Pret a porter (what to wear)

Are you sure the patch was Canada Goose and not Moncler?lol

I know, you would expect Moncler but it seemed to be the goose

Prêt à porter = ready to wear. When I was there for the month of October women were still wearing cropped pants even when it was cold and wet the last week - are they still?

It was cold, windy and rainy the whole time I was there so everyone was fully attired. Thank goodness I bought a waterproof "ski parka" online before I went, it saved my life even with a hat and umbrella. But it was the hood that was most essential.

So true kerouac! But they were wearing their very cute ankle boots with their cropped pants. Still, part of their legs were exposed to the cold and wet which seemed incongruous to me but some woman will suffer anything to look fashionable - lol.

kerouac, Ah, ok!

Furthermore on clothes, for the longest time I was of the "men should bring a sportcoat" school because, well, I've been going to Europe on and off for thirty-odd years and that is how it used to work. It does not work that way anymore. I hereby rescind my old advice, unless you're planning to visit Tour d'Argent or some such place (and I doubt if RS readers are the audience for that), a sweater over a collared shirt with presentable pants will get you in anywhere. The only reason to have one, and it's not a bad reason, is it gives you lots of pockets since you are always needing to carry stuff. But I got a small shoulder bag for this trip and it worked better and I felt so au courant.

I knew things had changed on my last trip at a high-class restaurant in my hotel when I was sitting next to a Russian oligarch and his daughter ... I mean companion, me in my sport coat and him in ripped jeans and a bedazzled Chanel T shirt generously covered in neck chains. He and I had the same experience and the same foods, and paid the same price, and received the same service. Because, money.