you could wear jeans or shorts pants with leather flip-flops or leather strap sandals but not beach flip-flops.
If you don’t want to be noticed as a tourist, you should always wear leather sandals !
Most of parisian men don’t like to wear beach shoes
Indeed 🙂
can u take me to paris ! that would be my dream com true
Just ask 🙂
I love all your stylish and Parisian Chic tips. The outfits of the night out in Paris is definitely Parisian 🙂 I definitely think that Parisian style is so simple yet super chic. It’s all about neutral colours! Here’s some of my tips about What to wear in Paris I hope you like it and let me know what you think 🙂
Marj xo
It is true that we now all wear jeans 🙂
I read your article and for the shoes, I would add the sneakers that are very fashionable right now but more comfy than ballets or flat sandals for all day walking. Like the Adidas Stan Smith for instance.
Aloïs
Hi Alois,
Thanks for your tips and thanks for visiting my Fashion Travel Website. Yes definitely! I’ve been to Paris 3 times at least and fashionable sneakers have become a trend lately 🙂 In fact, I love the stylish comfort shoes that’s quite popular in Europe 🙂
Marj xo
Love these outfit ideas! I’ve just written a similar post about what to wear in Paris 🙂
🙂
Oh I LOVE this post so much Alois! This one is my favourite post yet. It is my dream to go to Paris one day. It is a long way away from where I live in Australia. I hope to make it one day. If you can ever publish these pages in a book to sell say on Amazon I think lots of people would purchase it, me included! Justine xx
This is perfect! And humorous too. Will be sure to refer to it for visiting you. Xx
to be honest …..I think some Americans dress better than the French !!!!
Sorry but it’s true!!!
I never said that french woman dress better than american woman nor that every french woman is stylish.
I just say that french style is different than american style.
And if you like this style you can get inspired from this post.
I’d say it is about neglicated sophistication.
If you had to pick brands to represent french style I would pick a mix between Isabel Marant, Lanvin and Sonia Rykiel.
And for the american style Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren and Tom Ford.
But you cannot make generalities so it can happen that an american woman has a “french” style and that a french woman prefers to dress “american” ^^