warm in Paris

The day we arrived in Paris last August I remember the temperature being in the low 90s. Hot.

Glad you are staying cool with your shorts (in more than one way, I'm sure). I think we can all agree that wearing shorts is okay and a personal preference. I live in DC where summer temperatures can stay in the high 90's most of July and August with much humidity to boot, and I still do not wear shorts. Why? Because I don't like to wear shorts and prefer long pants and sometimes skirts. Just my personal preference. I'm relatively young (mid 30's), so not an older generation thing.
Now, are you wearing white sneakers with those shorts?

shorts - I ware them almost every day while I am in Hawaii most of the year. I also take them to Europe in the summer and when it get into the 80's, I put them on. At my age it is not a fashion statement but only me being comfortable but I also ware socks with my sandals.

Regarding the whole shorts in Europe debate. I recall one video where Rick said something to effect of "What Europeans consider hot enough for shorts is a lot hotter than what most Americans consider hot enough for shorts." I think that sums it up perfectly. Europeans will wear short but only when it is HOT. Americans will wear shorts when it is merely warm. Or even when it is cool. For example I will often walk around Albany in 50-60 degree weather in shorts, sandals and a very heavy sweatshirt. That look is pretty rare in Europe. Europeans will only wear shorts when a tee shirt and long pants is uncomfortably hot.

Byron- none of the people you saw wearing shorts were Parisians. The long holiday weekend just ended and all the Parisians fled the city. (since the May holidays fell on Sundays, this was the first break since Easter.). I saw the traffic heading in to the city this afternoon and it was at black Saturday levels.

Well i know they were speaking French and may have been from outside of Paris. My son who has lived in Paris for 10 years took us to Georges on top of the Pompidou Center which is a great place for dinner with amazing views of Paris. I am now in rainy Switzerland heading for Zermott.

I see nothing wrong with wearing shorts in Paris, but, I do choose to wear sundresses and skirts mostly, they are as cool as shorts, but then I can go from day to dinner in same outfit if I want. I also choose to wear a longer " city short" rather then a camping or beach type short. It is the same here at home for me, its a personal preference.

I also want to add, the fact that someone is speaking french does not make them locals, many french like to visit Paris as part of their holidays, like those from other parts of the States would visit their capitol city.

Okay Pat and Diane... Let's assume you are 100% correct and that in fact the shorts donning french speaking people Byron saw were not Parisians but French citizens from elsewhere in France on holiday visiting their capital city. This only goes to prove what most of us in "the its okay to wear shorts in Europe" faction have been saying forever. Europeans (like Americans) wear shorts in the summer ON VACATION. But not to work and the false claim of the "anti-shorts" faction that most Europeans don't wear shorts comes from the fact most Europeans a tourist meets in Europe is working or is on the way to work or returning home from work and is dressed for work, not vacation. By the way it is the same way in Albany, New York. If you go to Empire State Plaza right now you will see tourists in shorts but the people who work downtown either for the state or the surrounding office buildings are all wearing long pants. That doesn't mean it is WRONG to wear shorts when touring the state Capital of New York.

The 2 days I spent in Paris were on friday and saturday. The weather was hot and I was surprised to see how many americans and non-americans were wearing shorts and jeans. The way people dress in europe has changed since I first visited in 1998. The european type department stores like Etam,Zara, and H and M are selling a lot of shorts this summer.

I'm with Ed from Albany on this one. My husband works in downtown DC (where all the touristy stuff is) and if you see him Monday through Friday during work hours (high sightseeing time), he is wearing dress pants and shirts, same as almost all others who work down there. Based on this you would assume that Washingtonians do not wear shorts. Well no, they do not wear them to work. During non-work hours, he does wear shorts and I think he looks pretty darn good too. Not goofy at all. He does not wear them on vacation though. Go figure. Anyways, point is, local urban Europeans wear shorts as well. You just don't notice them as much.

Go to any communal garden club in any European city on a hot day and I almost guarantee that almost everyone will be in shorts. Some will even be in galoshes and shorts.

I have seen shorts everywhere we go (England), and that includes London, and worn by Brits no less. I can tell you that in Oxford I see older men (Brits again) wearing shorts on the warmer days. Crocs are everywhere to be seen, and you clearly the Brits love them as much as many Americans do. Have also seen several baseball caps, sweats pants, hoodies, backpacks, colourful clothing (forget the all black nonsense you read about), and to be honest, it is getting more and more difficult to spot an American! Basically, the shops are carrying colourful clothing for summer, and lots of shorts for men and women. They clearly are not buying these items for vacation elsewhere, and are quite content to wear them right here at home.

Wait...there is a summer dress code in europe? :)