Paris clothing for men

I have visited both churches a number of times and I recall seeing folks - male and female folks - in shorts. Rick's book says there is a "no shorts" dress code at Notre Dame, but notes that it isn't strictly enforced. Notre Dame's website says this: "From the moment they enter the Portals, pilgrims and visitors are invited to relax, leaving the hubbub of the street behind, and show a respectful attitude, through both their behaviour and their clothing, to this great Christian site where men and women have come to pray and to confide in God for over eight centuries." Alas, I have frequently seen pretty awful behavior from the hordes of tourists, and - this is the salient point - have never seen anyone thrown out, for behavior or for what they were wearing. If there were people patrolling for inappropriate clothing, I never saw any. The kids would get a pass, in any event. But just to be polite, it might be nice for your husband to put on a pair of long pants. Jeans would be fine. Or does he have a pair of those khaki cargo pants with the zip-off legs? He could zip the lower leg part on for church, and take them off the moment he leaves the building! :-)

Joanne, relax, France is not like Italy.. its a secular country and you can walk into a church in shorts.. ( try that in Italy, lol ). I have been to Notre Dame and St Chapelle multiple times ,last was last summer. I have gone with my kids, I have gone with my mate, and in every case no one, I mean no one batted an eye at the males in shorts.. I promise you , your boys and husband can enter Notre Dame in decent shorts and in St Chapelle there will be absolutely fine ( St Chapelle is actually not technically a church anymore now anyways its been decommissioned) Notre Dame is a bit of a zoo , as it is in fact still a church its free to enter, so the line is not because of people stopping to pay, no, its just a bottle neck because thousands of people stream through it each day.. and meanwhile they will still have services going. What is requested and expected is that people keep their voices down, and if a service is on you may not cross through it ( people do and they even stand in front of worhippers and take photos etc) and don't go into the prayer naves unless you plan on praying. Just behave basically.. the shorts are not going to be the issue at all.

Your children will fit right in. All the little boys will be in shorts. It used to be the custom for little French boys to wear only shorts until puberty, including wool ones in winter. Others have answered for your husband. Most men wear long pants in a city, but it's more important that he feel comfortable. He might want to roll up a pair of kakhis into his suitcase anyway in case he changes his mind about shorts while in Paris.

I think he'll be fine, but he could always bring one of those pairs of pants that zips into shorts in case he gets stopped a Notre Dame. I'm sure it won't be a big deal, though.

Joanne, I forgot to mention, if you husband wants to look like an Italian tourist, he can wear "manpris" they are like capris or very long shorts and we saw quite a few men wearing them, mostly Italians! My mate thought they were rather bizarre and would not indulge, lol Hes a shorts or pants but nothing ambiguous..

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all the responses. I've heard of the capris for men Pat but I'm pretty sure there's no way hubbie would even consider them. There's still a chance he'll wear pants but I expect its slim. Good to know we won't be turned away.