Fashion Faux Pas

What??? That's crazy! I wore sandals in Paris and no one paid any attention!

Never ever heard that one.. its simply not true.

"If I wear my sandals without socks..." The big fashion secret of the British is wearing socks WITH sandals, this is their secret strategy for replacing us as worst dressed in Europe.

Nobody will care what you wear (or even notice your existence), unless you show up at a Michelin-starred restaurant looking like you just got back from the beach.

In threads like this I always wonder if the person is going to actually take fashion advice from an anonymous group of people posting on a Rick Steves message board, lol. I am with the "wear what you want" crowd.

Well, we may be anonymous strangers on a forum,, but most of us have been to France,, some of us mulitple times,, and the "french look down on exposed toes" is so silly sounding you have to wonder where the OP actually hear that from..

Except for folks passed out in the gutter, everyone looks down on toes, whether exposed or not. Go ahead and wear socks with sandals. People may snicker but most will be too polite to say anything.

Have you ever read some of the advice out there - newspaper articles from people 'who know', guidebooks, "How to Blend In While Traveling in _______"? EEK! After some of the things I've read that Americans are/aren't 'supposed' to do, I really shouldn't even leave the house - I'm in flagrant violation of many 'rules' LOL!.........................If you have let's say 'toes in need of some TLC', please don't show them ;-). Otherwise, if you're relatively clean, and your sandals are, too, and it's hot - Go For It! But if you're going somewhere nicer that a McDonalds, maybe change into other shoes...

Just got back. Plenty of French toes were popping out from under upscale Birkenstocks and flip-flops. In fact I watched a show on French tv that had a segment about the rage for Birkenstocks and how the company is making them more fashionable for the French market.

How about if you attach flashing lights to your toenails which flash in rhythm with a boombox. They might look then.....

Heh-heh...;-).............("'look down' on exposed toes...")