How to Dress for a Summer Trip to Paris
Many tourists visit the City of Lights during the summer months, particularly the month of August when so many Parisians are themselves gone on holiday. But packing for such a trip can be daunting for many non-Parisians. Visitors must consider weather, comfort and, of course, fashion when visiting one of Europe's most beautiful and famous cities. Below is a guide for packing the perfect clothing to take you from a museum, to a café to a night on the town.
1. Go Wide, Not Deep: Rather than packing a ton of items and hauling around several suitcases, it's more important to pack flexible clothing with a broad range of possibility. You will need clothing that can go from casual to dressy and from day to night, so that you don't need to stop off at your hotel several times a day. Picking items that can be dressed up or down will give you the flexibility to spend an afternoon strolling through gardens but also appropriate for a nice dinner at a famous café. Consider taking items that can be accessorized to make them fancier rather than choosing to pack an entire wardrobe for every outing you may be taking.
2. Accessories are your Best Friend: As noted above, accessories will give your vacation wardrobe a lot of range. You can add a scarf (light-weight for summer months) to a basic black dress for a punch of color. Adding jewelry also dresses up a basic top or dress, taking your outfit from day to evening very quickly. And by ditching a big, oversized bag for a small, colorful clutch, your basic black dress becomes evening-wear in no time. Also, you can carry many of these small accessories in your day-bag, so that when evening rolls around and you're heading to Café de Flore, you can simply slip into a pair of ballet flats, tie a scarf around your neck and pull your hair into a loose chignon, and voila - you're ready for dinner. Also, think of buying an accessory or two while you're traveling. Paris markets, shops and street vendors are a great place for just this type of souvenir.
3. Keep it Simple: Most Parisians wear a neutral color palette, which is brilliant. This means you can mix and match pieces for different events and on different days, without having to pack a ton of items. Basic black pants can be paired with tops of varying color, and are easily dressed up and down. Again, use accessories to add color and punch to your wardrobe, but by keeping your basic items neutral, you have a solid foundation for a travel wardrobe.
4. Just Breathe: Remember that the summer months (especially July and August) can be quite hot and muggy in Paris. Wearing breathable clothing is essential if you plan to be out and about all day. Cotton and linen work best in keeping cool, and they are also the fabric of choice among Parisians, who tend to shy away from synthetic fabric, which isn't nearly as comfortable on those muggy days.
5. Rain, Rain Go Away: Paris has unpredictable weather most of the year, summer included. You can almost always count of a rain storm. So, pack an umbrella, preferably a travel-sized one that fits nicely into your bag and won't take up too much room. This will save you from having to stand under a tiny shop awning with all the other unprepared tourists visiting the city.
6. You're the Guest: As tourists, we are also guests. Just as you would never show up to a friend's house for dinner in grubby sweats and a stained shirt, remember that the same mentality should be applied to traveling in other cities, especially in places like Paris. Paris is full of locals, who are not on vacation, and it is disrespectful to arrive in their city looking as if you just woke up from a nap and plan to spend the remainder of your vacation poolside. It's an old adage, but remember: When In Rome........ As this applies to Paris, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, clothing should be clean, well-tailored and on the conservative side. This means no wife-beaters, Daisy-Dukes or flip-flops. Women typically don't wear shorts. If you do chose to wear shorts, keeping them longer and neater will work better in Paris. Knee-length khaki shorts with a white, button-down shirt and sandals is much better than denim shorts that barely cup your bottom, a spaghetti strap tank top and plastic flip-flops. Men should also consider longer pants and dressier shirts, particularly for dinner. Many restaurants and cafes will not serve slovenly dressed patrons. Just remember, if you wouldn't wear it to dinner at a friend's house, you should likely leave it out of your travel wardrobe as well.
7. The Cooling Factor: Women, this one is for you! As much as you may want to pack shorts and tanks for your vacation, in light of the muggy weather I mentioned above, try to consider summer skirts and dresses instead. Most local Parisian women wear them to beat the heat during summer months. They are much nicer in appearance than shorts, and they are also much more versatile, going easily from a day at the museum to a night on the town. Also, another added benefit to summer dresses is the fact that you won't have to consider what to wear with it. No need to match a top to a bottom; just throw on the cool, cotton dress and head out for a day of sightseeing looking and feeling chic. Believe me, the dress will keep you far cooler than the shortest pair of shorts.
8. Be Yourself: A lot of people get caught up in what to wear in Paris so that they don't look like tourists. Just remember, you are a tourist but that doesn't mean you are a slob. Don't try so much to fit in with the locals as to look the very best you can from whatever country you hail. Be a fabulous American. Be a fabulous English girl. Just be appropriate and respectful, which is entirely possible while being comfortable. And then.......enjoy yourself!
These tips will not only help you feel and look your best while in Paris; they will also help you gain entry into whichever sight you wish to see - from a day at the Louvre to dinner at those old Hemingway haunts. Pack reasonably, simply and with an eye for dignified comfort, and you will be pleased to find yourself not worrying about what to wear but which fabulous chocolate shop to seek out for your afternoon treat.
Source: http://voices.yahoo.com/how-dress-summer-trip-paris-6407052.html?cat=16
No comments:
Post a Comment