Suggested attire for men

During what time of year will you be visiting France?

I suggest polo shirts or if very hot time short sleeved camp button down shirts with chino style shorts or pants for evening.

Although guys his age in France wear what he does, they would not dress like that in museums and restaurants. Let him bring two outfits he normally wears and pack 2-3 basic polo chino looks from Old Navy or LL Bean that clean style.

19 is a good age to start dressing appropriately when the occassion calls for it.

Footwear is anything comfortable! I suggest a dark sneaker that won't stand out from day to night.

Pickpockets are a REAL issue. I am a New Yorker and I have visited and spent months in Paris over the last 20 years, I still keep valuables under clothing!

Check RS forum tips on pickpockets & scams!

I agree polo or short sleeve Oxford shirt if in the summer and khakis shorts or pants or Tommy Bahama jeans since they don't fit tight. Chuck Taylors sneakers, Birkenstocks, or Eccco brand casual shoes

They will know you are American in a heartbeat. Dress like you normally do, just not sloppy. Dress a little for dinner if you are going later.

Yes no one is going to notice what you are wearing as long as you can pay your bills. I 've seen French teenagers in Paris, (guys influenced by American culture) have adopted the worse of current styles i.e. pants sagging.

Make your son take a good look in the mirror and ensure that he doesn't embarrass his mother.
He can wear basketball shorts in the hotel.
If it's hot, knee length shorts are fine and so are T-shirts - this goes for everyone.
Walking shoes - the tennis type - will be your best friend. You will be walking about 7 - 8 miles a day, possibly more.
If you're going to cafe's or casual restaurants for dinner there's no need to change.

Since I've been travelling to Europe, this is one important thing I've learned: There is no such thing as "not looking like a tourist, and blending in" when you are, in fact, doing "touristy" things (museums, sight-seeing). The ONLY "locals" you will likely see are the people who are actually working there. THEY will be wearing work attire, and work footwear. They are not the ones who are pounding the pavement, sight-seeing, putting on 10-15 miles a day. The only non-employees you will likely see will actually be other tourists. And, tourists to Paris come from every corner of the world. I read once that in Venice, the tourists outnumber the locals 4-1.

My best advice is to:
- wear culturally-respectable clothing, and appropriate for an urban environment
- wear the most comfortable shoes you can find -- your mileage in them will be far more than you even think
- do a google search for live webcams. They are often located at major tourist sites, public squares, etc. and often you can actually see what kind of clothing people are wearing -- I do that for Italy, just so I can check out the weather!

Relax, and enjoy your trip. :-)

Cheers,
Vivian

In coolish or cold weather about 80% of the people you see on the street will be wearing jeans, including little old ladies. IN hot weather tourists and kids are in shorts or lightweight pants. Khakis are not really a European thing; you see them more often than 20 years ago but they are not the casual dressy look as they are in the US. A kid in chinos will look like an American tourist whose mother insisted he wear them. For restaurants and museums nicer shorts, or lightweight pants not gym clothes are in order.

Very good advice, Vivian.
My husband lives in shorts here but prefers golf pants and shirts for Europe. They are lightweight, breathable, and look stylish. After all, they are made for walking long distances in the heat! He takes 2 pr of Skechers, lace ups and slip ons, which are perfect for his sensitive feet. Enjoy your trip!

L'habit ne fait pas le moine!

I don't understand the insistence on wearing black jeans, black pants, little black dresses, black jackets, black sneakers, or black whatever.
Granted, things that were black were practical when nobody had washing machines.
The French are more modern than that - and those items of apparel went out with the 1960's.
Look at any French fashion magazine - the French all want to look like Americans - including wearing "chinos, khakis" or anything "beige".

There's no need to dress up in museums.

Seen in my far from tourist central neighborhood on boys that age in yesterday's heat . . . lots of khaki shorts and Hawaiian shirts. No guayaberas yet though. . .

It is very hot in Paris now. Many men, young & not so young, are wearing shorts. Not seeing many of the silky athletic kind you describe though, but if I notice them I'll report back.

If weather is cool, shorts would not be as appropriate.

Weather in Paris in 80-90 range past few days. Men young and old wearing solid color, knee length shorts with T- shirts or others. Parisians do not wear athletic gear ( such as the shorts your son likes) on the street unless they are jogging. I would convince him to try another style. However athletic shoes are OK!

Just wear your normal summer attire as you would at home. Your own comfort is key.

Tourists cannot blend in in Paris or any other major city regardless of what they wear. Even if your French is fluent you will stand out to the locals because you will be the ones doing touristy things in the touristy places, checking your map frequently, or eating at the touristy restaurants. And there is not a thing wrong with any of that! Just respect the local customs and you will be golden.

My husband travels with:
1) smart golf pants (ultra light, quick-dry, dressy enough)
2) zip-off convertable pants - non cargo-y type, tech fabric, quick-dry. These are the best travel item... he can go from chilly morning, to hot day, to churches, to chilly evening just by donning and removing his "legs".
These are his current favourite:
http://www.columbia.com/mens-silver-ridge-stretch-convertible-pant-1663491.html?cgid=men-pantsShorts-performanceActive&dwvar_1663491_variationColor=028#start=5

We choose dark coloured bottoms because they do not show spills, dirt, etc. They also transition better to evening wear if we need to "kick it up a notch". We travel with carry-on only, and usually sink-wash.

cheers,
Vivian

They will know you are American in a heartbeat.

So right, even before you open your mouth. So no need to try and blend in with the locals. Wear what you'd feel comfortable wearing in a similar setting in the US.

I just put this reply on another post, but it makes sense here too:

In early May, the "look" more or less for men in Paris seemed to be nice fitting dark jeans, either dress shoes or white Stan Smith tennis shoes (often without socks, or the kind that don't show), a long sleeve dress shirt, sportscoat, black peacoat or black rain coat, no tie but often a scarf and/or sweater (a black rib-knit sweater with a looser crew collar seems like a good choice). I'd say if you want to look less like a tourist, make sure everything fits well. No baggy jeans or coat.

Last September wasn't much different in Paris except the tennis shoes were black or dark brown leather. These aren't running shoes, they're leather tennis shoes, specifically Stan Smith or identical style tennis shoes. White was the predominate color in May. Women, at least many women, wore the same but with some trim feature like metallic gold where men normally have green or black trim.

Don't forget the beard. Last fall I was debating whether to shave during my trip or not. When I got to Paris, I'd guess more than 90 percent of men have something between a three day beard and close-trimmed beard. Big beards, clean shaven, mustache alone, beard alone, and/or painstakingly trimmed beards were really rare. Most seemed to let the hair grow on their cheeks and shaved their necks every couple of days.

I think that also works elsewhere. My trip included Burgundy and Alsace and Reims this trip and you wouldn't have looked out of place with the same clothes. The sportscoat might be more urban than you need outside of the bigger cities.

sweater (and beard):
https://www.amazon.com/Toad-Co-Emmett-Crewneck-Sweater/dp/B00QSFDV4S/ref=sr_1_11?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1496153663&sr=1-11&nodeID=7147441011&psd=1&keywords=men%27s+rib+knit+sweater

shoes:
https://www.amazon.com/adidas-Originals-Smith-Sneaker-Fairway/dp/B00LUIKRHC/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1496153731&sr=1-1&nodeID=7147441011&psd=1&keywords=stan+smith+men

BTW,

My personal favorite travel pant, they're lightweight, dry quickly, look nice and are slim fitting. Mine make it to my shoe (not sure what's up with this model?) but the style of shoes (maybe too much color on these) and sock-less wouldn't be out of place in Paris.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MMU0X5I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1&psc=1

I agree with what has been said about chinos/khakis. Gray or black would be the color to wear. Same with jeans, darker and slimmer is better.

Middle and high school age boys there look pretty much the same as average boys here.

Why does everyone keep saying that tourists will not interact with the locals? You must not originate from a big city. "Tourist attractions" are often visited by locals. For example, in NYC, I am a member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I go at least twice per month. Central Park is filled with residents, sunbathing, or watching their kids play in the playgrounds. At least a quarter of the people at the Empire State Building observatory work in the building! I am one of them. We use our privileges to bypass the lines and get half priced tickets for our friends and family. New Yorkers go to Broadway shows. We eat at the 5-star restaurants and iconic pizza places. We shop on Fifth and Madison Avenues, and in the winter, we check out the tree at Rockefeller Center. We do not hide in our homes on evenings and weekends. We do not wear work clothes 24/7. If you come to New York, it is impossible NOT to interact with a local. Why would Paris be any different?

flynnrom,

While I don't believe I have ever asserted that visitors to France "will not interact with the locals," I do believe in all but the most exceptional cases, any interactions visitors may have with residents of France not in the tourist site, hospitality, tourist-oriented shopping, or restaurant business will be, with few exceptions, superficial and brief.

Of course, you, as an English-speaking New Yorker, can fully immerse yourself into the range of activities available to residents of your city.

I doubt, however, that non-English speaking visitors to your city do the same.

Do not make a 19 yr old boy dress like a middle aged tourist please.. honestly.. he will totally stand out then. He doesnt need to look like Arnold Palmer.

most younger guys were tight fitted jeans or chinos.. and their Tshirts are more fitted than most north American youth wear.. but there are always exceptions.

Let him be.. museums are hot and crowded with masses of tourists.. and they are wearing stuff from allover the world.

Stop worrying about the locals.. they arent worried about you.

Basket ball shorts arent "in" but who cares.. if you let him take a pair he might decide to change out of them himself if he feels uncomfortable.. just make sure he has a pair of regular shorts with him..

When I took my 13 yr old he wore those baggy jeans( this was a few years ago) .. I PICK MY BATTLES , and I wanted him to enjoy the trip not obsess over his image. We were in Paris for about 3-4 days when he asked if we could go shopping for some narrow jeans.. lol.. his choice, his spending money. Okey dokey no battles over packing and whining about wearing stuff they arent comfortable in .. let him pack his own stuff.

He should have one pair of decent jeans to wear out to dinner at night if going somewhere decent.. ( yes jeans are fine as long not ripped torn crappy looking ones) and if its hot some lightweight chinos if he wants.. and one decent looking shirt.. short sleeve shirt or a tshirt with some style ( like a nice v neck one thats fitted).. other than that let him be.

I have seen some freaky styles wore by teens in Paris.. so dont stress about it.

Comfy shoes or runners a must..

19 is beyond the age of reason when it comes to shiny basketball shorts...

Tailored chinos for nighttime or light weight jeans if summer travel...with a button down shirt....which is dressy but NOT hot...

What would they wear at a table clothed restaurant in your home town?

Do not make a 19 yr old boy dress like a middle aged tourist please.. honestly.. he will totally stand out then. He doesnt need to look like Arnold Palmer. <<<

Oh, Pat, I LOVE that line!

Cheers,
Vivian

Oh, and how people think that they are blending in I will never know....if you are at every major tourist sight and speaking English the most blending in you will be doing is being mistaken for Brits LOL

19 is not the same as the 13 year old someone mentioned...he is an adult...

The silky athletic shorts are worn by goons over in France...you will see them when you arrive. The guys trying to sell you cell phones or phone cards, or help you find a taxi....

Athletic wear is not acceptable attire for anyone not playing a sport or under the age of 3 for pull up on top of diapers. :)

There comes a time in everyone's life when they have to dress like a grown up, and for some people that is when they go to France.

Enjoy!

Last summer in Paris, I thought I was so "Paris" by wearing a dress I bought at a boutique back in the states. On the train, a young woman with her boyfriend was saying something in French and pointed to my dress. We made eye contact and she said in English, "I like your dress." I smiled and enthusiastically said, "Thank you!" I don't know how, but they know you're an American!

I can tell tourists in my town.. I live in Victoria and I can tell if you are from Seattle. lol...
You wear same clothes as we do.( well tourists from some States do dress differently.. we dont do sequined sweat shirts here.. lol , and some Americans wear more make up and do their hair up more than we do ) and speak same language.

Regardless even if you look the same.. i can tell.
Tourists act differently. They just do.