Hello all,
For this time of year, and going to some average to nice Parisian restaurants, and the normal mix of museums, cathedrals, and a blues club and philharmonic, do we need to plan to be very dressed up? Business casual dressed up? Or are jeans and a flannel shirt acceptable?
Also, for the museums, are small backpacks normally allowed in so that we could bring a change of clothes for a full day out and about before we go to dinner and/or a show?
Thanks all!!!
Assuming you had tickets, I doubt very seriously that the philharmonic would turn you away if you are dressed as you describe. On the other hand, a restaurant or club might have a dress code that is either advertised or not.
Re: backpacks, it is my understanding that they are not permitted and must be checked (usually for free). The bigger question is where would you change your clothes? I, for one, prefer to return to my accommodation to freshen up before heading out in the evening.
There is no dress code for museus and cathedrals and for most clubs jeans are fine. I don't know about flannel shirts because I have none but I have been to many music clubs in Paris in jeans and a sweater or regular top without any issues. It depends on the restaurant but I have only been to a few with a dress code and they were extremely high end places -- for example, Guy Savoy when it was in 17th had a no jeans policy. As to the philharmonic and the opera, I have seen a range of looks there ranging from extremely casual to quite dressed up. Last time I was at the philharmonic, I saw 2 young couples in tuxedos and evening dresses -- a young person sitting near me told me the couples were being "ironic." Luckily I have a 26-year-old daughter so I knew what that meant. You probably will not need to change clothes if you wear something decent and comfortable initially each day. Plus, where will you change? Are you going to put clean clothes in a tiny toilette in a museum after being out and about all day?
We were in Paris earlier this month, went to many museums. They all have their own rules about backpacks, some have size limits, some asked people to wear them in the front. My husband had a sling camera bag and that was allowed everywhere we went. I had a medium size cross body bag (baggalini style) and that was no problem.
For dress, the tough part is being comfortable in the museums but ready for the cooler outside temps. I have a down jacket that fits easily into it's own stuff sack, so I would just cram it in and hook it to my bag while inside. It's very light weight and doesn't swing wildly so it was perfect.
For restaurants we ate at mostly neighborhood bistros and one upscale restaurant - we always felt comfortable with either dark rinse jeans and a nice shirt/sweater or slacks with button down shirt. I did convince my husband to keep the flannels shirts at home (he has many!) and I think that was a good choice.
I am trying to wrap my head around carrying a change of clothes all day. Are you staying way out of the center, so that you won't have time to return to your accommodation to change clothes? Also, once you change into your "show" clothes, are you then lugging your backpack to dinner and a show? With dark pants, dark shoes and the inevitable layers you'll need for warmth, you'll be fine unless you're dining at a very high end restaurant.
Most museums will have a bag check or locker you can leave your stuff in, and they will insist in most cases for anything larger than a handbag. Especially in winter, I like to leave my coat so I'm not lugging it through a hot museum. For some reason, they're all stifling in winter.
I wear black jeans that read as slacks and a turtleneck in winter and at most throw on a fancy shawl or top over that if going to a nice place for dinner or the opera. There are few places that dressing up is necessary.
The problem in museums is what to do with your coat. IN the Louvre, it is easy; there are lockers and so no long lines to check coats. The Musee d'Orsay is the worst. I have waited in line to check coats for 40 minutes. So now I always carry a nylon carry bag -- the kind that folds up and can go in a pocket, but it pretty large and stuff my coat into that while in the galleries. I will never line up for coat check at the Orsay again. The Jeu de Paum has lockers as well. We didn't look for coat storage at the Pompidou but just carried our coats so not sure there.
People at the Philharmonie are not dressed up in our experience. It is a wonderful building; get there early so you can go up to the roof and get a good look at the building. They do have coat check.
I'd wear clothing while you are out and about that is sort of dressy casual e.g. dark pants and a sweater or nice shirt andn ot worry about 'dress codes'. Pretty much everyone is in jeans and trainers in Paris -- ideally you get dark athletic shoes but you see plenty of light colored ones as well. The only place I have been with an explicit dress code was Tour d'Argent and that was 8 or 9 years ago. I just threw a pretty shawl over my basic black and wore black casual shoes rather than my lightweight hiking boots for that event.
Dress halfway decent, don’t look like a slob. That’s all you need to know. When I treat myself to a Michelin star restaurant I always wear jeans.
This time of year I dress for the day and don't come back to the room to change.
That said, I have found leather pants (even leather jeans) and cashmere sweaters and a nice pair of boots take me everywhere. A couple of times we have tucked into Le Bar or Bar Hemmingway and haven't had a problem.
My husband wears cords and cashmere and boots.
When the weather is bad this also keeps me very cozy, warm, and dry.
