appropriate dress for tourists in Paris

When are you going to Paris? If soon, it is really not that warm there to wear shorts now, and I wouldn't under any circumstances unless it was unusually hot. I think it's too casual a look for Paris, but I'm of the opinion that travellers should not stand out too much as tourists - others on this site have different opinions.

As for what is acceptable in a church, you have to use your best judgement and dress appropriately and respectfully.

I wore capris to Notre Dame and ST Chapelle, not a problem. I did wear t shirts that covered my shoulder though,, so I don't know if sleeveless t shirts are a problem or not. Truthfully I don't recall it being a problem in France the way it was in Italy,, where I have been turned away for wearing sleeveless t shirts.

A few tips:

DO NOT wear shorts.
DO NOT wear something with writing (in English).

DO wear capris as an alternative to shorts in hot weather.
DO overdress when unsure.

Not only does dress affect entrance to religious sites, it also can make you an advertisement for thieves. Dress subtly :)

One more "do not": white athletic shoes. You would be picked out as a tourist from a mile away. Fortunately, there are athletic-type shoes in other colors now. :-)

Pack light, that means find a good all purpose type outfit or pieces that all mix and match. Lightweight clothes also dry fast, so look at basic longer skirts, slacks, dressy type tops. One pair of capris OK, but now, into the fall, not needed. Shorts are too restrictive in places to wear, as are sleeveless tops, and overly casual items. If you were going to a beach or resort type area, then the norm would be completely different. (Yes, I am a guy, but my wife and I have discussed this at length, and I use the same philosophy in packing myself.)....Oh, since I pack very light (scary, maybe one pair of pants and a couple shirts beside what I wear) I plan on picking up a shirt or other items while I am in Europe, nice mix as I travel, and a nice memory.

HI All. While we're on the subject, just wondering are jeans acceptable now, for women?
I'ts fine to dress not to look like a tourist, but don't you have to take into account comfort when your walking miles around Paris all day.?
I'm going on Sunday and i've bought a flat pair of Hush Puppies to wear under my jeans, with a nice dressy blouse type shirt that are very comfortable.
It's just I heard recently women don't usually dress in jeans over there...

Ellen, I am a mature woman who always wears jeans in Paris, as you stated, with a nice top and jacket, and black comfortable shoes. Works fine for just about anywhere during the day.

Whne I was in Paris, three years ago, I took all black and white mixed clothes and black shoes and I fit in very well. Wearing some scarfs to liven things up is right in the Parisian way. Unless you want to stick out, stay away from bright colors, light shoes, and shorts, and I don't think jeans are as appropriate as black pants. Women in Paris dress in a lot of black with scarfs and they wear high heels.

Compromise and wear black jeans - I wore mine in March with black leather boots and looked fine.

Regarding the longer style shorts, they were in the shops in Paris in July, so they are fashionable right now. Depending on when you are going on your trip, you could wear them. The churches in Paris (as I recall) don't seem to be as strict about appropriate dress as those in Italy, maybe already more stylish group - just my opinion :) - although I know that the Italians are fashionable as well, maybe the tourists just need reminding because of the warmer temperatures there.

When I went to Paris this past July, the weather was unseasonably cool and wet, so I wore black Travelers pants (as seen at Chico's). Black is the "colour" of choice in Paris.

Bon voyage!

Hi,, wear jeans if you want, Parisian women of all ages do,, the older ones look classy in jeans with a blazer , scarf and high heels or boots,, the younger ones do the tops and sweaters and layers thing,, everyone wears them.
Jeans that do not have ugly elastic waist bands, and the darker blue ones seem to be most in style right now.

Jeans are fine. My brother is engaged to a girl from Switzerland who loves Paris and grew up visiting often. When we were preparing for our Europe trip (just returned) I asked her all sorts of questions about attire. She said it always amuses her to hear Americans discuss what is appropriate attire. I specifically asked her about jeans and she replied "let me say it this way, I never travel w/o jeans." I saw a lot of locals wearing jeans - now the style varied somewhat depending on the age bracket. Young women & teens wear a lot of skinny jeans...but I wore bootcut/mid-rise. Even for August it was chilly in Paris and the jeans protected against the wind. Other than jeans I wore a lot of capris - black and khaki. It wasn't really warm enough to wear shorts comfortably. I wore capris to Notre Dame and did not have a problem.

Just back, wow what an amazing city.
Anyway regarding dress The French women , and men, seem to have a thing about shoes. They're so chic.
I'd imagine they don't buy an outfit without buying shoes to match.
I wore one day , what I thought was un-touristy attire, how wrong I was. I walked up to a restauraunt counter and the garson immedietly started taking English to me. He just knew I wasn't French.
Wear what is comfortable for you, You're going to stand out as a tourist no matter what you wear.
The churches don't seem to have a dress code as there are so many tourist no-one looks at what you are wearing once your there.

I wouldn't pack too many shorts - 1 pair at the most...Paris is pretty cool this time of year. I was there about 3 weeks ago (late August) and it was chilly. Temps are typically mid-60s, with a heat wave going into the mid-70s, and of course cooler in the morning & evening.

In Europe, pretty much for the big touristy churches only the Vatican & St. Mark's in Venice require you to wear something covering your shoulders & knees. Every place in Paris was ok, and people had on EVERYTHING u could think of!!

As far as what to pack, when you're doing lots of walking, it's best to pack whatever will not give you blisters! I took my Asics Gel Kayanos & a pair of Clarks sandals - plenty of other Europeans & tourists had them on! Don't worry about dressing like a tourist - they know you're American the second they lay eyes on you, no matter what you're wearing! Just be friendly & you'll get treated like royalty - the Parisians LOVE Americans!!

Thank you all for your comments. My husband and I returned from Paris this past Thursday and had a FABULOUS time. I left the walking shorts at home and took pants and skirts. Good advice-- the temps were between 60 and 70. Thanks again!

This is true. Wear whatever feels good, is comfortable and looks good. The admonition so often heard here about shorts is really not about fashion but about LOOK. Most people, unless they have good legs (men) or great ones (women) and they have managed to avoid saddlebags and the like, look bad if not silly, in shorts.
The comment about shoes is right on. Both in France and Spain- at least in cities- the style of shoe is very big. In Madrid, if u r a woman and dont wear 5" heels, u will stand out! In Milano, failure to wear shoes with long pointy toes will bring looks of compassion that u r so sadly unfashionable.
You will not "fit in" due to your clothes. You can no more be local than you can spread your arms and fly.How you are treated depends on how you act and the aura that is created by what you do.