Best of Paris What to Wear???

A ball gown will be too fancy for the opera. A nice knee length dress will do, especially if it is a darker color and dressed up with nice jewelry.
I suggest cutting down on the sundreses. Take half and repeat them. As an alternative take a skirt with a few cute tops.

Sundresses would be perfect for Paris. That's what I wore in August when I took that same tour and was glad to wear dresses to be cooler on the hot days. Throw in a scarf if you're walking into some churches. I also packed a light-weight open-weave black cardigan that I used some mornings & evenings. I also brought a pair of long black pants (wore them on the plane), and I changed into those some evenings.

For the opera, you don't need a floor length ball gown. We went to the Vienna Opera House last year, and I wore long black pants, a colorful professional top, and a black cardigan. People there wore everything from evening gowns to casual day clothes, but most people were dressed very similar to me.

Thinking about the itinerary during the RS Paris trip, I don't remember going into any churches other than Notre Dame & St. Chapelle, and both mornings I had the lightweight cardigan over my dress. Not sure if they were checking "shoulders covered" as in some of the Italian churches.

One other comment - I always take just a carry-on suitcase when I travel, even for work.....and almost can't believe I'm giving you this advice! : ) If you are not going to another location before or after this trip, you will be staying in just one hotel the entire week. My hubby couldn't get away the year I took this trip, so I had a roommate. She brought a large suitcase instead of a carry-on, so she didn't need do any laundry that week. Weigh the pros/cons, but it is something to consider.

Thanks for all the advice. My sundresses, being made of athletic material, can fit into a small backpack. They are perfect for traveling. Lightweight, never wrinkle, wick away water and sweat. 8 of them take up less room than the 4 skirts I took to Italy. I'm sad about the ballgown. I was excited about being fancy.

Check the weather before you come. Hopefully things will improve, but most of this spring/summer (up to and including today), sundresses wouldn't have fit the bill at all -- it's been way too rainy and cold.

If the weather is coolish take a sweater and leggings - easily removed if the day warms up. Take a shrug, nice shoes & jewelry to dress up a sun dress for the opera.

Gotta ask -- what brand of sundresses ?? They sound great for packing!!

There is no dress code in the Paris churches. That's pretty specific to Italy and the most touristed churches in Barcelona.

Laura B:

I purchased the sundresses from Kohl's and TJMAXX. At Kohls, they can be found in the athletic department. They are Gaiam and Tek Gear brands. Cute, Comfy, and Cool. LOVE THEM! (extra bonus...built in bra!!) The ones at TJMAXX can be hit or miss, however, our store carries them every summer. They are Tehama brand. Hope you can find some! They really are perfect for traveling.

Krisha

MrsEB:

I plan on tying a scarf to my purse it worked nicely in Italy. I was more concerned about the non-covered knees. The sundresses hit right at the knee.

As for the ballgown, I have never attended an opera. In both Chicago and New York, I always wear cocktail dresses to Broadway shows and when my husband treats me to dinner at a classy restaurant. I wear floor length ball gowns when attending the Captain's Dinner on cruise ships. I enjoy dressing up. But, I don't want to be the only one in a ball gown. The one I have picked out, I recently took on a cruise and it packs easily in a suitcase.

I really appreciate all your advice. Thanks for responding!
Krisha

Krisha -- Thanks for the shopping info !!

Ball gowns are worn only to the season opening, which takes place in the fall and is a gala evening. Second, I saw only ballets listed for the summer. Most opera companies take summer off from performing. There might be a comic opera playing somewhere, but your sundress with a little jacket would be fine for a comic opera or even the Palais Garnier or the Opera Bastille. Finally, opera/ballet tickets sell out very quickly and are difficult to get at the last minute, but you might get lucky.

northern Italy was extremely hot and humid at the end of June this year. As for Paris, it doesn't matter what you wear. You are not going to impress Parisians. As long as you are paying your bill and not taking up their space, they leave you alone. I never saw any Parisian come up to someone and ask them to leave because they were wearing a sundress or shorts. So, unless you are going to some fancy event, just wear what you are comfortable in that looks appropriate. There are so many tourists in Paris they don't have the time or desire to pester you.